In a must win game, win the Valiants did, against a spirited Morecambe line-up. Coming into the game with a solid home record and Morecambe not having won in the League in their last five outings, the points, if not the performance were the most important part of today and thanks to two goals from Skipper Pope and a cracker from Joyce, the Valiants ran out easy 3-1 winners.
Indeed Vale started the game brightly, Worrall attacking down the left, hanging a deep cross to the back post for Pope to challenge for, the skipper won it and headed towards goal, but Smith just can’t connect, sliding in front of Roche and the keeper gathered.
Minutes later, Vale attack again, this time down the right through Atkinson, who again seeks out Pope. This time the skipper brought it down on his chest, but can’t go around a posse of defenders, and his cross is cleared by the head of Old. On nine minutes, Vale won a corner, Worrall firing it into the near post but Old clears with a towering header for the Shrimpers.
On Eleven, Vale won a second corner, this time from the attacking left, Worrall hanging this one up as Roche is forced to punch clear, Joyce chips it back in from the edge of the box, but Roche claims above Smith and the danger was averted for the visitors.
It took until the twelfth minute for the visitors to register an attack, winning their first corner, a set piece effort to the back post which beat Worrall defending at the back post but Brewitt fired over the bar when well set. This warning shot wasn’t adhered to though as on seventeen, O’Sullivan scored for the visitors from a full twenty-five yards out, picking his spot after the Vale defence allowed him far too much time. It was a great finish though, curling it high to Brown’s left, hitting the underside of the cross bar and nestling in the back of the net.
This stunned the Valiants back into action, and on twenty-one, good interplay between Worrall and Atkinson freed up Joyce in the inside right channel surging into the box and firing at goal, Keeper Roche stood up well though and conceded the corner, saving on his near post. The Corner was again taken by Worrall, again firing the ball in, but on this occasion it over hit, high over the assembled players, Amoo did recover the ball to cross, but it’s headed clear.
But on thirty-one the visitors truly shot themselves in the foot, a Red Card for Cranson having kicked out at Worrall after an off the ball incident, it seemed a very soft dismissal for the Winger and gave Vale renewed hope in search of the equaliser.
Vale continued to push forward, Taylor surging towards the Morecambe box, opening his body up, and striking with his right foot towards but the bottom left hand corner but Roche did well, diving to his left and pushing it round the post. Worrall fired the resulting corner across, but again its headed clear by the resilient Morecambe defence.
Morecambe, although under the coche, still were showing glimpses and on thirty-seven minutes, O’Sullivan darted into the Vale box, shepherded wide by Crookes, but finally got his shot away but Brown watched it past his near post.
Vale continued to attack as the half drew to a close, Amoo running down the left, cutting back onto his right foot, but his shot was straight at Roche in the Morecambe goal. Moments later, Jake Taylor shaped to shoot on the edge of the Morecambe box, drawing the free kick and caution for Brewitt. Worrall stood over the free kick, right inside channel twenty yards out, but he can’t clear the wall and the opportunity was wasted.
In the third minute of injury time, Amoo had the final chance of the half, great team play freeing up Worrall on the right, who crosses but it’s too high and Amoo can’t get over it and its flies into the Hamil End.
Half Time Port Vale 0 – 1 Morecambe
With the crowd at their backs, Vale won their first corner of the second half as Joyce attacked down the right-hand side. Worrall, being held up for a few minutes firstly by Alessandra being cautioned for time wasting, then withdrawn due to an injury. When the Corner finally did come over Worrall picked out Pope who won his header at the back post, heading towards goal, half cleared by the Shrimpers defence to Joyce on the edge of the box who hit it cleanly on the half volley and it flew into the top left-hand corner of the net and Vale were finally level.
Attendance 4,485 (Inc 111 visitors)
On fifty-three Vale won a free kick on the edge of the Morecambe box after Bennett went down under a tackle. Bennett fancied it, as did Amoo, but Joyce it was that struck the free kick directly and it was a brave header from the wall over the bar. The first corner from Worrall was glanced away by the defence only for a second corner to come over, but Legge can’t keep his header on target.
On fifty-six Vale really should have been in front as Pope got to the by-line and back healed to Worrall who drew the keeper and fired for the bottom left hand corner, but somehow, Roche reacted in time and saved with his right knee and deflected it away from goal. On fifty-nine, a sweeping ball out to Amoo, on the edge of the box, cutting back onto his right but again Roche stands firm in the centre of his goal, taking the ball cleanly above his head.
On sixty-two, Morecambe did win a corner down their right, O’Sullivan crossing it over, but Pope raises unchallenged and heads the ball clear. Morecambe followed this up with a second corner, this time taking it short, but it’s over worked and Vale clear through Bennett.
In had been coming but on sixty-eight, Vale finally took the lead. Worrall was freed into acres of space on the right, driving into the box, glancing up before picking Pope out unmarked at the back post, a picture postcard finish, as he heads back across goal and into the net to give Vale a deserved lead. On seventy, Worrall was released again, this time by Pope, scampering down the right wing, picking out another cross, this time Bennett getting in front of his defender, but he can’t beat Keeper Roche in the centre of the Morecambe goal.
Hearts were in mouths on seventy-three, a short free kick from O’Sullivan, Morecambe crossing from the right, and despite a good firm header away, there were shouts for a Morecombe penalty.
At the other end, a good run from Bennett, through the Centre Circle, drew a caution for Lavelle and a free kick. Joyce hung it up for twenty-five yards out, Pope challenging for it and the ball ends up in the back of the net, but it’s a muted celebration as Referee Breakspear blows early for a push on the Centre Back.
As we entered the final ten minutes Vale won a further corner, but Royce did well, rising above Legge to punch clear and on eighty-six Vale won a further corner on the right as Amoo beat two defenders but his cross was charged down. The Corner was taken short, but Morecambe managed to clear.
But on eighty-eight, Pope sealed it for the Valiants, Buxton was trapped on his own by-line by Bennett, who charged his clearance down, the ball ricocheting to Pope who controls the ball, steps round the defender and slots the ball past Roche to take the three points.
Full Time Port Vale 3 – 1 Morecambe
Our reporter caught up with Luke Joyce
Speaking to John Askey about the win
