Port Vale 2-3 Exeter City report – late drama as Valiants exit the cup
There was late drama at Vale Park as Archie Collins put Exeter into the second round just moments after Danny Butterworth had forced an equaliser.
Manager Darrell Clarke once again rejigged his side with seven changes from the side which draw at Wycombe. It included starts for Aiden Stone, Mipu Odubeko and Dennis Politic.
It was an error-strewn first-half display no doubt in part due to the Vale Park pitch and the weather conditions. However, Vale’s pressing game was causing the visitors problems with Exeter mainly resorting to a counter attacking game.2
The Valiants were grateful for a last-ditch Cass tackle to thwart an Exeter attack before Dennis Politic wasted a great opportunity on twenty minutes when he took advantage of a Josh Key mistake but his shot was saved. However, Politic made no mistake four minutes later when good work from Butterworth and Conlon played the Romanian in and he beat Blackman to put the home side in front. It could have been 2-0 moments later but Politic rattled the crossbar from a corner following more good work from Conlon.
Visitors Exeter had been largely mainly reduced to half-chances for Jevani Brown and Jack Sparkes in the first half-hour, while Vale went close again with Smith’s header from the impressive David Worrall’s ball.
However, Vale were to regret those missed chances as Jevani Brown made it 1-1 with minutes to go. The controversial equaliser caused the Vale bench to erupt claiming that there should have been fouls on both Cass and Jones during the move.
Half-time: Port Vale 1-1 Exeter City
The visitors started the second period the better side and causing problems on the right flank. Vale responded by bringing on Gavin Massey and Mal Benning. It resulted in a chance for Cass who was fed by Worrall but his effort was deflected over.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead with an excellent strike from Jevani Brown on 66 minutes which gave Stone no chance. It left Vale with a lot to do to remain in the competition and their chances were nearly completely dashed minutes later when an Exeter attempt rattled the crossbar with Stone beaten.
The Valiants were not able to respond in the second-half as the visitors pressed and closed down play. It could have even been worse for Vale as Sparkes’ shot was deflected wide by Jones late on. However, with three minutes remaining, Danny Butterworth was on hand to net his second Valiants goal.
But just as Vale got back into the game, Exeter retook the lead, a minute from the end of regular time, with Collins curling in an effort to give the visitors the lead once again. It was a cardinal error by Vale to allow the visitors to retake the lead just moments after equalising.
There was still time for Butterworth to almost force another equaliser but Blackman saved well, while Gavin Massey also had another opportunity which went wide.
It had been a patchy performance with conditions not helping but it will nevertheless be disappointing that the Valiants have lost at the first opportunity in what can be a lucrative competition.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-3 Exeter City
Match stats
Port Vale side: Stone – Cass (Robinson), Smith, Jones – Worrall, Pett (Massey), Conlon, McCarron (Benning) – Politic (Holden), Butterworth – Odubeko (Charsley)
Subs: Stevens, Small, McDermott, Hall
Vale bookings:
Vale goals: Politic (24), Buterworth (87)
Attendance: 4,807 (205 visitors)