Stafford Rangers 0, Port Vale 1
PORT Vale have taken former Coventry midfielder Kevin Thornton on trial.
The 23-year-old scored the winner for the Valiants in their 1-0 victory at Stafford Rangers this afternoon.
Fellow trialists Stuart Tomlinson and Kris Taylor also played, but Thornton was the most impressive performer on show after being given an attacking midfield role.
Thornton, from the Republic of Ireland, played for Vale boss Micky Adams at Coventry, and again on loan at Brighton last season.
In June, Thornton was convicted of drink driving. He was released by the Sky Blues earlier this month. He had a year left on his contract, but Coventry announced he had left by mutual consent.
He was given the full 90 minutes to shine this afternoon as the Valiants were given a decent work out at Marston Road.
He looked well short of match fitness, but demonstrated enough ability to show why Adams has given him a chance.
The manager split his squad so Vale could also play a behind-closed-doors friendly at Crewe, but he was at Stafford to see Thornton quickly into the action.
The midfielder's inswinging free kick found Gareth Owen at the back post inside two minutes but the captain missed his kick.
But Tomlinson came to Vale's rescue on six minutes, saving from Nick Wellecombe after the striker had been played through by former Vale youth player Jake Moult.
Wellecombe then unwittingly deflected Bobby Wilson's close-range header wide of the Vale goal, before Tomlinson saved from Ben Mills.
But Stafford keeper Lee Evans also shone on 33 minutes as he blocked Doug Loft's powerful 16-yard drive.
Luke Morgan's 20-yard strike was well held by Tomlinson on 36 minutes before Mills fired wide after wriggling free on 42 minutes.
But Richards volleyed wide at the near post in first-half injury time after he connected with Danny Glover's cross.
Vale were fortunate to survive on 48 minutes when Andy Owens rose highest from a corner, but planted his header against the bar.
But Richards's 53rd-minute header from Dodds's cross was saved by Evans, before the keeper made an even better stop to push away Richards's 20-yard strike a minute later.
Richards curled a free kick just wide, but Daryl Proffitt's powerful strike was held at the second attempt by Martin in an evenly contested half.
Thornton's effort was blocked by Evans after the trailist jinked free in the area. But the trialist grabbed the winner on 86 minutes when substitute Sam Morsy's shot found Thornton in the area. He controlled the ball, and showed excellent technique to sweep it left-footed past Evans.
STAFFORD: Evans, Francis, Vauls, Thorley, Wilson, Owens (Page, 59), Morgan (Hulme, 71), Moult (Rodgers, 84), Wellecombe, Mills (Miller, 76), Proffitt (Hill, 71).
PORT VALE: Tomlinson (Martin, 45), Yates, Owen, Collins, K Taylor, Griffith, Thornton, Loft, Dodds, Glover (Morsy,71) Richards.
Subs: Beeston, Martin.
Attendance: 608
5 Comments
by Mark, Newcastle
Monday, July 27 2009, 9:30AM
“Gentlemen, please give Micky Adams some credit. Do you really think he will be playing trailists if there was not an option to sign them? It is not the boards fault that Micky is choosing to play trialists, its his decision so he must know something we dont. For example he may be thinking that James Lawrie will be off to Everton and as such there may be money available. Surely its good management to prepare for such an eventuality????? He doesnt want to find out he has some money and then start to try people out.
I think some of you need to have patience with this manager and I am sure Micky's experience will help the board too.”
by bill, Spain
Monday, July 27 2009, 8:05AM
“Gents stop this winging Big Bill thought you had gone to support Wigan.
When we get funds then Micky will sign players he has seen play simple.
PS played 5 won 4 goals for 13 against 2.
Keep up the good work.
Vale forever”
by Big Bill, Hanley
Monday, July 27 2009, 7:32AM
“SACK THE BOARD THEY ARE COMPLETELY CLUELESS.”
by Valemon, Bucknall
Sunday, July 26 2009, 2:28PM
“yet another trialist? we can't afford the other three who I'm sure MA would like to sign, so what is the point? surely we should be fielding players who will be available come August 8th, at the moment we are just providing a shop window for these players to find other clubs,would someone fom the club please explain the reasoning for all this, it just doesn't make sense to me.”
by Neil, Blurton
Saturday, July 25 2009, 9:43PM
“WHY,WHY, O WHY are we taking more player/s on trial when there isn't even the money available to sign any of the three that are already there on a permanent basis....Come on the so -called Board shouldn't you be looking into getting/finding just that bit more funding available to MA so that he can MAYBE sign one or two of the trialists on a permanent deal....SORT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
V.T.I.D”