Port Vale: Taylor takes chance to impress boss Glover

By sshaw

League Two

Port Vale 3 (Dodds 45, Taylor 51, Richards 78)

Darlington 1 (Carlton 26)

by Steve Shaw

IT may have taken Rob Taylor seven-and-a-half months to make his full home debut, but the non-league graduate took advantage by enhancing his cult status among the masses in Burslem.

Some fans have been lobbying for the athletic Taylor to be unleashed from Vale's left flank in the wake of some impressive substitute appearances.

Prior to Saturday's kick-off, the 23-year-old, who arrived from Nuneaton Borough in the summer, had only made one league start which came on the opening day at Luton where he hit the second goal in a 3-1 success.

It was a case of deja vu against the Quakers as he effectively netted Vale's winner after Louis Dodds cancelled out a Danny Carlton goal during the first period.

His moment arrived in the 51st minute when Paul Marshall, on loan from Manchester City, collected possession from deep and drove forward with power and poise.

The midfielder had the awareness to spot a sprinting Taylor peeling off to his left before executing a perfect through-ball.

Taylor took the ball in his stride before angling his 12-yard effort into the far right-hand corner beyond former Valiants loan keeper Andy Oakes.

It was his third goal of the campaign and it is perhaps an indictment on Vale's goal-scoring prowess that he is the club's fourth leading scorer in the league, excluding striker Luke Rodgers who has moved on to Yeovil.

Taylor said: "I was a little bit surprised to start, although I've been working really hard over the last couple of weeks in training.

"The gaffer's (Dean Glover) given me an opportunity and hopefully I've taken it and now I'm hoping to start a few more games.

"Just because I scored on Saturday doesn't mean I expect to start on Tuesday at Accrington though ... I'm not that type of lad.

"Although if I do get another start I'll be chuffed to bits.

"I'm very critical of my own performances. I could have done a lot better on Saturday and there are parts of my game I really need to work on, such as my final ball and my match sharpness."

Having only won two of their previous 11 matches, boss Dean Glover freshened up his midfield and attacking ranks by shuffling his pack.

While Taylor prowled the left wing, loan striker Kevin Gall was deployed on the right, replacing Scott Brown, who missed out after suffering muscle spasms in his neck.

Gall, who has not found the net since October 2007, took to a role he has played before like a duck to water and gave his side genuine width on occasions.

Meanwhile, in moving inside from left midfield, Louis Dodds replaced Gall up front to partner top scorer Marc Richards.

The 22-year-old is a genuine option playing as a secondary striker off Richards and brings to the table that all-important quality ... goals.

As expected, centre-half Gareth Owen was ruled out after suffering suspected ankle ligament damage in last week's home defeat by Dagenham.

Fellow defender Lee Collins, who also missed the Daggers clash, was sidelined having failed to recover from a hip injury.

His omission meant Paul Edwards slotted in at left-back.

In truth, the scoreline flattered the hosts who looked to be heading for a fourth straight home defeat when Carlton struck.

However, with a supportive 4,860-strong crowd backing them they showed great resilience to eventually overcome the crisis club, who recently plunged into administration.

It was the first time Vale had clawed back a deficit since their epic 4-3 FA Cup triumph at Huddersfield on November 8.

There's nothing like a powerful winger to get supporters jumping, and in the opening moments, Taylor got them on their feet by storming down the left before he eventually hit a brick wall.

Richards saw his low 25-yard free-kick deflected just wide on four minutes as the Valiants started well.

Marshall delivered the resulting corner from the left, but Prosser was unable to control his far-post shot, before Oakes easily scooped up a long-range effort from Dodds.

The Quakers tested Joe Anyon's goal in the sixth minute when the keeper collected an angled drive from Ryan Valentine. During the mid-way point of the first half the visitors began to grow in confidence.

Edwards had to be alert to clear off the line when Miller's powerful header connected with a David Poole corner.

However, Dave Penney's men went ahead in the 26th minute when Dave Howland fouled Richard Ravenhill on the edge of the box.

Defender Steve Foster caught Vale's defence off-guard by quickly rolling the ball into the right channel from where Carlton spun his marker before drilling the ball into the far left-hand corner from 14 yards.

Vale threatened to capitulate as midfielder Rob Purdie broke clear, only to mis-hit his 25-yarder which Anyon blocked with an outstretched boot.

Another Gall cross was met and dragged wide by the onrushing Richards around the half-hour mark.

Imposing striker Liam Hatch shrugged off the attentions of McCombe and Prosser and nearly made them pay with a 20-yard drive that missed the target by inches.

Dodds hit back for Vale in first-time injury time courtesy of another sweeping right-wing delivery from Gall.

Dodds's initial efforts to fire off a shot were thwarted, but the ball fell kindly for him to convert into the near right-hand corner from eight yards at the second attempt, albeit with the aid of a deflection.

It was his ninth goal of the campaign as he closes in on his target of getting into double figures this season.

After Taylor handed Vale their crucial second goal, Anyon came to the fore to deny Darlington's slick 56-minute move.

Jason Kennedy played a crisp one-two with Carlton before ghosting past Prosser, but an exposed Anyon was equal to the midfielder's 16-yard drive which he tipped around the post.

Meanwhile, a few boos greeted Glover's decision to replace Taylor with Simon Richman on 74 minutes, before the crowd united in cheering off the out-going midfielder.

Although Taylor admitted: "I heard a few boos followed by some cheers when I came off.

"But I told the gaffer I was knackered, because it was my first 70 minutes in the first team for a while.

"I was breathing heavily, so I told the gaffer to put some fresh legs on. It wasn't a tactical change so I think the gaffer got a few undeserved boos for that."

Like Taylor, the Quakers huffed and puffed, but struggled to break Glover's men down before Richards sealed victory in the 78th minute.

This time Dodds turned provider and when he whipped in a low right-flank cross, Richards cut across his marker to fire home from close range.

It was the industrious striker's first goal in six games, taking his season's tally to 11.

Gall almost ended his far more alarming goal drought near the end, but his drive from the angle was cleared off the line.

Glover and the club's board were given a week off from protesters, who have recently called on them both to be removed.

Meanwhile, Vale's victory eases their relegation fears as they now lie 11 points clear of second-from-bottom Grimsby.

Commenting on Taylor, Glover added: "It's down to Rob now isn't it? He's had to bide his time and he got his opportunity, and as we say to all the players, they have to take it.

"There is no better way of doing that, and smacking it back in my face, than by getting a goal.

"I'm pleased for him."

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