Cheltenham Town 3-2 Port Vale report – no dream start for Moore as Clarke secures double over Valiants
Former Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke got the better of new man Darren Moore as Cheltenham won a five goal thriller at Whaddon Road. It was a chastening defeat for the Valiants who were put to the sword in the second-half by a dominant home side.
Team news
Port Vale manager Darren Moore brought defender Dan Jones (pictured) and striker Ryan Loft into his starting eleven. It meant Loft partnered James Wilson upfront with Ethan Chislett just behind them. There was still no place in the squad for defender Alex Iacovitti.
Moore was also supported by his coaching team which is yet to be officially confirmed by the club. On the bench were coaches Lee Bradbury and Jamie Smith along with goalkeeping coach Gary Walsh.
First-half
It was an entertaining first-half, played in blustery conditions, which saw the scoreline read 1-1 at the interval.
There were two Vale players who initially took the eye. Ethan Chislett had three chances to give Vale the lead as he forced a save from a clever short corner routine, he was denied by a one-on-one save when he’d beaten the offside trap and had another shot parried when he was set up by Ryan Loft.
Valiants keeper Connor Ripley then came to the fore with two outstanding close-range saves. Firstly, he saved from an unmarked Freestone and then pulled off an even better close range save from Curtis Davies’ header. There was a further good save as Ripley made an error but atoned with another good save at the feet of George Lloyd.
However, there were two efforts which did find the net. Moments after Ripley pulled off those two saves, Vale took the lead as Nathan Smith scored the first goal of Darren Moore’s reign with a 25th minute header from a Conor Grant corner. Then in the closing moments, Cheltenham got the goal that their pressure arguably deserved when former Valiant Matty Taylor scored from a free-kick.
1-1 was probably a fair score at the break. The home side had had the majority of play and had been restricted to just the one goal thanks to Ripley, but Vale had also had chances, notably the three for Ethan Chislett
Half-time: Cheltenham Town 1-1 Port Vale
Second-half
The second forty five minutes were dominated by the home side although it was Vale who took the lead against the run of play.
Cheltenham had chances for Kinsella and Matty Taylor as they pushed for the lead only for Vale to score from a breakaway move. Ethan Chislett burst forward on 65 minutes and he put in a powerful shot which was half saved by the keeper. James Wilson closed on the loose ball but in the confusion it was knocked into the net by Cheltenham’s Curtis Davies.
However, Vale’s lead lasted just three minutes as Shepherd lashed home from close range to make the score all-square. The home side then took the lead for the first time as Ferry tied Gavin Massey in knots and scored powerfully past Ripley to make it 3-2 on 72 minutes. The game had been turned on its head but it was due reward for mounting pressure from Darrell Clarke’s side.
Vale brought on 17 year-old Baylee Dipepa, who, through no fault of his own, cannot change the outcome of the game at this stage of his career and Vale looked second-best to the home side apart from a late push in added time. During the eight minutes added on, there was one good chance which (to no surprise) came via Chislett but apart from that, Vale were largely unable to create a sustained period of pressure. It meant Cheltenham looked reasonably comfortable closing out the game.
The result means that former manager Darrell Clarke has secured the double over the Valiants having won 1-0 at Vale Park earlier in the season. Meanwhile, it will not be the start to his Port Vale career that Darren Moore will have wanted.
Full-time: Cheltenham Town 3-2 Port Vale
Closing thoughts
There was certainly no lack of effort from this Vale side with the hard work put in by the often maligned Ryan Loft encapsulating the Valiants’ workrate. However, like a broken record, the flaws are obvious. This Vale defence still has an error in it, the frontline lacks a cutting edge and there’s no experienced forwards to bring on from the bench. Those January transfer window failures could have fatally damaged this Vale side.
Some Vale players flickered at times, mainly in the opening 45 minutes. In the first-half, Kacper Lopata was dominant at the back, Connor Ripley made some excellent saves and Ethan Chislett was Vale’s sole creative presence through the game. However, James Wilson was largely anonymous, Dan Jones appeared to be injured yet again, the wingbacks were ineffective and the defence can still crumble under pressure.
Ultimately, this Vale side had no answer to the home side’s increasing dominance and pressing. This defeat against one of their relegation rivals will be of deep concern to new man Darren Moore. He will surely be under no illusions that his side are in a real, real danger after this result. Their future in League One is in severe doubt right now.
Match stats
Port Vale: Ripley – Smith, Lopata, Jones (Walters) – Massey, Ojo (Weir), Lowe, Grant (Mighten) – Chislett – Wilson (Dipepa), Loft
Unused subs: Leutwiler, Sang, Debrah
Vale bookings: Ripley, Ojo, Loft
Vale goals: Smith (25), own-goal (65)
Attendance:
David raftery
17th February 2024 @ 6:39 pm
Seeing his first team line up I thought not very inspiring which proved the case league two here we come
Keith Dawson
17th February 2024 @ 9:01 pm
So we now have Darren Moore in charge but I would say Houdini would struggle to save a team that clearly isn’t fit for purpose. 16 games to go so there is a glimmer of hope but as each game slips away it’s difficult to believe that an escape from relegation is possible. The problem is “ you can’t make chicken soup out of chicken shit” let’s see what Tuesday brings. Keep the faith, Up the Vale.
David Walklate
17th February 2024 @ 9:17 pm
Thought we might have gone with a back 4. In attack, Loft and Wilson as a combination don’t work
David Brown
18th February 2024 @ 9:24 am
Moore selected what was arguably the most experienced available team. That it wasn’t enough to contain fellow relegation candidates Cheltenham in this vital 6 pointer, doesn’t bode well. The squad would benefit from the return from injury of Clark, Plant, Garrity, and Ikpeazu. The strike duo of Loft and Wilson is blunt. Wilson has never been a prolific scorer, while Loft doesn’t sufficiently make use of his physical attributes to upset opposition defences. It’s going to be a struggle to stay up, although Darrel Clarke’s Cheltenham look as though they can pull clear.
Samuel Brotherton
18th February 2024 @ 12:05 pm
Typical vale get in front then fold like a pack of cards good luck Darren you will need it most of the players are no good
No fight no skills just turning up