A late Lorent Tolaj strike, his second of the game, saw Port Vale rescue a draw at the County Ground. Here’s our match report.
Team news
Darren Moore made just one change from the Vale’s last League outing with Ben Heneghan replacing the suspended Tom Sang. Jesse Debrah was named on the bench as cover. Former keeper Connor Ripley was not handed a start by the home side.
First-Half
Jaheim Headley’s second Vale goal and Lorent Tolaj’s fifth cancelled out an eighteenth minute penalty but a late Danny Butterworth strike saw it finish level at the break.
Vale started the brighter with a Jayden Stockley header in the third minute well saved. A good move then saw a Ben Garrity shot blocked.
However, arguably Vale’s best chance to take the lead came on ten minutes. The ball broke to Harper and he advanced with two teammates either side. However, he opted not to pass and ran out of steam as he was tackled in the box.
Meanwhile, Harry Smith was further endearing himself to Vale fans. A sneaky jab into Connor Hall’s midriff after a challenge enraged the Vale defender while his arms “accidentally” flailed into both Nathan Smith and Jaheim Headley. Remarkably, he didn’t receive a caution despite being spoken to by the referee on half a dozen occasions.
Despite his antics, Smith remains a fine forward and caused Vale’s defence problems, particularly in the air. However, it was another forward well known to Vale fans, who was prominent in the move that saw Swindon awarded a penalty. Danny Butterworth played in Ofoborth, who proved too tricky for Nathan Smith and his foul in the box looked a clear penalty. Swindon captain Will Wright calmly scored from the spot on 18 minutes to give the home side the lead.
After conceding, Vale looked short of ideas and were second-best for ten minutes or so. There were too many long aimless balls while Swindon continued to look dangerous going forward. However, the equaliser came out of nothing. A ball was received by Stockley and his excellent weighted pass found Headley who made no mistake with a low 31st minute drive.
Vale could have taken the lead on 37 minutes when Headley and Hall combined. Hall’s cross found Garrity in the box but he sliced it wide. There was a blow when Stockley, who had worked well upfront, was forced off and replaced by Ronan Curtis. However, moments later Vale did take the lead when a sweeping move was finished by Tolaj’s header to make it 2-1 on 40 minutes. It was the Swiss striker’s second goal in successive League games.
The home side countered with some late pressure and Headley was at fault as he tried to shepherd the ball out. Swindon kept the ball in play and it found former Valiant Butterworth who drilled it past Amos to level the scores at the break.
Half-time: Swindon Town 2-2 Port Vale
Second-Half
Goals from Swindon’s Cotterill and another for Vale’s Lorent Tolaj saw it end in an entertaining 3-3 draw at the County Ground.
The home side started the half brightly but the first chance didn’t arrive till the hour mark when Butterworth’s effort was comfortable for Vale keeper Amos. However, Amos had little chance three minutes later when Cotterill’s swerving effort put Swindon back into the lead.
Vale countered by bringing on Umolu and Byers while Curtis had a cross shot palmed away by the home keeper. However, there were few clearcut chances for Darren Moore’s men. It took until the 85th minute for Vale to get a decent chance and they took it. Ronan Curtis’s free-kick found Byers and his drive came off a Swindon defender only for Tolaj to pounce and score from close range.
The goal prompted an exciting finish as both sides pushed for a winner. Vale nearly nabbed it in the 88th minute as Garrity was sent clear but he was tackled. The Valiants came even closer on the 91th minute when Connor Hall’s pointblank shot was expertly saved. It wasn’t to be and Vale would have to settle for a point.
Full-time: Swindon Town 3-3 Port Vale
Summary
It was probably an entertaining game for the neutral and it was nice to have a less controversial referee than those in the last two games. Vale will probably be reasonably happy with a point away from home. More alarming would be any long-term injury to Jayden Stockley as the Valiants are short of experienced options upfront.
Players
Our star man, Lorent Tolaj, continues to benefit from an extended run of starts as his two goals show. Garrity and Croasdale battled away as usual but Jaheim Headley had a mixed game. Some enterprising runs and a goal but an error to help Swindon score a second. Ben Amos looked to have little chance with any of the goals. Arguably, the biggest negative for Vale was the loss of Stockley through injury with the Valiants missing his aerial prowess and build-up play.
Stats
Starting XI: Amos – Smith, Heneghan, Hall – John, Harper (Umolu), Croasdale (Byers), Headley – Garrity – Tolaj, Stockley (Curtis)
Subs: Broome, Debrah, Hart, Hackford
Goals: Headley (31), Tolaj (40 and 85)
Bookings: John, Heneghan, Smith
Attendance:
Competition: League Two
What did you think of the game and the performance? Scroll down and submit a comment.
Vale looked good good forward but unusually Smith clumsily gave a poor penalty away and Headley could have no excuses for unforgivable error for not defending the simplest of positions. On a positive note the midfield appears to have more football ability in it. In summary very poor defending, 3 goals away from home should be enough to win the game.
