Port Vale 1-3 Barnsley report – winless run stretches to seven games
Nathan Smith’s third goal of the season was to no avail as Barnsley took all three points at Vale Park.
Darrell Clarke made five changes including bringing in goalkeeper Aidan Stone in place of Jack Stevens while Jamie Proctor started with Ellis Harrison and Matty Taylor both on the bench.
It was a dramatic and controversial first-half as the visitors took the lead with less than thirty seconds played. Barnsley pressed down Vale’s left and when the ball found Connell, he unleashed a fine volley giving Stone no chance.
To their credit, Vale then piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. David Worrall had a shot well saved and a deflected Conlon effort was also saved. However, Vale equalised on thirteen minutes, when Donnelly put the ball back in the box from a corner and Worrall found Nathan Smith, who scored from close range. It was the reliable defender’s third goal of the season.
Just seven minutes later, Barnsley went ahead again with a controversial second. Vale players appealed for offside but nothing was given and Kitching netted from the six yard box. The move did look offside but the Valiants were culpable for stopping and expecting a flag rather than playing on and clearing the ball.
There were several clashes as tempers flared and Vale had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Proctor’s ball looked to strike a hand.
Half-time: Port Vale 1-2 Barnsley
Neither side was able to take control in the early stages of the second-half but Barnsley got the vital break which made the game safe as Phillips’ long-range effort was deflected past Stone on the hour mark. It could have been four minutes later when the same player forced Stone into a good save.
The Valiants brought on Politic, Taylor and Harrison and although Politic looked lively it was to no avail. There were appeals for a penalty when Harrison’s shirt appeared to be grabbed in the box and the same striker had an effort disallowed for offside but that was all Vale could muster as their winless run carries on.
Full-time: Port Vale 1-3 Barnsley
Port Vale stats
Notes
It was another frustrating night at Vale Park not helped by another fussy ref. Davis Worrall produced some quality balls, Nathan Smith scored and Aidan Stone did little wrong but the Vale defence is still too error prone. It was good to see Ellis Harrison, Dennis Politic and Matty Taylor on the pitch at the end, but while the trio will boost Vale’s attacking options, arguably their troubles lie at the other end of the pitch and a porous defence.
Team line-up
Stone – Forrester, Smith, Donnelly – Worrall, Ojo, Garrity, Conlon (Politic), Benning (Harrison) – Massey, Proctor (Taylor)
Subs not used – Stevens, Agyakwa, Pett, Robinson
Stats
Vale bookings:
Vale goals: Smith (12)
Attendance: 5,663 (642 visitors)