Match report: Torquay United 0, Port Vale 1
CALVIN Andrew laid claim to his first goal for Port Vale to earn a 10th away win on the road.
The striker deflected in Doug Loft's 30-yard effort after 29 minutes to wrap up a narrow victory at Torquay.
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Port Vale's Calvin Andrew
Boss Micky Adams made two changes to the side beaten by Morecambe last week.Lee Hughes (illness) didn't travel and was replaced up front by Calvin Andrew, while John McCombe's return to central defence meant a return to right-back for Richard Duffy and no place in the team for Adam Yates.
Liam Chilvers was ruled out with a hamstring strain and reserve keeper Sam Johnson's thumb injury meant youngster Ryan Boot won a place on the bench for the first time.
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Torquay, who had lost their last five in a row, went close to an opener after six minutes. A cross from the left was met by a fine header from striker Rene Howe that was heading into the bottom corner until goalkeeper Chris Neal sprang to his right to pull off a great diving save.
Neal was in the action again after 17 minutes, stretching to tip over a Billy Bodin free-kick after Ryan Burge had been carded for a foul on Ryan Jarvis, while Richard Duffy was left flattened by a challenge in his own area before eventually carrying on with a bandaged head.
Vale were struggling up front, but that all changed after 29 minutes. Doug Loft picked up possession 30 yards out and as the home defence backed off, took the invitation for a shot. The ball took a deflection in mid flight off Andrew before nestling into the corner of the net.
The Gulls tried to hit back five minutes before the break, but when Howe turned inside from the right of the box, he could only fire a left-foot shot almost straight at Neal.
Bodin shot high and wide when he should done better, having been presented with a decent chance on the edge of the box after 53 minutes, but Vale almost doubled their advantage on 63 when McCombe's header from a corner was kept out at point-blank range by keeper Michael Poke.
Andrew almost added his second after 72 minutes, racing on to a punt forward to fire a left-foot effort that was well saved by Poke. And the striker was denied again seconds later, with a similar effort.
Vincent then ran through but missed the ball completely thanks to a cruel bobble at precisely the wrong time. Luckily, it mattered little.
Torquay United: Poke, Nicholson, Downes (MacDonald, 25), Saah, Mansell, Jarvis, Howe, Leadbitter, Bodin (Macklin, 68), Easton, Benyon. Subs not used: Lathrope, Rice, Cruise, Yeoman, Thompson.
Port Vale: Neal, Duffy, McCombe, Purse, Jones, Myrie-Williams, Burge (Morsy, 66), Loft, Vincent, Andrew, Pope. Subs not used: Boot, Taylor, Shuker, Dodds, Yates, Birchall.
Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)
Attendance: 2,679 (670 away)
3 Comments
by VantaaVale
Sunday, February 24 2013, 11:22AM
“An excellent win only slightly tarnished by Micky Adams' after match interview on Radio Stoke. Note to Micky: RISE ABOVE IT.
Well done Vale. Let's make it three more points against Exeter. A very difficult fixture. But I feel that if we can get maximum points, the finishing line will begin to come into view.”
by zxcvbn2
Sunday, February 24 2013, 9:47AM
“Spot on, we needed that win for our confidence boost. Now it`s just Exeter on Tuesday night, that should be easy enough, yes??”
by MyVince
Saturday, February 23 2013, 11:22PM
“A great win for the Vale, a hard fought win as
Torquay away is not an easy fixture,
as was proved yeterday.
A good away following by the faithful,
Well done Micky and the team.”