Thought we should (and deserved to) have won this at a canter. We scored 3 great goals, plus missed a sitter, plus their keeper made two ‘worldie’ saves. On the defensive side ; we gave away a stupid penalty, didn’t shepherd a ball out of play (for their second goal) and their 3rd goal (I thought maybe controversially) should have been saved. The disappointment was the injury to Stockley however I’m looking forward to seeing Garrity, Croasdale and Byers starting together in midfield
2 points dropped. 3 poor goals to give away. How we have not won the game i still cannot believe, we should have scored at least double the 3 we got with the chances we had. Tolaj was again head and shoulders above the rest. Massive game Thursday against Notts. I always say at least we didn’t lose…..but today feels like a defeat
If Stockley is out for some time Paton must be recalled from Dundee Utd. It seems we should have got 3 points today but at least the run goes on. Every game now is crucial that we start making inroads into the goal difference. The defence is giving away silly goals and always at vital times. Keep the faith.
Did you watch a different game cookie, maybe you didn’t bring your guide dog with you, draw a fair result, as for Swindon 3rd goal superman would not of kept that out, you are very much deluded my friend.
The knock on effect of the Vale’s loss of form and results in November- December has hit home. Despite 3 wins and 3 draws in the last six games, it’s proving very difficult to rejoin the top three. Better results have coincided with more consistent team selections, but the damage has been done. It isn’t helped by a goal difference that’s one of the worst of the challenging teams. You look at the squad assembled and think “we should be cruising in the top three”.
No Steve i watched us draw a game we should have won.. I have my view and obviously your view is different and that’s why we love football…everybody has their say and whose to say who is right and who is not right.
If you concede goals like the two we did in the first half you’re going to find it difficult to win any game. An experienced defender like Smith should not give soft penalties away like that. As for Headley it’s as if he had a brain freeze. Headley had a very similar game to last week, very good going forward but suspect with his defensive duties. Tolaj scored two excellent poachers goals, and it just makes you wonder just how many goals Tolaj would have scored if Moore had used him correctly and persevered with him. Surely when Moore signed Tolaj they watched him and knew where his best position was and from where he scored the majority of his goals. Vale did show good character but yet again but mistakes have cost us. I did feel Amos should have done better with their third goal but having seen it on the TV later he did see it late as it came over a number of defenders. Something I’d never thought I’d be saying, but Byers had a good game when he came on, and hopefully he continues to prove me wrong.
Some of negativity on this site beggers belief we are not Real Madrid players will make mistakes I thought we played some really good stuff today and with a bit more luck would have won. We’re in a good position playing well no doubt Darren has developed certain players and we have a positive style and system. Look at state Swindon are in grounds a dump in a load debt and protests outside the ground. We are very lucky to have the owners, manager and players we have, fantastic support again. Come on let’s be positive UTV
I also can’t believe the negativity and can only imagine that these comments are not from true Vale fans, possibly Stoke fans trying to destabilise. Yes we made a couple of mistakes but if you look at the bigger picture, we have been playing well since the turn of the year and the team is gelling nicely from front to back. We are still in the play off spots within touching distance of the top three and loads of points still to play for. I don’t know if Darren or the players look on this forum but I’m sure that the vast majority of Vale true fans are 100% behind Darren, Carol and the players and personally, I can’t wait for Thursday evening for what should be a cracking game. So let’s all get behind the club and make it a special atmosphere on the night and whatever the result remember there’s still a long way to go with lots of twists and turns. Enjoy the ride. UTV!
If stockley is out for some time can Paton be recalled as suggested by Ken or is it definitely until end of the season
Ian it all depends what is in th3 loan agreement. If Mr.Moore and Vale officials have not agreed to a recall which can be at 24 hours then it is poor administration. Hope this is not the case but I begin to wonder what goes on at Vale Park at times.
Ken, as far as I am aware all loans these days (apart from into the non-league) are either half-season or full-season deals. It was an FA/FL (can’t remember which) rule change a while back. So, as far as I can see, the Paton loan was done in the full knowledge it would be to the end of the season. I guess the counter-argument is that he has a three year deal so still can come back in the summer and win a starting place. However, I thought at the time that if Paton left they needed an experienced player to replace him. Otherwise, the only forward with any significant League experience beyond this season is Stockley and he’s now potentially injured. To let Paton go for the rest of the season and then bring in Umolu as his replacement seems a big gamble to me.
To Lee and Alan , I totally agree players at this level will make mistake’s, but there are mistakes and mistakes. Their first two goals came from Sunday morning defending which can not be acceptable at this level, or you will be punished as we were, yet again. As for the comment from Alan basically saying, comments which don’t align with his must be coming from Stoke supporters. Personally I’ve been going the Vale since the 50s, not missed a home game since the mid 60s and travel to almost every away game. Yet I’m a Stoke fan ?? I don’t watch games in rose tinted glasses and I don’t blame Referees every time we don’t win. We did play well at times, scored 3 decent goals yet didn’t win. If you’re happy with that that’s great, but the bigger picture does involve the mistakes and not just what you choose to see. And finally Lee, Vale have a massive debt which is owed to our owners. Most of which has been amassed due to their mismanagement.