Port Vale 2-2 Stevenage report – Ojo strikes late against Stevenage once again as Vale claim a point

There was late drama at Vale Park as Funso Ojo scored a last-minute penalty to earn Port Vale a potentially precious point against Stevenage on Saturday afternoon.

Team news

Academy boss Will Ryder remained in charge and made three changes bringing in Nathan Smith, Conor Grant and Gavin Massey. Ryan Loft was missing through illness which meant that the Valiants reverted to the one upfront formation with Wilson supported by Chislett and Weir.

First-half

It was a good start for the Valiants who scored after just five minutes. A pacy Vale move saw James Wilson feed Gavin Massey and his cross was turned in by a Stevenage defender for an own-goal. The goal sparked the home side into life and Vale’s breaks were causing the visitors problems. A James Wilson shot grazed the post on eleven minutes and Chislett should have done better with a free header on twenty minutes as the Valiants dominated the opening stages.

The visitors were rattled and Vale’s talented playmaker Chislett was the victim of numerous heavy challenges with the majority unpunished until Forster-Caskey was yellow carded – it should have been red – for a clear elbow on the Vale midfielder.

There were still scares at the back especially in the final five minutes as Stevenage belatedly came to life. However, the Valiants should have stretched their lead by then as Lopata should have scored from close range following a corner.

They wouldn’t know it as they exited the pitch but Vale would come to regret those misses from Chislett and Lopata.

Half-time: Port Vale 1-0 Stevenage

Second-half

The roles were reversed in the second forty five as Stevenage came quickly out of the blocks and forced an equaliser. It came from a deep cross which Vale failed to defend. The ball was headed down and onto the bar where Jamie Reid converted the rebound from close range. It was just the start to the half that Vale would not have wanted.

It got even worse just before the hour mark. The ball was played into the area and no-one cleared allowing Stevenage defender Terence Vancooten the easiest task to convert from close range. It was a dreadful spell of defending by the Vale which turned the game on its head.

The Valiants brought on Alex Mighten who was lively and set up a couple of half-chances but there was nearly a third for Stevenage as more lax defending gave Hemmings a chance he spurned. There was another chance for Reid but he fired wide under pressure from Smith.

Vale tried to push for an equaliser and there looked to be a clear penalty when Mighten was fouled in the box but nothing was given. However, there was yet another gift for Stevenage when Burns was allowed to weave through but he blazed it over. A third would surely have sown the game up for the visitors and handed a lifeline, Vale pushed desperately for an equaliser.

It looked to be to no avail as the Stevenage keeper made a superb save from Jason Lowe. But Vale kept pressing and there was late drama as Sang’s cross was clearly handled and Vale got a last-second penalty. It was Funso Ojo, with his second late penalty goal against Stevenage, who levelled things up and gave Vale what could be a vital point.

Full-time: Port Vale 2-2 Stevenage

Closing thoughts

It’s a bit like a broken record at the moment but… a terrible January window has left Vale with a leaky defence, a toothless attack and a rookie coaching team on the bench (the latter not helped by the director of football, who has managed for 300+ games, not taking responsibility). Even after this result, it’s still going to be a battle.

It wasn’t a great performance… but this point will be gratefully accepted.

It was a decent first-half display against visitors not in the game but Vale looked to have lost it as Stevenage stepped up a gear. If the visitors had scored another (and they had chances to do so) it would have been game over. As it was, there was only the one goal in it, the Valiants continued to push right to the final whistle and they finally got their reward late on.