Match report: Port Vale 3, Accrington Stanley 0

LEE Hughes and Darren Purse marked their home debuts with three goals between them as Port Vale put 10-man Accrington Stanley to the sword.

Striker Hughes broke the deadlock after 50 minutes and netted again midway through the second half after

defender Purse had opened his own account for the club.

The result was little more than dominant Vale deserved as the visitors had been under the cosh since midfielder

Charlie Barnett was sent off for a rash challenge after only four minutes.

Boss Micky Adams stuck with the side that drew 2-2 at AFC Wimbledon last week, which meant home debuts for Hughes, Purse and fellow defender Daniel Jones.

Only four minutes had gone when Accrington found themselves down to 10 men. There was little threat on goal when Jones took possession on the left, but Barnett's rash challenge left him in a heap and referee Andrew Davies was quick to brandish the red card.

Hughes almost made the visitors pay immediately but his volley, after strike partner Tom Pope had won a header inside the area, was straight at loan keeper Paul Rachubka.

But Accrington almost took a shock lead in the 24th minute. A corner from the right was fumbled under pressure by goalkeeper Chris Neal and Peter Murphy's stab towards goal was cleared off the line by Doug Loft.

They were pressing again soon after when another corner floated beyond everyone and hit the far post before bouncing off one of a sea of heads on its way out for a goal kick.

Hughes went close for Vale after 28 minutes, sweeping a first-time shot towards goal that was well kept out by Rachubka.

The home side were finding it difficult to break down the 10 men, though Pope was inches away from handing them the lead a minute before the break.

He wriggled free of tight marking in a congested penalty area before sending a great chip towards goal that was tipped over by the back-tracking Rachubka.

Jones went close at the start of the second half, driving into the area before unleashing a shot which took a deflection just past the post.

But Vale were not to be denied too much longer.

A short free-kick, after 50 minutes, was played to Ryan Burge who ran into space and chipped into the box. Hughes had found space and stuck his first-time volley into the top corner of the net.

It was 2-0 three minutes later. Loft's shot from the edge of the area was parried by Rachubka and Purse was on hand to ram the rebound into the open goal.

Hughes scored his second and put the result beyond doubt after 66. Richard Duffy's pass set the front man free beyond the Accrington defence and, as Rachubka came out, Hughes steered his shot from an angle into the net.

Hughes was substituted to a standing ovation soon after, and though Vale poured forward in search of more, three was more than enough.

Port Vale: Neal, Duffy,

Purse, Chilvers, Jones, Myrie-Williams (Andrew, 80), Burge (Shuker, 76), Loft,

Vincent, Hughes (Williamson, 70), Pope. Subs not used: Johnson, Morsy, Birchall, Yates.

Accrington Stanley:

Rachubka, Murphy, Liddle (Carver, 59), Joyce, M Hughes, Winnard, Barnett,

Miller, Beattie (Molyneux, 70), Boco, Wilson. Subs not used: Clark, Dixon,

Gray, Dawber, Aldred.

Referee: Andrew Davies

(Hampshire)

Attendance: 5,172