A report on Port Vale’s first-ever derby win over Stoke City

The report

Here is the report (if it’s not easy to read then the text is reproduced later on):

The Text

Note: the Sentinel at the time didn’t appear to believe in paragraphs!

STOKE V. PORT VALE
PORT VALE 1
STOKE 1
THE RETURN MATCH AT COBRIDGE.

For the fourteenth time our two premier local teams met to-day, at Cobridge, on the ground of the Port Vale club. There was an absence of that excitement which has usually been conspicuous on previous occasions, and the interest in this important local fixture was evidently not so keen. However, the day being beautifully fine, the attendance on the ground was very large, some 7,000 spectators lining the enclosure. The most remarkable feature previous to the commencextent of the match was the fact that Port Vale were very confi- dent, and in the opinion of the committee they had the best eleven they had ever been able to put into the field. Stoke, on the other hand, were equally certain that they would not allow their rivals to do on this occasion that which they had always failed to do before, namely, secure a victory. Out of the thirteen matches Stoke have a large number of wins over their local opponents to show, Port Vale always having occupied the position of second in the contests, with the exception of two drawn games. Since the first match between these clubs, the teams have naturally undergone considerable alteration, and on no second occasion have the same eleven players opposed each other. Coming now to the actual contest, it may be said that the ground was in capital condition, and everything was in favour of a good fast game.

The following were the teams:-
PORT VALE- Davies, goal; Bateman and Coyle, backs; Barr, McCrindle, and Elson, half-backs; Ballham, Reynolds, McGinnis, Ditchfield, and Connolly, forwards.

STOKE.- Rowley, goal; Clare and Eccles, backs; Ramsey, Christie, and Brodie, half-backs; Sayer, Gee, Baker, Edge, and Dunn, forwards.

Umpires, Messrs. Danks and Smith. Referee, Mr. T. Bryan, Birmingham.

THE GAME.
The start was rather a late one, it being twenty minutes past four o’clock before the ball was started. The visitors lost the toss, and the first conspicuous part of play was a good return by Ramsey, and the ball travelled towards the Port Vale goal. It was easily returned, and a foul was given in the centre against Stoke. Sayer broke off with a smart run, but the ball was sent out. After the kick out play was contested in close vicinity to the Vale goal, but Christie shot over the bar. Quickly the ball was at the other end, but the defence could not be overcome. The Stoke forwards gave Coyle considerable trouble, but he got a neat screw kick in, and Connolly by a grand sprint reached the Stoke quarters, the ball being shot just wide. The Stoke left wing were next prominent, and compelled Bateman to concede a corner, the first of the match. The ball was wonderfully well dropped, and for a few seconds the Port Vale goal was in great jeopardy. Dunn headed in, but Davies fisted the ball away and the danger was averted. A throw-in followed to Stoke, but nothing came of it, and the next point of importance in the game was a foul, which was awarded to Port Vale. Clare, however, headed the ball away, but it remained in close proximity to the Stoke goal, and a second foul was awarded to the home team. The leather was put across to the right wing, but Ballham shot wide. Stoke now attacked by the aid of the left wing, and Davies had to run out to keep Iris charge intact. Ramsey followed this up with a good shot, which went wide a few yards. Gee followed up with another, but the Port Vale defence easily cleared, and Connolly and Ditchfield got away on the left wing. The former shot but Rowley saved. The Vale right wing got possession of the ball, and the Stoke goalkeeper had a second time to save. The ball was still kept in the Stoke half, the defence of the visitors being of a rather wild description. Several wild kicks were made and McGinnis sent in a straight shot, but it was stopped by Rowley Some loose open play, full of exchanges, followed for a time, and then Dunn broke away and shot in, but the ball missed its mark. Again the Stoke end was visited, and Ballham just missed scoring, the ball passing over the bar. Stoke now attacked, but Bateman kept them out, and Barr cleared with a good i kick, Clare was next prominent by a piece of good de- fensive play. From a pass by Sayer Dunn headed in, but Davies sprang up and fisted clear, the ball going out of play. Elson intercepted a pass just as the Stoke forwards were getting dangerous, and the scene of action changed again. Not for long were Stoke kept at bay as the front division again got up and Edge put in a grand shot which just skimmed over the bar. A foul to Stoke was given in midield but only a few yards were gained by it, a similar penalty being given against the visitors a minute later. Geo secured the leather and passed it on to Sayer, who after a run centred beautifully. Dunn, who had got well up, headed in grandly, but, to the disappointment of the Stoke supporters, the ball struck the bar, rebounded, and was cleared. The Vale retaliated, and after Clare had once removed danger Rowley was obliged to con- cede a corner from a fast shot by Reynolds. No im- provement on the point was made, and Ramsey then cleared from a good shot from the right wing, Another attack was made by the Vale, who looked like scoring: but Clare was not to be passed. Sayer obtained possession of the leather, and excite ment grew intense as he looked like getting in. Coyle, however, bowled him over, and Davies easily caught the leather and kicked it away. The hopes of the home supporters rose high as the Stoke defence was ap- parently being overcome, and it looked odds on the Vale registering the first goal of the match. Their efforts to get past Rowley were, however, futile, and in a minute the game was being contested fiercely, amid encouraging cries from both sets of partisans, at the other end. The ball was passed to Sayer on the right wing and he almost took it too far. By a splendid centre he brought it right into the mouth of the Port Vale goal, and Edge quickly running up scored the first point for Stoke. The game, had been contested for close on forty minutes, and the score was greeted with hearty applause. Stoke attacked after kick-off and were withi an ace of scoring again., In response, the Vale made a great effort, but do as they would they could not get in. The pressure was removed, and for several minutes neutral ground was the scene of the combat. Gee secured the leather in a favourable position, and by a rattling shot forced Davies to allow another corner, which met with the same fate as its predecessors. Another good run on the left wing by Dunn and Edge came to nothing, the latter shooting far wide. A smart rally took place in front of the Stoke goal, the home left wing being very prominent, but Christie was instrumental in getting the ball away. Baker made a grand run up the centre, the ball dropping on the bar from his shot, and bounding over. Again the Vale pressed, and Coyle sent the ball on to Ditch- field. The latter securing the opening, steadied himself and put in a high shot, aimed at the corner. Rowley apeared confident in repulsing the shot, but the ball went past him, and amid loud cheers an equalisation was made. The remaining few minutes of the half were fought with increased determination, the spectators exhorting the players to do their best. Nothing more resulted before the interval, when the score was:-

