Port Vale 3-3 Charlton Athletic report – drama galore as late Massey strike earns Vale a point
A topsy turvy game saw Port Vale draw with Charlton thanks to a late equaliser from Gavin Massey. Poor defending overshadowed Vale’s performance but the plus points were a first goal from Uche Ikpeazu, a period of excellent play in the second-half and that Massey strike late on.
Team news
Manager Andy Crosby made three changes with the biggest blow the news that top-scorer Ben Garrity was not fit. He was replaced by Tom Sang. Teenaged wingbacks Jack Shorrock and Ben Lomax were replaced by Conor Grant and Gavin Massey. However, Jesse Debrah was deemed fit to start.
First-half
The match started with a poignant memorial service for all the Vale fans who had passed away in 2023. It was visitors Charlton who then had the first chances of the game. After some early pressure from Vale, the visitors attacked on both flanks with one dangerous break being cleared by Jason Lowe and another shot blocked by Ripley. From the resulting corner, there was a further chance as Vale hesitated before clearing the danger.
Vale’s defence was looking vulnerable against a pacey Charlton attack but the home side countered with a Sang free-kick which culminated in a shot from Wilson being saved. There was a further chance for Ikpeazu from a Grant cross but the targetman headed well wide. The visitors countered with a run by Edun which was ended by Debrah.
However, Vale’s leaky defence was breached on 27 minutes when Vale failed to clear a corner. The ball was played back in and Cory Blackett-Taylor was found unmarked on the edge of the box. His shot was fired under Connor Ripley to give Charlton the lead.
The Valiants were outraged on 34 minutes when a clear penalty wasn’t given. Grant’s cross found Wilson and his powerful shot clearly hit the arm of Hector but to general bemusement no penalty was given. It may not have been what Vale deserved on the balance of play but it was an awful error from the referee to not spot the infringement. There was a further blow when Debrah, who had been an injury doubt before the game, was replaced by Alex Iacovitti.
However, it was a strong finish from Vale as Alfie Devine came to life. The midfielder made a good run into the box but no one could convert his cross. Another chance arrived from Massey’s cross with Wilson unable to force the ball home from close range. There was a third chance as Devine forced a good save from the Charlton keeper. As Vale attacked again, Massey’s cross was blocked by an arm and Vale were awarded a penalty. Ethan Chislett made no mistake with his eighth of the season to make it level.
It was almost two in added-time with Ikpeazu heading straight at the keeper from a corner but 1-1 was probably a fair score with Charlton the better side for most of the half but Vale being denied another clear penalty chance early on.
Second-half
Vale started the second-half well with Massey’s cross missing everyone. Another low Massey cross was heading for Chislett but a defender managed to clear. Another cross from Conor Grant skipped off Wilson’s head in the box. It was a much better and positive showing from the Valiants after the break. However, Charlton were still dangerous on the break and one shot from Campbell beat Ripley but just went wide of the post. Ikpeazu then had a strong run that ended with a weak shot.
There was then another glaring Vale defensive error as Devine lost the ball in the box, it broke clear and Daniel Kanu slotted the ball home on the hour mark. Vale were once again masters of their own downfall for the second time in the game.
Vale nearly equalised minutes later. Good play saw the ball find Massey on the edge of the box and his powerful volley was well saved. They did do that moments later with Uche Ikpeazu scoring his first goal of his second Port Vale spell – a flicked header past the keeper. It came from a Massey cross.
That goal gave Vale confidence as Grant and Devine both had powerful shots blocked. Devine came even closer with a 66th minute piledriver which produced a superb save from the Charlton keeper. As the home side piled on the pressure a shot from Sang was also deflected wide and a Chislett effort hit the post before being ruled offside.
However, all that Vale pressure appeared to come to naught on 81 minutes as Charlton attacked on their left, the ball found Tyreese Campbell and his shot beat Connor Ripley despite his efforts to keep it out. It was a bitter blow for Vale who are too prone to defensive errors. Vale countered with an attack which saw Devine’s shot go just wide.
But there was still time for more late drama as Gavin Massey, so often the target of the Vale boo boys, found the net from the edge of the box. It was a deserved goal for a hard working performance from the wideman. Even though Vale equalised, there was late drama as Charlton missed an open goal from close range – it would have won the game if the player had connected.
After all that drama, both sides probably deserved a point – Vale cannot expect to win with such a leaky defence – but at least it wasn’t a late loss at Carlisle like last week!
Player notes
The Valiants’ back-line is still too porous and prone to basic errors. However, the much maligned Gavin Massey was hard working down the flank and deserved his goal.
Vale clicked into top gear in the second-half when the side pushed on both flanks through Massey and Grant and with Devine pulling the strings. The Spurs loanee will undoubtedly learn from his second-half defensive error.
Ethan Chislett and James Wilson showed some classy touches at times but Wilson faded in the second-half. However, it was a good game for Wilson’s strike partner Uche Ikpeazu, who deserved his goal. On other days he would be in the headlines but that honour belongs to Gavin Massey!
Closing thoughts
It was a dramatic and much needed result for Vale, especially coming on the back of that late loss at Carlisle. However, the Valiants will rue a defence which always has a mistake or three, in it. If they could defend better, it could have been three points rather than one.
Match stats
Port Vale side – Ripley – Debrah (Iacovitti), Lowe, Smith – Massey, Devine, Sang (Walters), Grant – Chislett – Wilson (Dipepa), Ikpeazu
Unused subs – Leutwiler, Loft, Shorrock, Balmer
Vale bookings – Smith
Vale goals – Ethan Chislett (pen, 45), Uche Ikpeazu (64)
Attendance – 5,993 (393 visitors)