Port Vale 3-3 (3-4 pens) Stevenage report – Garrity and Loft on target but their penalty misses see Vale lose shootout
Two goals from prolific midfielder Ben Garrity and another from the much criticised striker Ryan Loft were not enough to win the game in 120 minutes as Stevenage won a penalty shootout contest to progress to the third round. Ironically, it was the goalscorers who missed in the shootout to give the visitors the win.
Andy Crosby continued with Garrity upfront while they welcomed loanee Alfie Devine back into the starting eleven. Conor Grant was rested with Gavin Massey returning.
The Valiants made a bright start with several chances. There was good work from Alfie Devine and Gavin Massey before Vale took the lead after just five minutes. Massey put in a low cross and prolific midfielder cum emergency striker Ben Garrity netted from close range.
Stevenage had hardly been in the game but almost immediately had a chance which caught Ripley out and the ball was cleared off the line by the reliable Nathan Smith. Vale countered and a good ball from Massey found Devine whose ball played in Chislett but unfortunately he couldn’t take advantage. It was a much improved start to the game by Andy Crosby’s side.
Ben Thompson had a further effort for the visitors but it was Vale who were creating the majority of first-half chances. Ojo had an attempt with Garrity screaming for a pass, Gavin Massey went close and then Devine had an effort deflected wide. However, despite some late Stevenage pressure, Vale took a one goal advantage into the break.
The second forty five started with a poor challenge on Connor Ripley with the Stevenage player lucky to only get a yellow for the foul. Ripley was able to continue. Vale then had a chance but Chislett was offside after a pass from Garrity. There was no such scare on the fifty five minute mark as a good ball from the back found Devine and his pass enabled Garrity to double his and the Vale’s score. There was nearly a hat-trick moments later but Garrity couldn’t quite connect.
Stevenage made multiple changes and pushed hard in the second-half. They finally found the target on 81 minutes when Jamie Reid backheeled for Harvey White to score. It meant Vale had to weather some nervy moments in added time and in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Hemmings found the target to level things. It was a sobering end to the ninety minutes for Vale, who had been cruising at two goals up.
Those late goals revitalised Stevenage who looked far the likelier to score in extra-time with Hemmings going close with a header, but it was goalless after the first period.
There was an appeal for a Vale penalty in the second period and Stevenage then missed what looked to be a great chance to take the lead. Another call went against the Valiants in the final fifteen as Iacovitti put the ball in the net but it was disallowed. However, it was most unlikely of heroes who scored what appeared to be the winner – the big number nine Ryan Loft on hand to score after great work from Tom Sang. However, it wasn’t the clincher as Stevenage came back again with a last-gasp equaliser to take it penalties.
In the shootout, it was ironically two goal Ben Garrity who missed first. Vale looked to be going out until Ripley saved Wilding’s shot to make it 3-3. However, Vale’s other scorer in open play, Ryan Loft saw his effort saved as the visitors won 4-3.
Ultimately,on a dramatic night of swings of fortune, it was not to be in the lottery of the shootout and Vale now remain in just the one cup competition this season.
Match stats
Port Vale side – Ripley – Debrah, Lowe, Smith – Sang, Ojo, Arblaster (Walters), Massey (Grant, Lomax) – Chislett (Loft), Garrity, Devine (Iacovitti)
Unused subs – Leutwiler, Balmer, Ikpeazu, Dipepa
Vale bookings – Iacovitti, Ripley, Garrity
Vale goal – Ben Garrity (6, 55), Ryan Loft (114)
Our Port Vale man of the match – Ben Garrity
Attendance – 2,073 (77 visitors)
Vale penalty takers – Funso Ojo (scored), Ben Garrity (saved), Jason Lowe (scored), Tom Sang (scored), Ryan Loft (saved)