A rare flash of brilliance was more than enough to give Port Vale the three points and set Vale off positively in this years Papa Johns EFL Trophy as they beat Stockport County 1-0. The Valiants were indebted to a wonderful strike from Chris Hussey, the wing back following up after Gavin Massey had his initial effort blocked by the Stockport defense.
In a game of few clear cut chances it was Vale that started the brighter, Tommy McDermott picking up a loose ball in the midfield before driving at the heart of the Stockport defense before unleashing a fine effort from the edge of the box that flashed past the left upright. County though had there own chances and on 19 minutes Connor Evans floated a free kick beyond the back post, headed back across goal by Fraser Horsfall, but Akil Wright was only able to put his effort wide, his blushes spared by the assistant referee as he flagged for offside.
As the half came to end, Vale might have done better with two good chances. On 31 minutes a simple ball over the top of the Stockport defense from Sam Robinson set Mipo Odubeko free in the opposition half, the striker might have chosen to take a touch but choose to shoot from distance, his effort going wide of the left hand post. On 43 minutes, a Dan Jones long throw from the left level with the penalty box was flicked on, through a melee of players around the penalty spot, the ball falling to skipper Tom Pett who stretched and got a good contact, driving the ball across goal but just wide and beyond the touch of a white shirt.
The game though was decided over a period of three minutes. On 62 minutes, poor defending from Vale allowed the ball to come in from Connor Evans on the Stockport right, the ball falling perfectly for Paddy Madden who only volleyed onto the bar much to the relief of Stone in the Vale goal. This offered the Valiants the opportunity to seize the game, and seize it they did. Just two minutes after Stockport hit the bar, skipper for the evening Tom Pett played a long ball through the centre of the Stockport defense towards Gavin Massey, who twist and turned on the edge of the box, his initial shot charged down, but out of no where Chris Hussey followed up and smashed a fine left foot effort into the top left corner leaving Ben Hinchcliffe no chance and Vale led 1-0.
Though Stockport pressed for an equalizer, The Vale defense held firm and gave Vale the perfect start to this years Papa Johns Trophy though Vale may regret a late knock picked up by Brad Walker that will put his availability for Cheltenham Town at home this Saturday in serious doubt.
