A late strike from Ronan Curtis earned Vale all three points after what had been a mostly dour game at Vale Park. Here’s our match report.
Team news
Manager Darren Moore was forced into two changes due to injury. Tom Sang came in for the injured Ben Heneghan while Ryan Croasdale returned for the injured George Byers. Skipper Ben Garrity remained on the bench as he continued to recover from injury.
First-Half
It wasn’t a first-half that will live long in the memory and although Jayden Stockley found the net it was ruled offside as it was goalless at the break.
It was an opening forty five minutes that saw Vale largely dominating possession but only forcing the goalkeeper into saves on a couple of occasions.
Vale’s first chance came in the first minute with Clark’s corner hitting the bar. There were further chances for Tolaj and Curtis – who both saw efforts blocked. Jayden Stockley did force the keeper into a save with one effort and then he had the best chance of the half. On 13 minutes a free-kick found Connor Hall and his low cross was converted by Stockley from close range only for it to be flagged offside.
Morecambe were mainly involved in defensive action but when they did attack it was the lively Edwards who caused the Vale defence most problems. He sent a chip wide early on and another run saw Lewis effort blocked.
It was goalless at the break with Vale comfortably on top but unable to find their way through a resilient Morecambe defence.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-0 Morecambe
Second-Half
A late strike from Ronan Curtis saw the Valiants scramble all three points at Vale Park
Like the first-half, it took some time for the second-half to come to life. It did on 52 minutes with both sides having penalty claims – Morecambe for a challenge by Hall in the box and Vale for a tackle on Stockley.
There was then a period of pressure for the visitors with Amos pulling off some good saves, notably a fine close range effort from the dangerous Edwards. Jayden Stockley was also on hand to turn a dangerous cross behind.
Vale fans were starting to express their annoyance both with the performance and some heavy challenges by Morecambe players which resulted in Debrah and Croasdale being felled. A period of Vale pressure saw Stockley nearly played through by Richards and a fierce Sang drive go over. Richards was the next player to be sent clear and appeals for another penalty turned down. Then the best chance so far, saw a melee in the box and Croasdale strike the post with his drive.
By the time those Vale chances arrived there were just ten minutes of play left. On 84 minutes Garrity fizzed a fierce shot over and the home side finally took the lead on 89 minutes. Curtis, who until that point had been off the boil, fired in a low shot that beat the keeper and found the back of the net.
There was an odd move after the goal when Richards, who had only been on the pitch for seventeen minutes left to be replaced by Nathan Smith. The loanee did not look impressed by the decision but with seven minutes of additional time, Moore opted for another defender.
The move worked as Vale held out for what could be a vital three points.
Full-time: Port Vale 1-0 Morecambe
Summary
After the comprehensive win over Milton Keynes last week, this felt like Vale had regressed to their previous spluttering form. It was worrying to see the lack of intensity at times. A win is still a win regardless of the performance but surely Vale will need to do better against higher placed opponents.
Players
This wasn’t a game where any one player stood out. Tom Sang put in some dangerous crosses at times. Ben Amos, after a quiet first-half made some vital saves in the second. Rico Richards looked lively after coming on. Ronan Curtis had an odd game. He’d been off the pace until a flash of skill saw him score the winner. Credit too to the defence who recorded another clean sheet.
Stats
Starting XI: Amos – Sang, Debrah, Hall – Clark (Richards (sub Smith)), Walters (Garrity), Croasdale, John – Curtis, Stockley, Tolaj (Hackford)
Subs: Broome, Umolu, Harper
Goals: Curtis (89)
Yellow cards: Hall, Curtis
Attendance: TBC
Competition: League Two
What did you think of the game and the performance? Scroll down and submit a comment.
Too many injuries being picked up in training and this needs to be rectified as our better players need to be on the pitch and fully fit. Don’t know what the manager and coaches are doing allowing this in training at this time of the season but it needs sorting out. If not it will railroad our season. Still believe they want another wembley pay day.
Vale did well today against a team with survival tactics of do as you want the ref is on side, I can’t believe some of the refs decisions, I thought it was going to end with Vale dropping points,but up stepped Curtis what a goal to win a game we needed to win, this is a fantastic 3 points.I still do not understand Mr Moore’s tactics, then again I don’t think he does either, a win on Tuesday and a point at Crewe will set us up for the run in.
3 more Points and up to 4th, Morecambe fighting to stay in the league. No games easy at this stage so a scrappy 3 Points is required. Why is Chislett not even in the match day squad , as it seems that he and the manager have issues. Moore may be a seasoned manager but his attitude towards certain players is creating a toxic club again.
First set of remarks seem to ring true, my brother who lives near to Vale as seen them in training. It’s is high level and at this time of the season it should just be tick over. Most games now they look heavy legged and drained. This is poor coaching and management and no wonder their are so many injured at training and not fit on match days.
Vital three points secured. Again it’s a late goal, stumbling performance, and baffling tactical decisions. So, Moore’s successful trend continues, but supporter confidence remains in some doubt. In the back three, Debrah and Sang start ahead of vastly experienced Smith who presumably pays the price for being outpaced at Colchester. Highly creative and skillful Chislett not in the match day squad. We await an explanation for that. The narrow goal difference indicates a spluttering promotion bid, and yet with only nine games remaining Moore has his team very well placed to achieve the target. Few will say Moore has done a bad job if he succeeds.
Quick note on ex Vale boss Andy Crosby, appointed interim Tranmere Rovers Manager. He’s undefeated in his first 5 games in the club’s relegation battle, including an impressive away win at Bradford City. Crosby is a real football man, a true gent, who tried is absolute best for the Vale. I hope it works out successfully at Tranmere. They could do far worse than appoint him on a permanent basis. Few in the EFL know Leagues 1 and 2 better than Crosby.
One never knows what to believe when it comes to team selections down the Vale, I’m still waiting to see what this important role Chislett has to play in the promotion run in, OR was that just more bull coming out of Moores mouth. Supposedly a must win game against a team second bottom and Moore to me played two holding midfielders. Then other than get the ball out wide and lump high balls into the box regardless of if we are winning any of them or not seems to be Moores only tactic. His substitutions just don’t make sense to me at the best of times, but to replace Walters with Garrity (that’s fine) then playing him in the same position instead of higher up the field is just bonkers. Replacing Richards with Smith for the last 10 minutes was just ridiculous. Richards was lively and putting Morecambe under pressure and instead of keeping the pressure on Morecambe Moore bottled it, this is another game that could have gone horribly wrong if not for that brilliant save by Amos from the header. In all fairness Curtis was having a stinker until his goal but at last a goal scored from outside of the box, alls we need now is a couple of goals from set pieces! If Vale win promotion it will be in spite of Moore and not because of him, when one looks back over the season other than the MK game it’s difficult to think of another game that we have comfortably, and that’s ridiculous when one considers where we are in the league.
After the comprehensive win over Milton Keynes last week, this felt like Vale had regressed to their previous spluttering form. It was worrying to see the lack of intensity at times. A win is still a win regardless of the performance but surely Vale will need to do better against higher placed opponents.
All said by Rob Fielding, enough said 😉