Shrewsbury 3-2 Port Vale report – a game of two halves as Valiants lose a five goal thriller

A game of two halves saw a terrible first-half display by the Valiants only for Vale to rally with a better second-half display. However, it was not enough to end their poor run of form.

Once again Ellis Harrison, James Wilson and January signing Matty Taylor were all missing from the squad and with Jamie Proctor dropping to the bench it was a makeshift Port Vale forward line once again.

However, the Valiants made a decent start and after tame efforts from Robinson and Politic, the Vale took the lead on twelve minutes when Robinson’s excellent cross was expertly headed home by Dennis Politic for his fourth goal against Shrewsbury this season.

The home side countered as Bayliss’ shot was well saved by Stevens but the goalkeeper had no chance on twenty six minutes when Dunkley got the better of Donnelly and powered a header into the net from a corner. It got worse on 32 minutes when Vale couldn’t clear their lines and Leahy put the home side in front from close range.

The visitors rallied when Benning almost got on the end of a cross and Nathan Smith tried a potshot. However, it could have been 3-1 when Bowman beat Donnelly and Stevens but Jones cleared off the line. But it was only a respite as a free-kick wasn’t cleared and Phillips drove the loose ball home to make it 3-1 with just 43 minutes played. The Valiants went into the break with much to ponder after some dreadful defending and the home side well on top.

Half-time: Shrewsbury Town 3-1 Port Vale

The Valiants made a double change at the interval with Forrester and Proctor entering the fray. Vale’s first effort was a deflected effort from Politic which forced a corner. However, it was the home side who came closest to opening the second-half scoring with Jones again clearing off the line.

The Valiants made the home side pay for that miss as Politic fed Massey who, with his first significant effort, broke and squared the ball to sub Proctor who made it 3-2 on 52 minutes.

Tensions then flared as Dunkley and Nathan Smith clashed with the Shrewsbury player looking like he struck out at the Vale defender while on the ground. Minutes later, Conlon’s shot was tipped around the post and from the resulting corner Jones’ header was well saved.

The home side were almost gifted a fourth when Stevens and Benning both failed to clear but somehow it was cleared. Vale countered with a move which saw Politic head wide. Meanwhile, a Shrewsbury shot whistled past the post with Stevens static as Vale had a lucky escape.

The Valiants threw Odubeko on for the closing stages as they pushed for an equaliser. Massey had a late shot inches wide but, despite seven minutes of added on time, it was to no avail. Ultimately the side’s poor first-half display left them with too much to do. It was a much better second-half display by the Valiants and an entertaining game, but the result means their worrying recent poor run of form continues.

Full-time: Shrewsbury Town 3-2 Port Vale