Darren Moore’s side recovered from a dreadful start to thrash Maldon & Tiptree in their televised FA Cup first round fixture. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Team NewsDarren Moore made three changes as the Valiants lined up in an unusual formation. Kyle John, Ben Garrity and Ryan Croasdale were left out with George Hall, Rhys Walters (pictured) and Mo Faal coming in to replace them.
It meant George Hall replacing John on the right flank while another player in an unfamiliar role was Ruari Paton who was employed in an advance midfield role. However, despite those changes, it was a strong starting line-up for the cup tie.
There was a very strong Vale bench which included Garrity, Heneghan, Curtis and Stockley. The bench also saw the return of Funso Ojo and Ben Waine to the match squad.
First-half
First-halfThree goals in three minutes from Ruari Paton (2) and George Hall, his first for the club, helped see Vale firmly in command at the break. But the half wasn’t without an early scare.
The Valiants got off to the worst possible start as the non-league visitors scored from their first attack. And it was a gift. A slack pass from Connor Hall found a Maldon player and he crossed into the box for a completely unmarked Annisuis Lewis to slot home. It was an appalling lapse by the back three to leave a player unmarked in the box – and it looked like Debrah, the centre of the back three was to blame.
The goal initially rattled Vale with the crowd disenchanted and passes going astray.
However, the Valiants turned things around with three goals in three minutes. Firstly Ruari Paton turned and found the net with a low drive on 15 minutes. A minute later, slack defending allowed Devante Cole to find George Hall in the box and he made no mistake with his first Vale goal. Paton then netted his second on 18 minutes as he weaved his way into the box and found the back of the net. The home crowd all breathed a sigh of relief at this point.
It was almost four on 21 minutes as an unmarked Devante Cole was found in the box but he was flagged offside. However, it was four on 23 minutes as George Hall broke down the right and Cole finished emphatically.
Vale were rampant now and Vale should have scored again on 26 minutes from a dangerous Paton cross. It was then Paton’s turn to be denied as he met Faal’s cross only to see his shot blocked. There was yet another Vale chance but Byers was blocked in the box. Meanwhile, Rhys Walters was on hand to deny a rare Maldon attack on 33 minutes.
The chances continued to come for the home side with Byers’ drive tipped around the post on 34 minutes. In the last ten minutes, Paton then fired wide twice when well placed, another effort from Debrah well saved and yet another chance for the busy Paton saved. However, despite those late missed chances, Port Vale entered the break firmly in command of the tie.
Half-time: Port Vale 4-1 Maldon & Tiptree
Second-half
Second-halfIt was a quieter affair in the second forty five minutes as Devante Cole scored his second of the match to see Vale comfortably into the second round.
There were no changes at the break as the Valiants looked to add more goals. However, the first chance didn’t arrive until 53 minutes when Devante Cole rode a challenge but his effort was saved. The home side should have scored on 54 minutes. A cross from Byers just missed Faal and then Paton’s rasping effort was saved. However, they did score from a corner moments later. Byers’ header found Cole who expertly flicked the ball home on 55 minutes.
That was Cole’s final action of the game as he was one of three players replaced on 58 minutes. Vale’s next attempt saw Faal curl a wild effort wide on 63 minutes.
George Byers was replaced by Funso Ojo on 67 minutes and Ronan Curtis came on for Connor Hall on 71 minutes. There were appeals for a penalty on 72 minutes but sub Dejaune Brown was instead booked for diving then fellow sub Ronan Curtis shot over from the edge of the box on 77 minutes. Meanwhile, a rare attack for the visitors saw Senior blaze over.
Faal was denied again on 84 minutes as he miscued from close range after good work from Hall on the flank and Paton’s shot was blocked on 88 minutes. The Irishman also smashed the stanchion in added time as he sought his hat-trick. It needed an ad hoc fix from the ground staff for the game to continue. The sixth goal looked to have arrived in the 97th minute as Debrah headed home a Curtis corner but it was chalked off as Vale finished five to the good.
The second-half hadn’t been the goalfest some may have expected but it didn’t really matter. Vale had coasted through to the second round after a good day’s work at Vale Park.
Full-time: Port Vale 5-1 Maldon v Tiptree
Analysis
The match
After a nightmare start, Vale finally found their feet and their goal form. The spell of three goals in three minutes meant the game was over as a competition and Vale looked comfortable afterwards. It was a relief to see Vale not hit the headlines for an upset on TV. Perhaps after the rude and disrespectful comments from the visitor’s owner on social media, it was also poetic justice too.
The players
Even though it was against lowly ranked opponents, there were some impressive performances. George Hall was a menace to Maldon on the right flank, Rhys Walters calm in central midfield while Ruari Paton and Devante Cole both looked full of goals. George Byers also had one of his best games in Vale colours. Joe Gauci was not at fault for the goal and otherwise untroubled. As for the negatives – Mo Faal was largely ineffective and Jesse Debrah lost his man for the first goal. However, all in all, this game will have done all the players good.
Star player
Ruari Paton (pictured) impressed and surely deserves a run of starts now. The impressive George Hall ran him close for the star man award.
Summing up in a sentence
Goals galore in cup tie as giantkilling avoided.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – Debrah, Humphreys (Heneghan), C.Hall (Curtis) – G.Hall, Walters, Byers (Ojo), Johnson (Headley) – Paton – Faal, Cole (Brown)
Subs: Amos, Garrity, Stockley, Waine
Yellows: Mo Faal, Dejaune Brown
Reds: none
Goals: Ruari Paton (15,18), G.Hall (16), Cole (24, 55)
Attendance: 4,551 (383 visitors)
Season stats
Your thoughts…
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All we can take from this is Confidence and Goals all 5 of them .
Astonishingly complacent start, but the minnows were soon swept aside. Dominating performance from Vale, reflecting the status gap between the sides. Vale’s four first half goals were sharply finished. Utility player George Hall is an excellent signing, equally adept at wing back, midfield, or up front. Moore has his critics, but I think he’s got a good eye for players. I’ve been impressed with his other signings, especially wing back Gabriel, centre back Humphreys, and striker Cole. A confidence boosting win, and about £150K to the good from gate receipts share, TV earnings, and the FA Cup win bonus. A prolonged FA Cup run is overdue, and might help Vale’s league form, But, expect Moore to frequently surprise with his team selections and tactics.