Port Vale 1-3 Plymouth Argyle report – Plant nets again but Plymouth storm back to secure title
Youngster James Plant scored for the second game in a row but Vale’s season ended with a loss to champions Plymouth Argyle.
Interim manager Andy Crosby kept faith with Plant, handing the youth team graduate his full home debut. It paid dividends on three minutes when an excellent defence-splitting ball from Butterworth put the 18 year-old clear and he kept his composure to beat the keeper in front of the Bycars stand.
That goal seemed to shake Plymouth who failed to get into the game in the opening half an hour. The most nervy moment during that came came when the ball was hammered to Stone by a Vale player.
The Valiants looked full of confidence and came close from an inswinging Conlon corner. Plymouth did rally when Mumba headed wide. However, the visitors did equalise just after the half-hour mark when a mistake by Plant saw the ball find Randell who fired the ball past Stone for the equaliser. They then turned the tie around five minutes later when a great run by Mumba saw him get past two Vale players and the cross found Ennis who powered it past Stone. Vale countered with a shot from Dave Worrall which was well saved as the half drew to an end.
Plymouth started the second period brightly with two efforts testing Stone. There was increasing pressure as they tested the Vale defence on several occasions. Vale countered with a corner which Butterworth skied over the bar. However, it did give the home side some confidence as they came back into the game. It was to no avail though as Finn Azaz, so often Vale’s nemesis, curled a fine third past Stone to make the game and the title safe for Argyle.
Despite that goal, Vale continued to battle away with a half-chance for sub Taylor and another for Cass in a crowded penalty box. There was also time for sixteen year-old teenager Jack Shorrock to come on and become Vale’s youngest-ever League player. To the delight of the Vale fans, Azaz was then booked for a dive in the penalty box after the merest touch of his arm by Smith.
It looked like the Valiants had got an consolation in the dying moments when Matty Taylor headed home from close-range but it was disallowed.
A note on Plymouth who had a brilliant afternoon, backed by nearly 4,000 away supporters. The visitors looked a class above and it is to their huge credit that they finish the season on over a hundred points. Good luck in the Championship next season!
This result was a sobering reminder of just what quality is needed to go up from this division. The Valiants showed spirit but will need much quality and squad depth if they are to challenge in future seasons. On the plus side, Plant’s goal was a fitting send-off for the Bycars End in its final game as a home stand.
The Vale now have a vital summer of squad rebuilding work. The retained list will be awaited with much interest. There’s also the small question of next season’s manager. Vale did not get the results but their performance here and at Charlton and Ipswich may have done the chances of Andy Crosby getting the job on a permanent basis some good.
Notes
It was a dream start to his full home debut for James Plant and although his inexperience showed for Plymouth’s equaliser, he had a good game. The Vale side impressed in patches with Butterworth showing glimpses of class and Conlon also showing some nice touches. A word too for Funso Ojo whose workrate was commendable. However, with the visitors in such fine form it was difficult for any Vale player to impress on a sustained basis as Plymouth dominated large segments of the game.
The Vale featured three loan players – Butterworth, Taylor and Donnelly – and it will be interesting if any of those feature in a Vale shirt again. The same applies to most of this Vale squad with the likes of James Wilson, Tom Pett and Mal Benning all thought to be out of contract.
Stats
Port Vale: Stone – Smith, Donnelly (Cass), Benning – Worrall, Ojo, Conlon, Butterworth (Pett), Plant (Shorrock) – Wilson (Taylor), Massey (Proctor)
Subs: Stevens, Politic
Port Vale goals: Plant (3)
Port Vale bookings:
Attendance: 11,998 (3,926 visitors)