Two late goals earned Port Vale victory in the Football League Trophy group stages, but they suffered an injury blow as Kyle John was forced off injured. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Team NewsManager Darren Moore made numerous changes with Ben Amos preferred in goal to Marko Marosi. There were also starts for Ruari Paton, Mo Faal, Jayden Stockley and Rhys Walters. Teenager Jack Shorrock was selected as left wingback.
Fellow youngster Ben Lomax was named on the bench alongside Connor and George Hall as well as Funso Ojo.
First-half
It was goalless at the break in a low key fixture with Jayden Stockley having a couple of half chances for the Valiants.
It was poor quality fare for the start. Vale had a couple of early chances for Stockley – from the first he could only produce a poor lob and he then put a powerful drive wide. Accrington also had claims for a penalty waved away when Madden went down in the box. The Valiants then had another chance on 15 minutes when Paton’s shot was blocked but Shorrock couldn’t latch onto the loose ball.
After those Vale chances, the home side then threatened. Madden broke clear but was flagged offside and then Accrington had the ball in the net through Popoola in 20 minutes but the whistle had already gone.
It continued to be low quality stuff and Conor Grant missed a chance to score against his former club when he blazed a 35th minute free-kick over. The home side finished the half with the majority of possession but were unable to force a save out of Amos.
It was goalless at the break with very little to excite the sparse crowd.
Half-time: Accrington Stanley 0-0 Port Vale
Second-half
Ronan Curtis was centre stage as a challenge on him by Ward saw the home player dismissed. Curtis then provided two moments of quality to set up Connor Hall and Mo Faal for the winning goals.
Vale made a half-time change with Connor Hall replacing Debrah who had been the victim of a heavy challenge in the first-half. There was another early in the second as Madden scythed down Kyle John, who had only just returned from injury. John was unable to carry on which will undoubtedly cause more concern with Vale short of wingback players. His departure meant a first appearance of the season for Ben Lomax.
Vale had a bright start to the second-half although the final ball was lacking. Accrington’s first chance of the half saw Madden fire wide on the hour mark.
The best chance of the game then arrived on the hour mark when Pye broke and Madden met his cross on the full only for Amos to produce a fine save. It resulted in another period of pressure for the home side.
Vale made a double change on 70 minutes with George Hall and Dejaune Brown coming on for Paton and Stockley. However, Accrington continued to press with Henderson driving over on 74 minutes. There was then drama on 77 minutes when Ward was dismissed for a high challenge on Ronan Curtis. Curtis then delivered the resulting free-kick which Faal met with his head but straight at the keeper. Accrington countered with an effort by Caton which was blocked.
It was Curtis who delivered the crucial assists when his 81st minute corner was met by the head of sub Connor Hall to give Vale a late lead. Moments later, Curtis then produced a delightful ball from the right to set up Faal for a second. Curtis nearly added a third with a fine shot which was saved late on.
However, Curtis’ delivery to produce those late strikes were enough to earn Vale their second win of the group stages.
Full-time: Accrington Stanley 0-2 Port Vale
Analysis
The match
Played in driving rain, it was a slippery surface and difficult conditions. The Valiants started with John on the left of a back three, Ronan Curtis as right wingback and a front three of Stockley, Faal and Paton.
After a dour first 45 minutes, it was a major blow to see Kyle John, who had only just returned from injury, depart early after a bad challenge from Madden.
It was scrappy stuff and settled by Vale’s two quality deliveries of the game. It was pretty dour stuff throughout the entirety of the game and it’s doubtful that any of the outfield players who featured, with the possible exception of Ronan Curtis, enhanced their chances of starting on Saturday. However, one player who did was goalkeeper Ben Amos, who will surely be picked to deputise for Australia-bound Joe Gauci.
The players
The positives – first appearances of the season for Ben Amos, who impressed and kept a clean sheet in tricky conditions and Ben Lomax, who also slotted into the side well. Ben Heneghan was solid and the midfield duo of Walters and Croasdale impressed in patches. Ronan Curtis also came more into the game as it progressed and provided two moments of quality.
The negatives – Faal’s poor control let him down at times, Paton was quiet, especially in the second-half and Stockley is still finding his way back to match sharpness. Of course, possibly the biggest negative would be if the luckless Kyle John has picked up another injury.
Star player
Ronan Curtis
Summing up in a sentence
Late drama after a damp squib.
Match stats
Team: Amos – Debrah (C.Hall), Heneghan, John (Lomax) – Curtis, Croasdale, Walters, Shorrock – Paton (Hall), Stockley (Brown), Faal
Subs: Marosi, Ojo, Shipley
Yellows: none
Reds: none
Goals: Connor Hall (81), Mo Faal (85)
Attendance: 649 (164 visitors)
Season stats
Your thoughts…
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Another satisfying result for Moore, his 7th league & cup win this season despite brutal fouls from Accrington. Madden’s vindictive assault on John was an absolute disgrace, warranting a red card. It was certainly worse than Ward’s later foul on Curtis which led to his justified dismissal. Overall a useful run out and minutes for recently unused squad players, including a convincing return by Amos. It’s to be hoped that the unlucky John doesn’t have a long term injury.
That was one very poor performance, Accrington were intent on stopping any type of football being played and Vale struggled to come to terms with the conditions and the mercenary tactics that were adopted by the opposition. Madden should have been dismissed for what can only be described as blatant thuggery. Really sorry for John, he will be missed while he recovers and it leaves Vale short for the trip to Wimbledon on Saturday. Stoclkley needs to be moved on and Faal needs to be returned to sender. Let’s hope that the game on Saturday is a better footballing spectacle and we come away with at least a point. Good to see Amos back, he made a smart save to keep us level in the second half. Keep the faith, Up the Vale.