Ben Waine’s second goal for the Valiants helped them secure a place in the FA Cup third round. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Manager Darren Moore mainly kept faith with the same players and formation which beat Barnsley 5-0 in the Trophy. It meant Ben Amos stayed in goal and there was a back four of John, Heneghan, Hall and Headley.
In midfield, Funso Ojo returned, George Hall replaced Dejaune Brown and Devante Cole started upfront. A strong bench featured Ryan Croasdale, Jayden Stockley and Jesse Debrah.
George Hall – returned to starting eleven
First-half
Both sides had two good opportunities to score but it was goalless at the break at Vale Park.
It was Vale with the first opportunity. Paton’s free-kick found the head of Waine. He found the net but it was ruled out for offside. George Hall was denied by the keeper while another effort from Paton was deflected wide. However, the best chance came late on when Waine shot over when he should have found the target.
There was a melee on the half-hour mark which saw Paton and George Hall booked for the Valiants. Rovers had two chances of their own. Former Vale striker Ellis Harrison shot but Amos produced a good save to deny him then another good chance went over.
At the break it was all-square.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-0 Bristol Rovers
Ben Waine: good chance
Second-half
An early goal from Ben Waine, his second cup goal of the week, was enough to take the Valiants into the third round of the FA Cup.
There was an early goal for Vale as Heneghan headed the ball forward and Waine made amends with a confident finish.
It gave the Valiants confidence and there were further half chances for Paton and Heneghan. Vale had golden opportunities to add to their lead. Firstly, excellent work from Devante Cole found Paton who hit the side netting. Then sub Mo Faal was denied by a good save.
Vale were not to rue those missed chances. The most dangerous chances saw a poor back-pass by Byers cause problems but John did well to clear up then late on Conteh had a couple of efforts.
In the main, Vale were largely comfortable and decent value for their win.
Full-time: Port Vale 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Ben Waine – on target
Analysis and Opinion
The match
This wasn’t a game for the purists with plenty of aimless high balls. The atmosphere also wasn’t helped by some baffling decisions from the officials. However, Vale did have the better of the chances overall and deserved the win. One disappointing aspect was the crowd of just over 3,000. Despite that, Vale now have the chance of a potentially lucrative draw in the third round. Let’s also hope they can translate some of their cup form into the League.
The players
Vale’s “Trophy 4-2-3-1 line-up” with plenty of pace upfront caused Rovers lots of problems. Ruari Paton again impressed in the “number ten” position. George Byers orchestrated things in midfield while Ben Waine’s second goal of the week will do him the power of good. Defensive duo Ben Heneghan and Connor Hall looked comfortable as a partnership as Vale’s back four once again looked a better option than three at the back.
Star player
Ben Waine scored the crucial goal but Kyle John impressed over 90 minutes.
Summing up in a sentence
Welcome Cup progress for Vale.
Match stats
Team: Amos – John, Heneghan, C.Hall, Headley – Byers, Ojo – G.Hall (Brown), Paton (Faal), Waine (Curtis) – Cole
Subs: Gauci, Stockley, Croasdale, Humphreys, Walters, Debrah
Yellows: G.Hall, Paton
Reds: none
Goals: Waine (47)
Attendance: 3,227 (332 visitors)
Season stats
Your thoughts…
Debate the match on the dedicated match thread in the OVF forum
Or scroll down and post your comment at the bottom of this match report
Awfully quiet on here last couple of games….
Embarrassing.
Moaners, not supporters
Hmmm, really @Jamo.
There were 11 comments on the match report for the poor loss against Lincoln and 11 comments on the Trophy win against Barnsley.
That would suggest no difference to me….
Last 2 cup games not really caught the imagination of the fans judging by the attendances. The daily bread and butter starts Tuesday against bradford and interesting to see how the team perform against better quality opposition (in my view), in what is a massive game in the league. Is it the start of a renaissance or a false dawn? Time will tell.
Back four looked a lot better today, Conner Hall was at every ball.
Still need to stop some unforced errors occurring on a regular basis.
Devante Cole was anonymous again, I think DM thinks he has to pick him because of his wage packet.
Definitely a confidence booster, Ben Waine a little match rusty, but will get better and might be a very important asset with matches to come
Well done Vale another clean sheet looked more settled again should have had more goals. Byers and Ojo linked up very well John had another consistent performance, Waine played well deserved his goal because he kept going for the run between there defenders and worked hard to help our defence when needed, well done D moore bigger test tue lets keep it going and move up this league. Vale fan 57 years and still going up the Vale.
Another morale boosting win, albeit against out of form League 2 strugglers. The lowly 3,200 gate surprised me. Pre Christmas expenses and perhaps the weather are usual reasons this time of year. Nevertheless, it’s well down on the 4,550 against little Maldon & Tiptree in the last round. Are supporters voting with their feet after the recent intense recriminations against Moore ? If so, a worrying and financially damaging sign. But, the Vale still come away from this match with a healthy £80K FA Cup win bonus, and with luck there’s always the chance of drawing a lucrative tie in the FA Cup Third Round. Focus now goes back to the relegation struggle, and how this week’s successive Cup wins influence Moore’s selection and tactics for vital upcoming games.
Let’s stick with the trophy and cup tie lineups for Tuesday.
Having been going the Vale since the late 50s and not missed a home game in almost 60 years, I find it a little condescending Jamo likes to refer to supporters who have a different opinion to his own as moaners. Just because the Vale have won two cup games, against a lower league team who have lost there last 7or8 league games, and a team totally uninterested on the night doesn’t mean Vale have turned the corner. When, or in fact if you ever grow up you will learn the league table usually is a good indication on how well your club is playing AND WE ARE BOTTOM!!!
Ian Mountford well said, Jamo got the ground to himself ( no mosners) then complains about it being quite, Make your mind up Jamo