Totesport.com League

Port Vale Reserves 2, Walsall Reserves 1

1. ​

   Steve Thompson

by Steve Shaw

STRIKER Steve Thompson turned from villain to hero as his 30-yard wonder strike handed Vale's reserve side their second successive totesport.com league victory.

The 19-year-old scored his side's winner against a lively Saddlers outfit with four minutes of normal time remaining, helping them build on last week's home triumph against Sheffield United.

Thompson received the ball from fellow striker Danny Glover, and after steadying himself, unleashed an unstoppable bullet into the top right-hand corner.

Just three minutes earlier Thompson, playing at left midfield, failed to hit the net from 12 yards after Vale were awarded a penalty.

Thompson himself won the spot-kick by drawing a foul from Walsall defender Sam Adkins, who was adjudged to have illegally held the teenager back.

However, Thompson's low driven spot-kick was well saved by James Belshaw diving low to his right, before the Saddlers keeper deflected the striker's follow-up shot away for a corner.

James Lawrie had earlier opened the scoring for the hosts, but former England international Michael Ricketts soon levelled for the visitors.

Vale assistant-manager Keith Downing, who took charge of his first reserve game last night, joked: "It was a good goal, but I've told him he's better shooting from 30 yards than he is from 12.

"But we know Thommo packs a punch with his shooting. He was playing in an unorthodox left-hand side role for him, but he is always a danger coming inside on his right foot."

Lawrie, Glover and midfielder Simon Richman started despite making substitute appearances in the senior side's 1-0 defeat at Exeter 24 hours earlier.

Keeper Daniel Lloyd-Weston was promoted to the first-team bench against the Grecians as number one stopper Joe Anyon recovers from a broken leg.

The youth keeper showed strong hands to beat away a well-struck 20-yard effort form Peter Taundry in the fourth minute.

Vale took the lead in the seventh minute when winger Anthony Malbon met a low delivery with a cute back-heel. Belshaw blocked the initial effort, but Lawrie was on hand to convert the rebound from close range.

Walsall equalised in the 14th minute after Ricketts fed Sean Geddes on the right.

The midfielder swung over a beautifully flighted cross, and when striker Josh Craddock missed his header, Ricketts gleefully stabbed the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

The game took on a lively feel as Richman and Malbon missed the target, before Craddock was came agonisingly close to converting a squared cross from Ricketts.

Right-back Sam Morsy powered forward and watched his 25-yard stinging drive get tipped over the bar by Belshaw. Ricketts, posed a threat during the first half up against skipper Lee Collins and converted centre-half Ross Davidson, but began to tire and was withdrawn on the hour.

Meanwhile, Lawrie pounced on a quickly-taken corner by Danny Edwards, but his potent angled volley from 20 yards cleared the bar.

Before the late drama unfolded, Glover smashed a 25-yard free-kick on goal, which had to be beaten away by Belshaw.

Downing added: "I was pleased with the performance and it was a good game which had a good tempo.

"It's the first time I've had an opportunity to see some of the younger players and I was very impressed. I thought the two full-backs (Morsy and Matthew Bell) did well, as did Danny Edwards in midfield."

PORT VALE: Lloyd-Weston, Morsy, Collins (Share, 74), Davidson, Bell, Malbon, Edwards, Richman, Thompson, Glover (Osei Siribour, 85), Lawrie (Lovatt, 81). Not used: Watson.

WALSALL: Belshaw, Westlake, Adkins, Bacchus, Partridge, Davies, Lowe, Taundry (Halil, 65), Craddock (McCourt, 76), Ricketts (Grigg, 60), Geddes. Not used: Cooney.

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