It might not have been the result that Vale fans were looking for, but Manager John Askey will be nothing be satisfied with getting a look at no less than twenty-three players in a competitive game against today’s visitors Blackpool. No less than four trialists took the field throughout the game and although no one did themselves any harm, Dino Visser will be please with efforts during the first half in particular.
During what was a cagey first quarter of an hour, Vale more than held their own against opponents from a higher league and indeed won the first corner of the game on five minutes, the visiting keeper blotting his copy book early on, flapping at the cross but the Blackpool defence managed to scramble it away. Vale won a second corner five minutes later after good work from Brown getting to the by-line, but his cross and the resulting corner were both repelled by the Blackpool defence.
Vale though were grateful to the referee just ten minutes when Anderson was tumbled by Joyce driving towards the by-line. Everyone expected the whistle, no one expected the referee to point for a goal kick, and Vale breathed a huge sigh of relief. On Twenty-Six minutes, Visser made the first of two solid saves, the South-African trialist standing up well to Anderson after an error in the back four allowed the seasider a clear shot on goal for the first time.
Vale really should have taken the lead themselves on Twenty-Eight minutes, Pope feeling a needless shove in the back and taking a tumble to win a ‘soft’ penalty for Valiants. The mercurial striker picked himself up and claimed the spot kick but would have been stunned to see his spot kick hit the right upright and go wide.
As supporters from across the world started to think of a cup of tea and a break from the You Tube feed, the visitors took the lead despite heroics from Visser. The Seasiders won a corner from the attacking right, the ball finding itself at the feet of Striker Yates, and despite two point blank saves from Visser, the ball ricocheted to Kaikai, who drilled the ball through a myriad of Vale defenders and into the Vale net.
The second half saw wholesale changes to the Vale side, with the Valiants fielding a whole new eleven players with the visitors only changing their goalkeeper, much to everyone’s surprise.
Vale started much the brighter of the two sides and capitalised on this equalising through Scott Burgess. After impressing out on loan last season, Daniel Trickett-Smith chased a seemingly lost cause, causing panic in the ‘Pool defence and robbing Ekpiteta, of the ball before squaring the ball to Burgess who made a difficult chance look easy, firing into the roof of the net from eighteen yards.
With Vale just needing a solid five minutes, it was not to be as Vale over played out of defence, Anderson stealing the ball, and calmly placed the ball to Browns left and restored the visitors lead.
On the hour, it was Blackpool’s turn to change all ten of their outfielders and this seem to galvanise the visitors, with CJ Hamiliton being denied three times when handily placed. Vale were thankful to Scott Brown standing up to the striker on two separate occasions one on one but the young striker really should have done better on the third occasion, rounding Burgess before tamely scuffing his shot towards the Vale No.1 Brown.
On reflection, this was a great first outing for the Valiants, the only downside was the absence of Manny Oyeleke, but he and Vale have plenty of opportunity to sharpen up before the proposed kick off on the 12th September.
Final Score: Port Vale 1 – 2 Blackpool
