A last-minute goal from defender Jesse Debrah earned Port Vale side a potentially vital point in their promotion chase. Here’s our match report.
Team news
After the defeat at Carlisle, Darren Moore made changes. Ben Garrity and Jack Shorrock were both injured. Sam Hart came in for Shorrock but to some surprise, Rakeem Harper, rather than Curtis or Richards replaced Garrity. George Byers came in for Rhys Walters leaving Vale’s midfield looking light on forward options. It was nice to see fit again Jaheim Headley named on the bench.
First-Half
The Valiants were largely second-best as they trailed at home to Grimsby Town at the break. It left them with plenty to do in the second period.
It was an uneventful opening twenty minutes with it being a pretty even affair. The visitors had the first attempt with a free-kick that went over and there was also an effort by Green that went wide. Vale were restricted to half chances. Croasdale fed Stockley and Harper within minutes but they both mis-kicked while Harper fired another long-range effort over.
As it reached the midway point of the half, Vale needed to find a more cutting edge. However, it was the visitors who found the net on 23 minutes. Denver Hume’s effort was palmed out by Amos and Vale nemesis Danny Rose fashioned onto the rebound to net. It was probably all that Vale deserved after such an unsure start.
The goal spurred Grimsby on who had a good period of pressure afterwards. Vale countered on 31 minutes with a move which saw Croasdae lay it off to Tolaj but he fired wide. There was then an inviting cross by Byers which no-one could get on the end of. However, Grimsby continued to ask questions of the Vale backline as the half progressed.
It looked like Vale had pulled one back on 41 minutes when Stockley turned in the box but his shot found the side netting. That was probably the home side’s best chance as it ended in disappointment at the break with the Valiants trailing.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-1 Grimsby Town
Second-Half
Goals from striker Lorent Tolaj and an injury time equaliser from Jesse Debrah saw the Valiants snatch a potentially priceless point.
The home side started the second-half better with Grimsby keeper Eastwood making a fine save from Jayden Stockley in the opening moments. However, Byers’ clumsy challenge in the box on 51 minutes gave Grimsby a penalty and a chance to stretch their lead. It was Rose who stepped up and made no mistake to pile the pressure on the Valiants.
Moore responded with changes. Jaheim Headley came on for Nathan Smith and Ronan Curtis came on for Rakeem Harper. They were swiftly followed by Rhys Walters coming on for Hart. However, it was Grimsby who had the next chance through Hume’s 60th minute strike.
Vale finally sparked into life on 66 minutes after good work from Stockley who fed Croasdale who could only supply a weak shot. However, it continued to be largely disjointed play by Darren Moore’s side. The Vale finally found the target on 77 minutes. A corner was partially cleared and sub Walters found Tolaj who made no mistake.
The goal spurred Vale into life. Two minutes later, sub Headley forced another save and Richards was denied by Eastwood as Vale pressed. However, Vale were grateful for a good save from Amos on 88 minutes to prevent the visitors hitting a third. It was to prove vital as Vale scored an equaliser in the final minute. Headley crossed and it found Debrah who netted from close range. The draw was celebrated like a win and it could be a potentially vital point for the club.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-2 Grimsby Town
Summary
It was once again an odd starting line-up by Moore. Byers, Harper and Croasdale are too similar. It needed Curtis, Richards or dare we say it Chislett to be a like-for-like replacement for Garrity. For the second game in a row the backline looked shaky at times and there was too sporadic a service to the frontline for much of the game. Vale did push in the final fifteen minutes which was largely thanks to their “go for broke” subs – with Headley, Curtis, Walters and Richards all offering more creativity and attacking threat. Moore’s men got their draw but could it have been different with a more attacking starting line-up?
Players
Well, what to make of that one? Of the starters – Clark, Stockley and Tolaj looked to have decent games but the others were distinctly average.
It was the subs who arguably spurred Vale into life. Jaheim Headley was lively and linked up well with fellow sub Ronan Curtis while Rhys Walters and Rico Richards also showed some good skill. Will any of them start the next game?
Stats
Starting XI: Amos – Debrah, Smith (Headley), Hall – Clark, Croasdale (Richards), Byers, Harper (Curtis), Hart (Walters) – Tolaj, Stockley
Subs: Broome, Umolu, Hackford
Goals: Tolaj (78), Debrah (94)
Yellow cards: Clark
Attendance: 11,820
Competition: League Two
What did you think of the game and the performance? Scroll down and submit a comment.
Its obvious the players are getting tired hence the injuries we are now seeing. Another 5 minutes and I’m convinced we’d have got another but a point against a play-off team responding to a thrashing at home last Friday I will take. Lets stay behind them, a win Saturday at Wimbledon and we are promoted so we haven’t got too look at any other results. Come On Vale, you can do it guys. 100% for another two games lets go get the results. All the very best lads 😉
Strange decision to play harper who not figured for a while.This felt like being ultra defensive for lets face it. a defensively minded manager. We needed more going forward Agree totally with points made about 3 starters who did well , the rest average.Said it before but I’m not convinced by Amos, I was right behind the shot and think he should have done better.Headley was superb and other subs Ronan Rhys and Rico made the difference. It appears that no team wants promotion and most likely going to the wire so in the end a point salvaged that felt like a win. Big performance needed at Wimbledon next week but what team will start….answers on a post card!
