Ben Waine and Rico Richards both scored for the second successive friendly as the Valiants defeated a PFA scratch eleven in a friendly game.
The PFA side consisted of players without a club who were training with the PFA and gave them the opportunity to impress in a match – as well as giving Vale further match practice. The PFA side included Jake Forster-Caskey, Ash Hunter and goalkeeper Jamal Blackman.
Darren Moore handed goalkeeper Marko Marosi a full debut while Waine started upfront. It was the New Zealand International who put Vale ahead on twenty minutes. The lead was then doubled by teenager Jack Shorrock who scored with a scissors kick to put Vale two clear at the break.
Half-time: Port Vale 2-0 PFA XI
The Valiants once again adopted a strategy of making mass changes on the hour mark as ten new outfield players came on. However, just a minute after the changes the PFA side pulled a goal back through Olomola. it was followed by a second from Hiwula minutes later to make it 2-2 on 63 minutes. However, Vale won it late on when Rico Richards scored on 87 minutes.
It means three straight friendly wins for the Vale – and they’ve scored fifteen goals in those three matches to boot.
Full-time: Port Vale 3-2 PFA XI
Vale line-up
Vale up to the hour mark: Marosi, Gordon, Hall, Humphreys, Debrah, John, Byers, Shipley, Waine, Curtis, Shorrock
Vale after the hour mark: Marosi, Headley, Clark, Lomax, Hart, Heneghan, Richards, Walters, Croasdale, Paton, Stockley
Goals
Ben Waine (20), Jack Shorrock (32), Rico Richards (87)
What are your thoughts on the win? Share your thoughts and post a comment below.
All about fitness at this stage, results don’t matter. The Vale have put together a decent squad with a variety of selection options, particularly strong at wing back. They’ll need that stepping up to League 1 with much tougher fixtures. It won’t be easy.