Port Vale: Best and worst of 2008
1) Huddersfield 3, Vale 4
(November 8)
Vale pulled off the 'great escape' in the final 15 minutes of this pulsating FA Cup first-round tie. Playing against League One opposition, Glover's troops looked dead and buried with the Terriers racing to a 3-1 lead, although it was Vale who took the lead in the 28th minute. Louis Dodds pounced on a short back-pass to eventually sweep home from the angle. Michael Collins netted the equaliser close to half-time, before the hosts took a stranglehold with further goals from Ian Craney and the superstar-sounding Robbie Williams. However, those four goals were merely a warm-up act for what was about to follow.
Vale began the fight-back in the 79th minute, thanks to Dave Howland's expertly executed 25-yard chip.
Dodds claimed a brace in the 85th minute with another deadly angled finish. With a replay assured, many teams may have been tempted to shut up shop. But Marc Richards had other ideas, flighting his injury-time free-kick into the top corner to claim glory.
2) Shrewsbury 1, Vale 2
(October 11)
Dean Glover was finally handed the chance to manage his beloved Vale, but nobody gave his side a chance of getting anything from the ProStar Stadium. The Valiants had lost their previous six games, high-flying Shrewsbury had won all four of their home games, and had not conceded a goal on their own turf since the previous March. Glover wouldn't have been blamed for fearing the worst until Louis Dodds scored, completing a spectacular five-man move on 19 minutes. The Valiants battled well for the full 96 minutes – of which the last seven will live long in the memory. With a minute to go, Michael Symes threatened to spoil the party with his deflected 20-yarder finding its way past Joe Anyon. Two minutes later, Vale were down to 10 men as Lee Collins was dismissed for a second bookable offence. However, in the 96th minute, star striker Marc Richards burst through on goal, bundling the ball home after clashing with Shrews stopper Luke Daniels.
3) Crewe 0, Vale 2
(March 11)
Vale had not tasted victory in their previous 10 matches. You had to go back to January 12 for their last success – a 3-1 home win against Millwall. But the 1,000 away fans who travelled to Gresty Road kept the faith and were royally rewarded. The now departed Paul Harsley gave the Valiants the advantage from the penalty spot not long after half-time, following a foul on striker Marc Richards.
Striker Luke Rodgers enjoyed the satisfaction of scoring against his old club with nine minutes remaining, hooking his shot beyond Ben Williams from close range.
4) Vale 3, Leeds 3
(March 15)
Following their midweek triumph at Cheshire rivals Crewe, the Valiants welcomed League One big boys Leeds United, who had swept aside Sinnott's men 3-0 in early December at Elland Road. In the days before cheap season tickets, a fervent home crowd of nearly 8,000 created a cracking atmosphere, although Leeds's 3,500-strong away support contributed heavily. The home game looked like going the same way as the Elland Road clash as Leeds stormed into a 2-0 lead at half-time. Rui Marques expertly volleyed into the top corner to hand Gary McAllister's team the lead, while a Dougie Freedman strike doubled their advantage. Vale hit back from another Paul Harsley penalty, in the 65th minute, and fellow midfielder Danny Whitaker stabbed his volley home a few minutes later. Burslem was buzzing again, but heartbreak seemed inevitable four minutes from time when Freedman grabbed his second, steering a header beyond keeper Joe Anyon. Vale needed a hero, and he arrived in the diminutive figure of Luke Rodgers. In the final moments, assisted by Dave Mulligan and Kyle Perry, the striker pounced from close range, prompting wild celebrations.
5) Luton Town 1, Vale 3
(August 9)
How Vale escaped Kenilworth Road with three points on this season's opening day, God only knows.
Well, actually, it was down to good old backs-against-the-wall defending and some lethal finishing.
Luton, still smarting from being deducted 30 points before a ball had been kicked, were in defiant mood. Sinnott's earlier plea to 'win ugly' did the trick and there were debut goals for Louis Dodds and Rob Taylor just for good measure. Sinnott handed competitive debuts to six of his summer signings. Dodds quickly got into his groove, converting his side's first effort on goal with a slick 20-yard finish.
The Hatters equalised through Sam Parkin's header.
Crucially, Vale got their noses back in front on the stroke of half-time, when striker Marc Richards squared for Taylor to convert from close range.
Richards himself completed the job with his strike around the hour-mark.
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