The last massively dissapointing home game was against Barrow and Moore decided to chop and change our starting 11 for that one. We really shouldn’t see Harper play again this season if we want to give ourselves the best chance of going up. We need a creative connection to the two up front and he brings nothing (apart from misguided passes) to the party. Said it before… can the goal keeper coach drum it in to Amos to stop palming shots back into the path of of their players – if you can’t keep hold of it push it round the post. He needs to command that area as well – sorry just not good enough!
Too many in midfield too similar and no Chislett again. He should have been at least on the bench but Mr Moore knows best ?. Why a negative line up at home when we needed 3 points .
Wow another 90 minutes of mayhem, not sure how Darren Moore selects his starting 11, I suspect he has the players names on a dart board, blind folds himself and wherever the first 11 arrows land that’s the starting 11. Seriously how in gods name can he play Harper and leave Walter’s on the bench, utter madness. If he wants to achieve promotion or even to win the league he needs to start with Walter’s, Richards and Headley, just an observation but what the dickens does Byers think he’s doing? Clown keep the faith, Up the Vale
Apart from the weird selection of Harper, I thought the starting line-up was pretty much what I expected. However Moore’s obsession with playing a defensive formation at home proved costly on e again.
Despite wanting the team to finally be crowned champions after waiting 66 years, I am now hoping that Donny thrash Bradford to destroy their slightly better goal difference then hopefully we will only need just one, or possibly, two more points.
Sorry Kieth Dawson, I don’t think he Moore would be allowed near points on anything, he dropping them regularly at Vale .As for you who think he should be manager of the season give us break
Generally, I would agree with most of the previous comments but I would add to the three players mentioned as having a good game, Sam Hart who I felt had a positive attitude throughout his time on the pitch.
I cannot understand why Moore put in Harper for such an important game. He has not featured since the Barrow loss , so why now. I hope Moore realises his mistake and there are no further ‘shock/surprise’ selections for the starting lineup.
Keep the faith Vale fans.
A solitary point from two critical automatic promotion run-in games against Carlisle and Grimsby. Who saw that coming ? Moore’s starting selection was baffling. In a must win home game, why select Harper ahead of Curtis to replace the injured goal scoring Garrity ? A disjointed performance, but a last ditch vital point rescued. Nerves combined with inept team selection have damaged Vale’s automatic promotion chances. Missing that critical stoppage time penalty at Carlisle is the stuff of nightmares.
the chopping and changing of players baffles me; we were very poor at Carlisle; it was a clear penalty but Smith looks very slow and leggy
a win would have got us promoted but I am getting more(Moore) frustrated with this manager every week; just win a game rather than just defending
but I expect us to go up against Wimbledon on Saturday; but please get Chislet into the team or he will leave and he is one of our best players
Glad for the point, a hard watch, lucky Bradford ended up drawing! Walters seems to have grown into his role, Harper misfires continually, Headley looked good after his lay off and Ronan and Rico played well. Why do we have to wait so late for subs that can influence a game to be introduced? Vale look a much better side when the more influential players are on the field and attacking, rather than the dull defensive set up at the start of a game which over the last two games has meant chasing 3 goal and 2 goal deficits. We always see the potential at the latter stages of a game, which leaves me dumbfounded. Ruined my bank holiday weekend!
Cambridgeshire here. I have supported Vale since I was a boy, I am now 82! Very nervous about Vale getting promotion!
You’re not the only one Cambridgeshire! It’s nice to hear from such a long standing Vale fan. Here’s hoping there’s another Vale promotion for you to celebrate soon!
Suffolk here, WE ARE GOING UP! Can’t match Cambridgeshire but I had trials with them at 16! Heart, blood and always been everything VALE!…45 years UTV…VTID!
Hi Suffolk, thanks and I hope you’ll be joining the celebrations too (fingers crossed).
I criticised Moore for doing nothing when Vale were struggling in the first half against Carlisle, and I also criticise Byers for giving away a ridiculous free kick that led to Carlisle’s third goal, and again I look at these two for the below par performance against Grimsby. We had just won 6/7 by playing open attacking football with a settled team. Carlisle was a bit lacklustre but we could still have come away with a point had it not been for the penalty miss. But it’s as if Moores just waiting for that one bad performance to revert back to his ridiculously and pathetic defensive formations. It was a stone banker he would use that performance as his excuse to bring Byers back into the team, but where on earth did he get Harper coming in for Garrity? Byers plays that deep he has no influence on the game whatsoever, and because he’s so deep almost the entire team is having have to pass backwards to get him involved. Also whoever is playing along side Byers is also being left exposed, with a lot of ground to cover so that he can sit in this little safe area. You just can’t replace Walters with Byers because of the legs you are loosing in the middle of the park. Both Walters and Croasdale HAD to start and for me it was an obvious Chislett for Garrity, like for like and try to keep as much of a settled team as possible. We will see if Moore continues with his team selection of punishing players who make mistakes by leaving out Byers for giving the penalty away, my guess is NOT on this occasion. As I’ve said before if Vale go up it will be in spite of this manager and not because of him. I’ve never known a manager as bad as Moore for choosing players based on his personal likes or dislikes of them rather than their actual footballing ability.