Vale came into today’s game on the back of two fine cups wins, firstly in the Carabao Cup defeating Scunthorpe 2-1 and turning over Tranmere on penalties in the Football League Trophy. With only Gibbons (Knee injury) and Pope (Suspension) unavailable to John Askey, the Vale Manager had an abundance of riches available to him as he handed Zak Mills, David Fitzpatrick, and Devante Rodney their league debuts against visiting Crawley Town.
As early as the Second minute, good work from the Vale Midfield, playing across the front of then Crawley defence, allowed David Worrall to drive down the right, standing the ball up in the six yard box, Rodney though couldn’t quite get a clear head on it and the Town defence scrambled it clear.
Vale continued to push forward with a raking ball from Skipper Lean Legge, finding Rodney open on the left wing, the young striker cross being charged down and Vale won their first corner of the game. It was a fine start from the Valiants, Conlon looking especially bright in the early stages. Vale continued to search for the opener, Worrall having a free kick in the right-hand channel cleared and Rodney missing his shot when well-placed from a corner on Eleven minutes
It took the visitors until the Fifteenth minute to fashion their first real chance, Sam Ashford flicking a fine pass to Jack Powell but the Midfielder saw his shot blocked, Scott Brown gathering high above his head after a single bounce.
On Seventeen minutes, Vale created another well worked chance, Rodney giving the visitors more warning of his pace down the Vale left wing. Again Rodney went past his defender and drove the ball across the six-yard box but no Vale player is able to get a touch until the ball fell to the feet of Worrall who jinked back across goal, but his shot was charged down and Town cleared. Vale really should have taken the lead minutes later, a long ball forward from Legge got the better of the Town left back, releasing Worrall to float a ball across to an unmarked Cullen who headed down only to be denied by Glenn Morris with a fine save diving to his right.
Despite Vales dominance, they were indebted to Brown on Twenty minutes. Ashley Nadeson got the better of Nathan Smith, holding the ball up before passing to Tyler Frost, 10 yards out, who powered a shot towards goal, Brown pulling off a fantastic point-blank reaction save to only concede the corner.
Vale continued to pour forward and finally got their reward on Thirty-Nine minutes. Having not learned the previous lessons from Rodney, a long ball down the left-hand channel found Rodney out muscle his defender, turning him and breaking down the left. The pre-season signing stormed past the hapless centre back, squaring to Cullen, who calmly fired into the bottom left hand corner, nothing more than Vale deserved for their first half performance.
Vale again started the half brightly, but it was Brown that was called into action to deny the visitors an equaliser. Crawley counter attacked down the right, Frost getting clear again, firing at goal but Brown stood firm and saved well.
This only served to wake the hosts up and Vale doubled their lead on Sixty-Five minutes. Luke Joyce fed Tom Conlon on the edge of the Town Box, the midfielder did well, advancing into the right-hand side of the box, before turning back onto his left foot. His shot was strong, but deflected onto the post, squirreling across to six-yard box to an unmarked Cullen who took a touch before smashes the ball into the net.
The game really fizzled out as a contest at that stage, though Cullen might have claimed his hat trick on Seventy-Nine minutes, Worrall beating the offside trap and driving down the inside right channel, the Winger just unable find Cullen, the ball flashing in front of the Striker and covering defender.
Manager John Askey was even afforded the luxury of making a series of substitutes in the last ten minutes to rest players for the trips to Fleetwood and Exeter, and Vale safely saw out the final minutes to continue the 16 year unbeaten run at Vale Park on opening day.
