Port Vale striker Ruari Paton netted his first League goal of the season and partner Devante Cole another as Vale won a scrappy encounter at St James Park. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Team NewsDarren Moore brought in fit again skipper Ben Garrity, restored Joe Gauci in goal and gave Ruari Paton a start upfront.
It was a powerful looking Vale line-up with Ben Heneghan and Connor Hall adding height to the backline.
Loanees Dejaune Brown and Mo Faal were both on the bench alongside veteran Funso Ojo.
First-half
Breakaway goals from strikers Ruari Paton and Devante Cole gave Port Vale a half-time lead at St James Park.
The Valiants had a dream start thanks to calm play by Irishman Paton. He capitalised on a loose pass at the back to calmly finish past keeper Whitworth to put Vale in front after just four minutes.
It was just the start Vale wanted and they looked solid despite plenty of pressure from the home side. The next decisive moment arrived on the half-hour break when Exeter attacked on the right flank. Doyle-Hayes put in a powerful low drive but Gauci did well to block with his legs at his near post. Vale countered with a move which saw Byers drive just wide.
City were to rue that chance when Vale took advantage of more sloppy play at the back to double their lead. Paton found strike partner Devante Cole and no defenders checked his run as he was allowed into the box to beat Whitworth with a well placed shot on 45 minutes. It was the experienced forward’s second goal in two game but after last week’s late reverse all the half-time talk was about whether the Vale would be able to hang on in the second 45 minutes.
Half-time: Exeter City 0-2 Port Vale
Second-half
Joe Gauci pulled off two more fine saves in the second-half as Vale otherwise comfortably played out the match to record their first win of the season.
The opening period of the half looked to be crucial and away fans were grateful that Sonny Cox put the ball wide when well placed. It was then the turn of Aston Villa loanee Gauci to come to the fore as he pulled off fine stops to deny Magennis and Francis.
After that pressure from the home side, Vale were able to gain a stranglehold on the game and Exeter’s attacking threat fizzled out. Their final effort saw Magennis blaze the ball well over when well placed. Meanwhile, Vale even had a couple of half-chances to increase their lead which sub Dejaune Brown couldn’t capitalise on. The only negative for the Valiants was that Ben Heneghan was forced off and George Byers appeared to be struggling with injury towards the end.
It was otherwise a more than welcome three points for Darren Moore’s Vale side who not only recorded a clean sheet but saw both their strikers find the target. They will now be full of confidence for the visit of Mansfield Town on Saturday.
Full-time: Exeter City 0-2 Port Vale
Analysis
The match
It wasn’t pretty but it was pretty effective. A physical Vale team had to concede possession to the home side for long periods but were solid in their defensive duties while Exeter – through two crucial lapses – were not. Clearly the three points were far more valuable than the aesthetics but Vale were comfortable apart from the few occasions Gauci was tested.
The players
Kyle John was excellent on the right flank while returning skipper Ben Garrity made a difference, linking up midfield and attack. Ruari Paton looked sharp upfront while Ryan Croasdale worked tirelessly. However, this was a solid performance by the entire Port Vale team with everyone putting in a hard working performance.
Star man
Goalkeeper Joe Gauci for his vital saves.
Summing up in a sentence
A win at last.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – Humphreys, Heneghan (Debrah), Hall – John, Croasdale, Byers, Gordon – Garrity (Ojo) – Paton (Brown), Cole (Curtis)
Subs: Marosi, Faal, Gabriel
Yellows: Humphreys, Gordon
Reds: none
Goals: Paton (4), Cole (45)
Attendance: 6,221
Season stats
Your thoughts…
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3 points and first win, let’s kick on from today and keep same line up for next game. As long as we keep Garrity, Cole and mainstream players fit we can progress and move up the table.
I admit it wasn’t pretty at times , but a win is a win .A Valiant display.
Relief with long overdue league win. Vale’s squad depth is more than capable of challenging mid table League 1 clubs. Today’s starting team looked well balanced and competitive. Those calling for the skillful Paton to start alongside star striker Cole will feel vindicated. Losing five of their first seven league games has given Vale a job to stabilize their season, but Moore has the players to recover this and compete higher up the division. The Paton-Cole combination has the potential to be a nightmare for opposition defences. They must have extended run up front. This is an area where Moore has to restrain himself from needless rotation. Stockley should be first reserve striker when he regains fitness.
A very much needed win. As I’ve said before performances haven’t really been that bad, but we were getting to the point of where, what could have been, needed turning into points. Again the team selection seemed a little strange No Walters, No Clark and Garrity returning to the starting eleven from nowhere. It was encouraging to see us start on the front foot, I’m a big believer in whoever dictates the pace of the game usually wins. While Exeter’s tactics of playing out from the back (something we know about all to well) helped and encouraged Vale to hem them in forcing a number of errors, one of which we were able to capitalise on. It’s pleasing to see Paton score and make one, having had to wait so long for his chance. Coles finish was something we’ve not had in the team for a long time and hopefully it will help us turn defence into attack a lot quicker and be more of a threat. We’ve now played four poor teams in Exeter, Reading, Burton and Rotherham all of which I feel we are capable of finishing above so more attacking, pressing football please. Mansfield is another winnable game so while we have not been short of belief the added goal threat from Cole and Paton will tip more games in our favour. Saying all this everything depends on Moore as I still believe he’s cost us at least 6-9 points with poor team selection and substitutions.
A well deserved ground out result. Knew it was coming, onwards and upwards now lads just keep digging in. Up The Vale 😉
Great result for Vale, let’s hope we keep a settled team and see where we go from here.
At last. 3 much needed points. Let’s hope its the start of better things to come. Let’s be forward thinking for mansfield and get that first home league win on the board next week before we welcome the gunners in cup