Vale Saved By Pope Strike

Vital Reader Burslem Boy reports on Vale’s 1-1 draw with Hereford United…

I arrived in the Potteries yesterday to find the Stokinel awash with news and comment on recent happenings at Vale Park. The theme was that the dismissal of Mr Gannon had removed a shadow from the club and that all was now clear for a promotion push. This optimism lasted, in my case, only until I arrived at the ground and brought a programme. I turned to the back page to find listed under ‘Hereford United` the players of Oxford United!. My heart sank. It remained sunk until Tom Pope`s last minute intervention.

Mark Grew opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Griffith and Roberts in central midfield and Dodds and Loft on the flanks. Collins moved to left back to accommodate the return of Gareth Owen. The Richards twins were re-united up front. Hereford brought in loanee Stam in the centre of the defence with Leslie continuing in midfield.

Vale began in a bright and determined fashion, but things quickly began to unravel as Hereford swamped the midfield while looking dangerous on the break, especially when Yates found himself marooned upfield after another unsuccessful attempt to cross the ball. On these occasion the splendid McCombe, who has been little short of heroic in recent weeks, generally cleared the danger. But it was Hereford who looked as though they were pushing for promotion and a very disjointed Vale who looked as though they were trying to stay in the League.

There was some improvement from Vale in the second half as Griffith got to grips with the midfield, but apart from a blocked shot from Dodds Vale rarely looked like scoring. To be fair neither did Hereford, who were much more dangerous in the first half than they were in the second. When Hereford did score, on 76 minutes, it took a great strike from McQuilkin. This was very much an opportunist goal and not the result either of Hereford pressure or penetrative football. The goal looked as though it would be terminal for the Vale as our record of winning points from losing positions this season has been abysmal. In the end it was Mark Grew`s substitutions that saved the day. Justin Richards was unlucky to be substituted on 66 minutes. He worked hard as ever and was a willing runner down the channel to give Roberts something to aim at with his passes. Marc Richards was almost entirely ineffectual. Tom Pope`s arrival signalled that the Hereford central defenders` comfy evening was over. Dodds was replaced by an anonymous Rob Taylor and then Kris Taylor replaced Owen and Collins moved to central defence. It was Kris Taylor and Pope who were to save the day. No one can accuse Referee Deadman of being a ‘homer`. Vale players were booked for every indiscretion, including Roberts, who got his statutory yellow card for a characteristic frustrated lunge, while Hereford were allowed to pull, push and tug with impunity all evening. Deep into injury time, however, a Hereford defender committed a push in the back so blatant that not even Mr Deadman could miss it. Kris Taylor hit a deep free kick to the far post where Pope rose to head the ball through Bartlett`s hands and into the net. This was an appropriate finale for Bartlett who spent most of the second half systematically time wasting.

If anyone thought that all was now well with Mr Gannon gone this game will give food for thought. Fundamental problems remain. No natural width, no pace, no balance, especially down the left. We never look like scoring. We play in front of teams. League 2 central defenders have to be made to turn. Roberts was once more full of trademark eye-catching long passes, but some were delivered from his own penalty area and, once in the first half, from his own six-yard box. However aesthetically appealing Roberts does not influence the game enough.

The Vale fans wanted Gannon out. They got their wish. It was an important game played on a balmy spring evening, the attendance therefore can only be described as disappointing.