Port Vale: Reserves complete double over Walsall

PORT Vale's reserve side, which included five trialists, hammered Walsall for the second time this season as they eased to a 4-1 victory in Burslem.

The second-string inflicted a 5-1 thrashing on the Saddlers at the Bescot Stadium in November and carried on where they left off last night.

In their penultimate totesport.com league fixture of the season, they recorded their third successive victory and their sixth overall.

The trialists on show were Coventry winger Ashley Cain, Wolves winger Kyle Bennett, Hucknall Town defender Adrian Hawes, Aston Villa keeper Dave Bevan and Birmingham City defender Jacob Rowe.

Vale's side also included first-team squad midfielder Simon Richman and loan left-back Lee Molyneux.

In an entertaining clash played at a high tempo, the visitors made the better start before the Valiants took a firm stranglehold of proceedings.

Walsall created the game's first notable chance on nine minutes when striker George Bowerman rounded Bevan before his cut-back was blazed over by Sam Adkins from 18 yards.

Moments later, the Saddlers took the lead as Jamie Paterson collected the ball 20 yards from goal.

Paterson twisted and turned to leave Molyneux's head spinning before sweeping the ball into the left-hand corner.

But Vale hit back in the 17th minute when Cain delivered the ball from left for Bennett to fire home from 16 yards.

While tricky wingers Cain and Bennett constantly posed a threat, Bevan produced some neat glove work throughout the 90 minutes.

Cain was back in the action on 23 minutes. This time he drove inside from the left to square for Andrew Osei Siribour who guided his 10-yard shot inside the left-hand post.

Adkins, Bowerman and Vale youth-team midfielder Sam Morsy failed to bulge the net with long-range strikes.

The hosts extended their lead from the penalty spot six minutes before the break. Bennett's deep right-flank cross was met at the far post by Cain's athletic volley which was handled by Walsall defender Richard Davies.

After the referee pointed to the spot Morsy stepped up to calmly strike the ball into the bottom corner.

Will Grigg responded for Walsall but his 20-yard volley came crashing back against the left-hand post, allowing Bevan to collect.

Vale continued to offer the greater attacking threat after the break.

On 53 minutes, Hawes hit the near left-hand post with a volley, meeting Richman's deep set-piece from the right.

And in the 70th minute Vale made it four as Bennett collected a short corner before whipping over a cross headed home by Rowe from a few yards out.

Vale: Bevan, Raglan, Rowe, Hawes, Molyneux (Bell, 46), Bennett, Morsy, Richman, Cain, Malbon (McGowan, 40), Siribour.

Not used: Lloyd-Weston, Bratt, Beeston.

Walsall: Cooney, Davies, Keenan, Hickman, Partridge, McCourt, Paterson, Geddes, Bowerman (Mellor-Blair, 71), Grigg, Adkins.

Not used: Wren, Jones, Cresswell.