Port Vale 1-1 Wrexham (3-1 penalties) – Richards proves his point as Amos shines in shootout

Vale drew with Wrexham in normal time in their final Football League Trophy group game but won a penalty shootout to claim an extra point. Here’s our match report…

Team news

As expected Port Vale manager Darren Moore made a host of changes including a debut for Rakeem Harper, the return of Sam Hart and Nathan Smith’s recall marking his 402nd Vale game – taking him joint eighth on the club’s all-time record list. Diamond Edwards was on a strong Vale bench.

Report

It was a relatively uninspiring first-half marked, from a Vale perspective by a strong penalty appeal and a couple of chances for recalled striker Ruari Paton.

The first chance fell to the visitors but Faal’s downwards header was easily saved by Amos. The same player saw another effort go wide after a Wrexham attack down the right. Fellow forward Bodvarsson saw another effort saved by the Vale keeper.

Vale had a strong penalty appeal on 15 minutes when Hackford appeared to be shoved in the box but it was turned down. Paton was next to threaten with a low shot that went just wide and a powerful free-kick saved by the keeper.

Those chances all came in the opening half-hour and it looked like there was going to precious little to write about in the final fifteen minutes until Paton, once again, flashed a shot wide. There was also an injury concern for Vale when Debrah pulled up towards the end. It was goalless at the break.

Half-time: Port Vale 0-0 Wrexham

A late equaliser by substitute Rico Richards made it 1-1 after 90 minutes as the game went to a penalty shootout.

The visitors took the lead early on when Cleworth finished from close range from a corner. The goal sparked Vale into life with a Paton effort blocked, a Benicio effort well saved and a Debrah header from a corner. The chances still came for Vale with Hackford having a shot cleared off the line and Paton’s appeals for what seemed a second penalty shout turned down.

Vale made a triple change on 65 minutes and one of those subs, Ethan Chislett set up Tolaj for another shot which was saved. Vale finally got the reward for their efforts when Rico Richards made a smart turn from a Debrah throw and his shot found the net with ten minutes remaining.

Vale pushed in the closing stages but were unable to force a winner as it went to penalties.

Full-time: Port Vale 1-1 Wrexham

The game went to a penalty shootout with an extra point on offer. It was Ben Amos’ moment to shine with saves from Wrexham’s Forde and Revan. Vale meanwhile scored through Tolaj, Lowe, Grant but Rico Richards’ fourth was saved to give Wrexham a lifeline. Ollie Rathbone had to score to keep the visitors in it but Amos produced a third save as Vale triumphed 3-1.

Penalties: Port Vale 3-1 Wrexham

Reflections

For the first hour Vale really lacked any creativity in the centre of the park, something that was only addressed when Chislett came on. In terms of positives, Paton was lively, energetic and always a goal threat. It was also a good showing from Nathan Smith who was awarded the sponsors’ man of the match. Hackford too looked to cause the defence problems but perhaps needs to be more clinical and take more of his chances. Chislett impressed after coming on as did Rico Richards who again showed his rich talent with the equaliser.  Perhaps the Valiants were unlucky not to win in normal time as the two penalty shouts certainly looked worthy of spot-kicks. However, it did at least give Amos a chance to shine with three spot-kick saves as Vale ended on a winning note.

Stats

Starting XI: Port Vale: Amos – Debrah, Smith, Hart – Benicio, Lowe, Harper, Shorrock – Tolaj, Hackford, Paton

Subs: Ripley, Curtis

Goals: Richards (82)

Bookings: none

Attendance: TBC

Competition: Football League Trophy group stages

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