Port Vale: Resilient Vale dig deep to tear up script

THE stage was set for Luton Town to defiantly rise from the flames of administration and start their glorious fightback after being hit by a 30-point deduction. But Lee Sinnott's gutsy Vale side clearly hadn't read the script.

Vale were on the back foot for long periods at a wet Kenilworth Road – they had nine fewer shots on goal than their adrenalin-fuelled hosts and won 12 fewer corners.

But in fighting their way to victory, thanks to some clinical attacking play, the Valiants sent out a stark warning to their League Two rivals.

Before Vale launched their campaign, Sinnott had stressed the need for his squad to 'win ugly' when the going got tough and wanted to breed the sort of winning mentality that turns draws and losses into wins.

And goals from debutants Louis Dodds and Rob Taylor, supplemented by a Marc Richards strike, ensured they passed their first test with flying colours.

Sinnott said: "I know we've only had one game, but I believe in this set of players, although they've got to come through games like this for them to believe in themselves.

"It was a great exercise and, let's face it, it was a little bit like corners against defence in the first half. So quite a few questions were answered, and although Luton Town have been deducted 30 points, they had a decent team out there and that needs to be remembered.

"But we stood firm and took the opportunities when they came along.

"You're not going to have the ball more than other sides in every game, and sometimes, you have to come up with the answers. And for that reason, I was delighted with the performance."

Sinnott handed competitive debuts to six of his eight summer signings as Dodds, Taylor, Sam Stockley, Anthony Griffith, John McCombe, and Lee Collins made their bow.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old midfielder Ross Davidson made his first start in the senior ranks and took his place in the heart of midfield alongside Griffith.

Dodds was given the nod ahead of Shane Tudor on the right of midfield, while Taylor was deployed on the opposite flank as Sinnott set out a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Kyle Perry was paired with Richards up front, which meant Luke Rodgers had to settle for a place on the bench.

Loan defender Lee Collins was preferred at left-back, while Chris Slater and McCombe were given the chance to further cement their promising central-defensive partnership.

Hatters boss Mick Harford was only given the green light to enter the transfer market at the start of last week after the club were finally allowed to come out of administration.

And he injected no fewer than 11 signings into his squad in the 48 hours leading up to kick-off. They included former Vale skipper George Pilkington, who took up a centre-half role.

Vale struggled to impose their attacking style on their equally combative hosts, which left Dodds and Taylor largely starved of quality ball.

But when they did threaten, they showed a ruthless streak that saw them convert three of their eight efforts on goal.

Richards, in particular, showed his class at this level with some assured link-up play and played a part in all three of Vale's goals.

And the decision to offer the 26-year-old a new one-year extension, to repel the advances of League One side Cheltenham Town, is already looking a shrewd bit of business on Vale's part.

Griffith epitomised his side's never-say-die attitude with a tireless display of ankle-biting midfield play which helped the visitors keep a foothold in the game.

Davidson also boosted his fast-growing reputation with a hard-working performance, competing against a very able midfield partnership in Kevin Nicholls and Asa Hall. Sinnott's men were under the cosh from the outset as McCombe produced a well-executed challenge to deny striker Sam Parkin a strike on goal as early as the second minute.

Chris Martin then saw his header fly past Joe Anyon's right-hand post, before his 20-yard half-volley also went wide of the mark.

Lewis Emanuel, Parkin and Hall fired further shots off before Vale had a lucky escape on 18 minutes when Nicholls fired over a devilish inswinging corner form the left.

Anyon came and missed the delivery and the ball had to be cleared off the line by Taylor.

But Vale clung on and took the lead with their first effort on goal in the 25th minute after Martin lost possession in a central position.

Griffith pounced on the ball, which he fed into the feet of Richards who, under pressure, managed to sip the ball to the on-rushing Dodds.

And the 21-year-old showed his striker's instinct by using the outside of his right boot to guide his powerfully driven shot into the bottom left-hand corner from 20 yards.

Dodds is still not razor sharp, having only linked up with the club towards the end of the summer. But his precise finish suggests he will be more than a useful weapon in Sinnott's armoury.

Collins, who enjoyed a solid debut, showed his tenacity in the 32nd minute when he was initially shown a clean pair of heels by Ross Jarvis.

The midfielder rode another sliding tackle from Stockley as he closed in on goal, but Collins tracked back well to clear the danger with a decisive challenge.

Luton won their 11th corner of the half in the 34th minute and deservedly levelled matters when Parkin climbed to meet Nicholls's high delivery to glance his header into the far bottom right-hand corner.

The goal seemed inevitable as Vale struggled to cope with Parkin's imposing presence and were looking increasingly vulnerable in the face of mounting pressure and a barrage of corners.

But the home side's pressure rarely resulted in Anyon having to make a telling save, which was testament to the committed displays of the likes of McCombe and Slater.

Anyon was pro-active in attempting to relieve the pressure by coming out to punch the ball clear. But his failure to get any distance on some of his attempted clearances often had the opposite effect.

Pilkington almost netted against his former club in the 38th minute when he connected with Emanuel's cross, only to see his header clear the bar.

And Vale made the Hatters pay for their wasteful finishing on the stroke of half-time.

This time, Richards cut inside from the right after brushing off his marker and flashed the ball across Luton's six-yard box, where a grateful Taylor was waiting to convert.

Parkin broke through Vale's rearguard on 53 minutes, but the danger was averted when Anyon blocked his run with a sliding challenge.

And Vale extended their lead five minutes later when Luton keeper Dean Brill mistimed a clearance, which found Perry in on the left.

Perry's cross appeared to be harmless, but when former Walsall defender Ian Roper completely missed his own clearance, Richards swept his shot home, in off the bar, from the edge of the box.

Rodgers, who entered the fray after replacing Taylor on 57 minutes, broke clear in the 72nd minute, but could only drag his angled shot wide.

Anyon safely collected Nicholls's 20-yarder on 77 minutes before Richards had his 12-yard effort tipped around the post by Brill.

Luton's day was summed up with seven minutes to go when Parkin smashed his effort wide from 12 yards.