Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley match report – strong Valiants beat Barnsley to progress in cup
Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley – a strong Valiants first-half display helped them to reach the last sixteen of the Football League Trophy.
Darrell Clarke named a strong line-up including James Wilson, David Worrall and Dennis Politic and all three were prominent as Vale took a commanding lead at half-time.
After early Barnsley pressure, Vale took the lead from their first chance of the match. James Wilson fed Rory Holden and he provided a great ball for Dennis Politic who broke clear and finished with a strong left footed finish to put Vale ahead on thirteen minutes. It was the Romanian’s fifth goal in cup competitions this season.
That goal prompted a period of Vale pressure with their pressing and short passing game causing the visitors all sorts of problems. Prominent in that was the link-up work between Benning and Politic with Vale pushing on the left flank.
On 24 minutes, Nathan Smith was inches away from scoring from a corner before great interplay between Benning, Connor Hall, Wilson and Politic set up David Worrall to smash the ball home. It put Vale 2-0 up with just 24 minutes played.
It could have been more as Vale played with increasing freedom. Wilson robbed a defender and set up Worrall again but this time he was denied by a fine save.
The only concern for Vale at the break was a knock for Wilson in part caused by a reckless challenge by Kitching which saw the defender booked.
Half-time: Port Vale 2-0 Barnsley
The second period began in a similar fashion as Vale dominated the opening stages. Vale’s pressing style was putting the Barnsley backline under pressure and there were a number of early chances. A great ball from Worrall set up Politic and his effort was saved before Politic wasted a great chance to make it three to Vale. Subs Gavin Massey and Mipu Odubeko set up the Romanian who was unmarked in the box but he blazed his effort over.
As the home side continued to dominate, Connor Hall made a run into the box but his low ball evaded everyone. Vale could have regretted those misses as the visitors came back into the game thanks to a excellent 72nd long-range strike from Edwards.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but Vale’s defence held firm to see the game out and take the Valiants into the next round.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley
Match stats
Port Vale side: Stevens – Cass, Smith, Hall – Worrall (Jones), Pett, Garrity (Conlon), Benning – Holden (Odubeko), Wilson (Massey), Politic (Charsley)
Subs: Stone, Butterworth
Vale bookings: Pett
Vale goals: Politic (13), Worrall (24)
Attendance: 1,036 (184 visitors)