Silkmen Hold Lacklustre Valiants

The points were shared as Port Vale and Macclesfield Town fought out a two-all draw under the floodlights at Vale Park. The result extended Vale’s unbeaten run to five and left the Valiant’s tenth in League Two, just four points outside the play-offs.

After a cautious opening, it was the Silkmen that should have opened the scoring on twelve minutes, Miles Welch-Hayes making good ground down the Macclesfield right, crossing to the back post where Joe Ironside had managed to pull away from his marker, but the tall striker could only power his header over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

It was Vale that took the lead on eighteen minutes, after good work in the midfield freed David Worrall to surge down the inside left channel. The winger had time to look up and pick out Striker Richie Bennett at the back post and this seemed to be the plan until Town keeper Owen Evans misjudged the cross getting underneath the ball, and could only watch the ball fortuitously nestle in the back of the net giving the Vale a 1-0 lead.

Given that this was the fourth game in twelve days for both clubs, it was not surprising that the level of industry and endeavour was at a premium and both sides would have welcomed the half time whistle.

Whatever Macclesfield manager Daryl McMahon, a former Valiant in his playing days, said to his players at half-time, the visitors came out rejuvenated and it was Town that equalised through Jay Harris on fifty-six minutes.

Harris, having made the mistake that led to Vale’s first half goal, collected the ball in the centre circle before moving forward unchallenged by the Vale defence. With few options either side, the veteran midfielder took aim and unleashed a thunderbolt drive from fully thirty yards which flew into the right-hand corner and gave the Silkmen a well-deserved equaliser.

One became two for the visitors just two minutes later as Ironside twisted and turned on the edge of the box, with his back to goal, before swivelling and firing an effort into the bottom left hand corner, leaving Nathan Smith in his wake and giving the visitors a shock lead.

This finally spurred the Valiant’s into life and Vale hit back straight away on sixty-two minutes. Montano, having a second outstanding match in as many games, drove down the Vale left leaving a couple of defenders in his wake before picking out Worrall. The midfielder lifted his head to see a well-placed David Amoo and the Winger made no mistake, taking a touch in the centre of the Macclesfield goal and firing past Evans to make the score two-all.

Vale might have pinched all three points on eighty-one minutes. Pope, having replaced the tiring Bennett, managed to nod down a long ball to the waiting Worrall. The diminutive winger expertly chested the ball down before striking on the half volley but Evans did well, getting two hands behind the ball to keep it 2-2.

Manager John Askey won’t be happy that two points slipped away today but will be relieved that the matchday squad seemed to get through the 90 minutes unscathed and can look to Manchester City on Saturday with at least the thought of a genuine cup upset.

I caught up with Assistant Manager Dave Kevan after today’s game.

Mike Stubbs
Mike Stubbs
Sports Reporter - Port Vale

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