Port Vale: Horsfield makes instant impression

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Port Vale 2

Wolves 1

by Michael Baggaley

PORT VALE'S new assistant manager Geoff Horsfield made an instant impression as he set up Rob Taylor for an 87th-minute winner to beat Wolves at Vale Park last night.

The pre-season friendly was heading for a draw after Doug Loft's 44th-minute opener for the Valiants was cancelled out on 56 minutes by Wolves's Matt Jarvis.

But Vale secured a morale-boosting win against the Premier League new boys when Horsfield's clever header released Taylor to sprint clear of the defence.

The former Nuneaton winger still had much to do, but took his chance expertly as he cracked home a powerful left-footed strike from 16 yards.

Horsfield and Taylor had only been on the pitch since the 69th-minute of a game which offered Vale fans plenty of encouragement.

Former Crewe keeper Stuart Tomlinson could do nothing about the Wolves goal.

But, having come on as a half-time substitute, he played confidently enough to suggest he will be offered a deal if room can be found in the wage budget.

Manager Micky Adams used the game to take another look at the 3-5-2 formation, which looks increasingly likely to be in place for the start of the season at home to Rochdale on August 8.

His starting back three of Gareth Owen, Lee Collins and John McCombe were caught out on 13 minutes when Sam Vokes flicked on for David Edwards, who had timed his run from midfield.

However, the Wales international's shot lacked the same quality and whistled wide.

Stephen Ward threatened for the visitors on 23 minutes when he turned in the area, but the chance was snuffed out by sliding challenges first from Tommy Fraser and then Collins.

Marc Richards was felled by a late challenge from Christophe Berra in a game which occasionally strayed beyond the usual pre-season friendly exchanges.

But Richards was able to continue after treatment and Vale almost extracted revenge after a sweeping move reached Adam Yates on the right-hand edge of the area.

He chipped across for trialist Kris Taylor to head home at the back post, but a sumptuous goal was disallowed for off-side.

There were no such problems a minute before the break when Louis Dodds spun on the ball and whipped in a cross from the right.

Loft lost his marker and made certain of the goal with a header which was planted low past keeper Daniel Wright.

Dodds surged into the area just a minute later, but fired too close to Wright from the edge of the area.

Trialist Stuart Tomlinson replaced Martin in goal at half-time, and impressed on 53 minutes as he parried a powerful 14-yard strike from the lively Jarvis.

Sam Vokes, prolific in the Championship last season, then headed just wide two minutes later as Vale's defence began to creak.

The leveller duly arrived on 56 minutes as Jarvis beat McCombe to the ball 25 yards out and raced into the area before firing past Tomlinson and into the roof of the net.

Vale made eight changes in the 69th minute, and the loudest cheer was reserved for player-assistant manager Horsfield.

Trialist Lassana Sidibe teed up fellow substitute Taylor, but he fired inches wide from 25 yards.

But Tomlinson edged closer to the contract he craves on 76 minutes when he rushed quickly from his line to narrow the angle and block Jarvis's stinging strike after the winger had been played through on goal.

Jarvis curled a 20-yard effort over on 83 minutes, into the ranks of the 279 visiting supporters.

But Horsfield and Taylor combined to secure victory for manager Adams in his Vale Park debut.

Port Vale: Martin (Tomlinson), Yates (Stockley, 69), McCombe, Collins (Prosser, 69), Owen (Griffith, 69), K Taylor, Fraser (Howland, 69), Loft (R Taylor, 69), Dodds (Sidibe, 69), Richards (D Glover, 69), Thompson (Horsfield, 69). Subs: Richman, Davidson, Edwards.

Wolves: Wright, Foley, Zubar, Berra, Elokobi, Bennett (Kightly, 64), Edwards, Ward, Jarvis, Vokes, Hemmings (Spray, 35). Subs: Batth, East, Kightly, Davis, Mendez-Laing, McCone, Metcalf, Rooney, Ismail, Price.

Attendance: 2,003.