Port Vale’s extremely slim chances of staying in League One remain for another game after a 1-0 home win over Rotherham on Tuesday evening.
It was midfielder Ryan Croasdale, back from injury, who struck an early sixth minute winner following Ethon Archer’s blocked shot.
Vale had chances to stretch their lead in the first-half, especially one move where George Hall beat the keeper but could not find striker Martin Sherif, who would have had the simple task of scoring.
The Valiants could have regretted those chances as the visitors pressed more in the second-half but the visitors were unable to find the equaliser. Their best chance when Nombe somehow failed to score with a header from close range.
Vale rallied in the closing stages and Garrity came close to a second goal with a header which was tipped over.
The win sees Vale fourteen points from safety with eight games to play.
Vale – Gauci – Gabriel, John, Humphreys, Gordon (C.Hall) – G.Hall (Campbell), Walters, Garrity, Croasdale (Stockley), Archer (Gray) – Sherif (Waine)
Subs – Amos, Shipley
Due to family commitments, OVF was unable to see this match and as a result we did not want to produce a full match report but rather a brief summary. However, we still welcome your thoughts on the performance by posting a comment below.
A win is a win although a draw would have probably been a fairer outcome. Both sides missed glorious opportunities particularly Nombe who had only to put his header in but found Guaci. The pitch does not help as several passes were misplaced and several players fell over including Humphries who fell at the vital moment but Gauci came to his rescue. Gauci had a poor touch in the first half which could easily have been punished. George Hall also had a couple of chances but made the wrong decision which could have led to goals for Sherif and later Gray. Overall not a game for the purist but a battling win nevertheless.