Torquay United-Port Vale 0-1
Port Vale tog en välbehövlig bortaseger på Plainmoor Ground mot Torquay efter ett par mindre goda insatser på slutet. The Valiants håller fortfarande de jagande motståndarna på betryggande avstånd vad gäller de tre första platserna i tabellen som garanterar direkt uppflyttning till League One. Det var också roligt att det var den ifrågasatte Calvin Andrew som fick göra segermålet.
Calvin Andrew lånades in till klubben i november månad ifjol utan att egentligen ha något rykte om sig som en god målskytt. Han hade för övrigt inte gjort mål på många år i ligaspelet. Det var också många som undrade över vad Mickey Adams såg i honom. Lee Hughes kom till klubben för en månad som en pålitlig målskytt och började också bra, men han har haft det lite tyngre på slutet och fick börja denna match på målskytten. Kanske är det åldern som håller på att ta ut sin rätt. Många trodde att det var Louis Dodds eller Ben Williamson som nu skulle få spela bredvid Tom Pope, men det var istället Calvin Andrew som fick förtroendet och det gick ju bra.
Här följer en matchrapport från vår samarbetspartner onevalefan.co.uk.
Port Vale secured ther first away win since January 12th as they narrowly defeated Torquay United thanks to Calvin Andrew’s first Vale goal. Micky Adams brought back John McCombe into the starting line-up. With Lee Hughes missing through illess, somewhat surprisingly Calvin Andrew rather than Louis Dodds was named as Tom Pope’s striking partner. Ben Williamson was missing through illness, while Ryan Boot was named as reserve keeper, replacing the injured Sam Johnson.
Vale’s first chance fell to Myrie-Williams, but the Vale were grateful to Chris Neal on six minutes as his fine save kept out a Rene Howe header. However, the Vale countered and took the lead when captain Doug Loft’s shot was deflected in via Andrew on the half-hour mark for his first goal for the club. The Valiants nearly doubled their lead within minutes of the restart but Vincent was ruled offside. Despite their lead, Vale were somewhat fortunate to take a one goal advantage into the half-time break as the home side appeared to have at least one valid penalty appeal turned down.
The away side had an appeal of their own in the second-half as Myrie-Williams looked to be barged in the penalty box. But again, the referee was unmoved. However, the game remained a mostly patchy affair with Vale unable to establish any dominance against a determined home side. But credit was due to the Vale back four who performed a highly professional job in keeping a clean sheet. Meanwhile, the much maligned Andrew was having probably his best game in a Vale shirt
The Valiants made a change with twenty minutes left as Sam Morsy replaced Ryan Burge, who had been booked. The home side pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but Vale continued to hold firm and recorded a much needed win that boosts their chances of automatic promotion.
Vale: Neal, Duffy, McCombe, Purse, Jones, Myrie-Williams, Burge (Morsy), Loft, Vincent, Pope, Andrew
Subs: Boot, Yates, Birchall, Shuker, Dodds, Taylor
