Vale held at home

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water… After three consecutive home wins (Northampton, Oldham, Yeovil) expectations were high for this game against a Cheltenham side struggling with life in Div.1, but the lack of a killer instinct in front of goal cost us two points.

We started the game in the same vein we played on Saturday against Yeovil. In the opening 25 minutes the ball was rarely out of the Cheltenham half. Danny Sonner and Robin Hulbert controlled the midfield, Malvin Kamara and Danny Whitaker had the beating of the full-backs. Chance after chance was created, but Vale failed to find the back of the net. Hulbert, Whitaker, Constantine and Kamara all had good opportunities, but Cheltenham keeper Higgs denied them all.

On 28 minutes Vale were given a fright. Odejaydi ran at the Vale defence before unleashing a fierce drive that hit the crossbar. This was to be Cheltenhams only chance of the first half.

Vale finally took the lead on 41 minutes. Leon Constantine split the Cheltenham defence with a through ball for Malvin Kamara, who finished for his first Vale goal. Vale had one more chance in injury time – Danny Sonner playing Akpo Sodje through. Akpo, of course, blasted the ball over the bar.


H/T Port Vale 1-0 Cheltenham Town.


The second half was a completely different game. Cheltenham came out much the better side, Odejayi providing the threat and forcing two great saves from Joe Anyon. Vale’s central defenders – Pilkington & McGregor – seemed at a complete loss with how to deal with Odejayi, Michael Walsh was definitely missed in the Vale defence.

Vale faded during the second half. The pitch was badly cut up and this seemed to take its toll on a Vale midfield which had set a high tempo to the first half. Cheltenham started to control the play, and the inevitable equaliser came after 70 minutes. The Vale defence failed to clear as a throw-in came into the box, and Michael Townsend fired the ball into the roof of the net from 6 yards out.

Malvin Kamara’s game came to an end on 78 minutes courtesy of a dreadful challenge, and the winger was replaced by Michael Husbands. Hopefully Kamara will be available for Saturdays game at Rotherham, but he certainly looked to be in a bad way as he left the field.

Vale huffed and puffed during the last ten minutes, but the fluidity had gone from their game, and Cheltenham were able to deal easily with the hopeful balls pumped into their area.

Some boo’s rang out as the final whistle came, but this wasn’t a bad performance. A poor pitch, and an opposition desperately clinging to hopes of avoiding the drop proved to be obstacles that Vale couldn’t pass.

Player Ratings

Joe Anyon 8
Made some great saves as Vale faded in teh second half.

Rhys Weston 7
Faultness performance in a shaky looking Vale defence. Booked for a reckless challenge on half-time.

Mark McGregor 6
Never looked particularly comfortable today, and will probably make way for Michael Walsh on Saturday.

George Pilkington 5
George’s only poor performance of the season so far! Odejayi proved to be too much of a handful for the Vale skipper.

Jason Talbot 6
Steady performance.

Malvin Kamara 7
Started the game on fire, creating problem after problem during the opening 25 minutes. Deserved his first Vale goal on 41 mins. Faded in the second half before his game was ended with a poor challenge.

Danny Sonner 7
Controlled the play in the first half, but didn’t show for the second.

Robin Hulbert 7
Like Sonner faded in the second half after a good first half. Had three good chances to score in the opening twenty minutes.

Danny Whitaker 7
Continuesd where he had left off on Saturday, but like the rest of the Vale midfield never really got into the game during the second half.

Akpo Sodje 5
Had a great, great chance just before half-time which, had he scored, would probably have taken the wind right out of Cheltenham’s sails. Workrate is untouchable, but he needs to score these gilt-edged chances.

Leon Constantine 6
Great during the first half, disappointing during the second.

Michael Husbands 6
Replaced Kamara on 78 minutes, couldn’t create anything for The Vale.