Port Vale: Lawrie lifts gloom with moment of magic
Port Vale 1 (Lawrie 57)
Bury 1 (Bennett 68)
by Steve Shaw
ON the day that 100-1 outsider Mon Mome galloped to victory in the Grand National, two of Vale's young stallions helped them secure an unlikely dead heat against promotion-chasing Bury.
Vale were without two of their thoroughbred stars, in striker Marc Richards and keeper Joe Anyon, who are laid up with an Achilles problem and a broken leg respectively.
And while Bury were without their own star turn, injured 16-goal striker Andy Bishop, all the smart money was on Alan Knill's men condemning the Valiants to a 12th home league defeat of the campaign.
Prior to kick-off, 16 positions and 25 points separated the teams in League Two. But huge contributions from 18-year-olds Chris Martin and James Lawrie helped Dean Glover's men earn a share of the spoils and dent Bury's automatic promotion hopes.
Lawrie electrified Vale Park when he hit his second goal in the senior ranks in only his fourth league start.
In doing so, he showcased his already customary excellent touch and his nose for goal with an excellent 57th-minute lob after fellow striker Louis Dodds had chased a looping through-ball.
Shakers keeper Wayne Brown won the race to the ball, but his tame headed clearance fell on a plate to the industrious Lawrie.
Without a second's thought, the Northern Ireland under-21 international caressed the ball back over Brown and into the empty, beyond back-tracking centre-back Efe Sodje.
Lawrie was tireless in his quest to create openings by feeding off Dodds and dropping deep to link up play with the middle line.
He was given a rare chance to shine as Glover opted to switch from a 4-5-1 formation to 4-4-2 in the wake of back-to-back defeats at Chesterfield and Exeter.
Meanwhile, Martin played his part at the other end and although he has yet to taste victory in seven appearances, he could take heart from an accomplished display.
The teenager remained steady in keeping the Shakers at bay with a couple of fine saves, while his aerial work was impeccable throughout.
In the reverse fixture back in December, Vale were handed a good old-fashioned beating at Bury's Gigg Lane when they conceded three decisive first-half goals.
This time, it was a much more evenly-matched contest, proving the gap between the top and bottom echelons of League Two can often be deceiving.
It's no secret that Glover's outfit lack the crucial ingredients of power and pace, and thus seem far more competitive against sides which also fall short on both counts.
On Saturday's evidence, Bury fall into that category, as opposed to the likes of Brentford and even the unfashionably physical Accrington.
It was telling that Bury's biggest threat often arrived from the quick feet of right midfielder Elliott Bennett.
The first half was a forgettable affair but, in contrast to many other home matches, Vale showed a reluctance to be bullied in squaring up to their high-flying rivals.
The confidence they gained from their first-half efforts buoyed them for a big push at the start of the second period, ultimately leading to Lawrie's magnificent lob.
Bury still shaded the half, however, and it took some last-gasp defending to see Vale through as their back-line threw bodies on the line on several occasions.
After the match, Glover said: "We know what qualities we have, but it's just a case of maintaining it consistently to get results.
"The last two away games have not gone well in terms of results, but we're harder to break down and that's the pleasing thing for us.
"We're coming to the end of the season where we have to turn performances into results."
Glover recalled the ever-reliable Lee Collins at centre-half, where he replaced Luke Prosser, who starts a two-match suspension tomorrow when Aldershot visit Burslem.
Midfielders Scott Brown and Anthony Griffith were also omitted, with Rob Taylor returning to first-team duties at left midfield.
The sides indulged in a spot of sparring during the early stages as neither seemed capable of landing a killer blow.
Valiants midfielder Dave Brammer failed to threaten Wayne Brown's goal with a long-range pot-shot.
On 19 minutes, Taylor out-muscled his marker, but angled a 12-yard header wide after meeting a right-flank cross from Dave Howland.
Glover's defence were largely containing the threat posed by strikers Andy Morrell and Phil Jevons.
However, a mix-up between Collins and full-back Paul Edwards opened the door for Morrell to fire wide from the edge of the box.
The home side's attacking prowess was nicely symbolised on the half-hour when an assured passing move between Edwards, Lawrie and Marshall led to the ball falling at the feet of Brammer.
However, the 34-year-old's volley almost uprooted the corner flag instead of bursting the net.
Centre-half John McCombe executed a goal-saving challenge close to half-time when winger Mick Jones swept over a dangerous low cross into the path of Jevons. But a well-positioned McCombe anticipated the danger with a timely interception.
In the build-up to Lawrie's goal the youth graduate outlined his intentions at the start of the second period when latching on to Paul Marshall's well-weighted pass.
The striker raced on to the ball and, in an instant, took a touch before rifling an low 20-yard half-volley, which Brown was equal to.
Sandwiched in between was an excellent diving save from Martin, who leaped to his right to palm away Jones's stinging 25-yard effort.
Lawrie's youthful exuberance lifted the previously sedated home faithful as they began to sniff a rare memorable home success.
The striker duly played his part, but the visitors responded positively and almost equalised within two minutes of the game's opening goal.
This time, McCombe was on hand to clear an eight-yard downward header from Jevons off the line, following neat wing play from full-back David Buchanan.
However, the Shakers had Vale rocking in their boots on 68 minutes when they finally levelled.
Another Buchanan cross hung up in the danger area and when Elliott arrived late, the winger made no mistake in guiding his own header into the right-hand corner past a stranded Martin.
Howland's headed effort drifted away before Martin produced another outstanding diving save to deny Morrell's low skidding shot from 18 yards.
Glover's rearguard came under severe pressure at times during the final 15 minutes, but they passed the test with flying colours.
Their 'thou shall not pass' attitude was epitomised on 80 minutes. At least four Vale players flung themselves at the feet of Jevons along the edge of the box to prevent the striker from having a clear sight on goal, resulting in Buchanan firing over from long range.
With minutes remaining, Collins, as the last man standing, ensured his side grabbed a point by stopping substitute Danny Racchi in his tracks just as he threatened to break clear.
After the club announced their season ticket pricing structure for the 2009/10 campaign. they will be praying for more positive performances in the remaining six games.
Before the Darlington clash, on March 14, Glover challenged his players to secure a minimum of four more victories to stave off the threat of relegation from League Two. Since then, they have collected two of those wins, against Darlington and Bradford City, to go alongside Saturday's draw.
Glover added: "We're on the right road. We've had four big away games and we got one win out of four. Now we've got six games left and if we win three of them we'll be more than happy."
Other Port Vale stories today
Glover hails young star Lawrie
Port Vale fan zone: Battling display worthy of share of spoils
HIGH FIVES: James Lawrie is all smiles as he celebrates scoring the Vale's goal against Bury on Saturday.
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