by Steve Shaw

PREVIOUS MEETING

League Two - October 28, 2008.

ALDERSHOT 1

(Soares 13)

PORT VALE 0

ON a bitterly cold night in Hampshire, the Valiants were gunned down by a committed Shots side as they failed to capitalise on their recent positive away form.

The host’s high-velocity approach was enough to edge the contest, although they failed to carve open Dean Glover’s men at regular intervals.

Meanwhile, they were forced to soak up intense pressure during the final 10 minutes when Vale should have grabbed a share of the spoils.

The 13th minute proved unlucky for the visitors, though, as Louie Soares hit the game’s only goal.

After drifting inside from the right flank Soares received the ball from Danny Hylton before unleashing a deadly 10-yard shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

Aldershot: Bull, Osborne, Charles, Day, Blackburn, Soares, Harding, Davies, Hylton, Grant, Hudson.

Port Vale: Anyon, Griffith, Prosser, Collins, Edwards, Dodds, Richman (Davidson, 66), Howland, McCrory (Lawrie, 80, Richards (Glover, 79), Rodgers.

Attendance: 3,039.

WHO WE’D LIKE TO SIGN

Jake Robinson: The 22-year-old striker has hit eight goals in 21 league starts during two loan spells from League One side Brighton. The marksman has pace to burn and is considered to be a hot prospect.

WHO TO BOO

Ricky Newman: At  38-years-old the wily old defender will use every trick in the book to try to unsettle Vale’s bright-eyed attackers including Louis Dodds and James Lawrie.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Anthony Taylor (Manchester): During his first season on the league list in the 2006/07 campaign, he officiated Vale’s 1-0 home victory over Northampton in February 2007.

PROBABLE TEAMS

Port Vale: Martin, Stockley, McCombe, Collins, Edwards, Howland, Marshall, Brammer, Taylor, Lawrie, Dodds.

Aldershot: Jaimez-Ruiz, Chalmers, Newman, Straker,  Winfield, Hudson, Cochrane, Davies, Sandell, Robinson, Hylton.

PREDICTION

Vale triumph with a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Louis Dodds and James Lawrie.