PORT VALE 1

STOKE 1

Upon resuming the encounter the Stoke forwards pressed smartly and caused Coyle to give a corner, which ended in nothing. Responding to this sally, the Valeites put on a little more energy and rushed to the other end, Clare just getting the ball away in time. Stoke, who were now playing with the breeze at their backs, returned the pressure and kept the Vale on the defensive for a time. Ballham, however, off on the right, and when up the corner centred squarely. Ditchfield McGinniss had both got up in expectation, and getting the leathor between them they took it through amid hearty applause. Still they continued to attack, and Rowley was caused several anxious moments. A clearance was, however, effected, and a corner was obtained by Stoke. The ball was well dropped by Ramsey, but Sayer headed it behind. Connolly next got up well, the game becoming much faster than, heretofore, and centred to McGinnis, who put the leather wide. Edge aud Dunn were next prominent, but Bateman pulled them up. A minute later the latter missed his kick, but the chance was not taken by Stoke. Following this Ramsey put beautiful shot right into the hands of Davies, who cleared luckily. Stoke got a corner, followed by a foul, but the ball was sent wide of the posts. Ballham now got well into Stoke ground, and circumventing Eccles, centred finely. Connolly got a bit too far in and conse- quently was unable to head properly, Clare clearing. Ballham got the ball away just as Stoke were looking dangerous, but it was soon back, Bateman heading out of goal. A foul was given against the Vale just by the centre line, but Barr intercepted the leather. Again Stoke attacked, and Davies fell after losing possession of the ball, A regular maul took place, but amid cheers he recovered the leather, and it away. A corner followed, and it seemed any odds on Stoke ring, but it was not to be, and the ball went wide. Excitement at this point was intense, particularly as Gee got grand opening, of which he failed to take advantage. Dunn next bothered the home defence, Coyle gave a corner, Ballham getting the ball away. Ditchfield took the leather on, and Clare’s kick was charged down, but luckily for Stoke the ball rolled behind. A foul to each side was given, and the Vale having the last one got well up. Ballham got a good pass, but his shot was charged down by Eccles. Immediately after McGinnis secured the leather, but sent it over the crossbar. The ball now travelled with rapidity from end to end. Ballham got the leather well in Stoke quarters, but amid general disap- pointment was ruled off-side. Stoke again got away, but the home backs defended finely, and Davies roved fully equal to one shot which came near him. The Vale were penalised owing to Elson giving a de- liberate foul The kick was entrusted to Ramsey, who after a long delay shot high the bar, amid laughter. At this juncture Clare joined the forward division, Sayer retiring to the defence. Stoke were having the best of the game, and for some time kept the ball in the territory. Attack after attack was made, but the home defence were on their merits and played in most determined style. Nothing more resulted, and at the fourteenth time of asking Port Vale were declared winners by two goals to one. The result was received with great cheering, and the crowd broke across the enclosure and wended their way home discussing the game, which for the last ninety minutes bad afforded them considerable diversion.

Get to know the players

The Sentinel pre-season preview appears to be strikingly honest with its assessment, describing one Vale player as “a goalkeeper of average merit”…