Port Vale: Vale almost hang on for memorable win (PICS)

by Steve Shaw

ON the day boxer Ricky 'the Hitman' Hatton swept into the Potteries to promote his brother's upcoming world title fight, Port Vale enjoyed their own slugfest in Dagenham's gladiatorial arena.

While Victoria Road – also known as the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium – hardly compares to New York's Madison Square Garden, this was still an absorbing 12-round battle.

Going into the bout both clubs were protecting unbeaten records as Vale strived to punch above their weight and wreck Dagenham's near-perfect home record.

The Daggers had won six of their previous seven home league clashes while the Valiants were aiming to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches.

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A 1-1 draw meant both sides kept their pride intact before they open their respective FA Cup campaigns on Saturday.

Meanwhile, right-back Sam Stockley was making his last ring entrance as he prepared to announce his retirement from the game due to an eye problem.

With Dagenham sitting pretty in second place Vale, lying 11 places below them in 13th, were rightly cast as underdogs.

And Micky Adams's men were forced to revert to football's version of Muhammad Ali's defensive rope-a-dope tactics when the Daggers went on the front foot with a surge of uncompromising attacks.

Vale made two changes from the side that earned a 1-1 home draw with Cheltenham the previous week as skipper Tommy Fraser replaced the suspended Anthony Griffith in central midfield.

Meanwhile, centre-half Lee Collins recovered from a virus to take over defensive duties from Luke Prosser.

There were plenty of thrills 'n' spills early on as the hosts came out swinging with a direct style designed to utilise the physical attributes of nine-goal Paul Benson and the pace of fellow striker Wesley Thomas.

On six minutes Thomas ghosted past defender John McCombe but his weak back heel was unable to set Jon Nurse free in the left channel.

McCombe came to Vale's rescue soon after, however, when he intercepted Mark Arber's long ball to prevent Benson from breaking clear.

Peter Gain and defender Will Antwi also went close for the Daggers as Vale's goal began to lead a charmed life.

On 15 minutes Danny Green's grass-cutter was helped just beyond the right-hand post by Thomas's intervention before Nurse struck an angled drive into the arms of Valiants keeper Chris Martin.

Vale had only tested Dagenham's goal with a few speculative long-range efforts before loan attacker Lewis Haldane came close to breaking the deadlock on 24 minutes.

After receiving the ball in the box the 24-year-old used his strength to turn and crash the ball against the bar from eight yards.

While Haldane should have scored his effort at least offered his side a second wind, although Gain wasted another chance by dragging wide of the near left-hand post.

The tenacity displayed by both teams over the 90 minutes was epitomised by Dagenham's central midfield enforcer Stuart Thurgood.

Fraser, like his midfield partner Jason Jarrett, were never afforded the time to put their foot on the ball and conduct the tempo.

But Vale's captain put his body in the line on more than one occasion, especially late on when his side needed him most.

Fraser's 35th minute set-piece, from the right, caused panic in Dagenham's box. Defender Gareth Owen headed the ball back across goal at the far post and only a last-gasp challenge prevented Marc Richards from stabbing home.

After soaking up the early pressure, Louis Dodds's haymaker of a shot handed Vale the lead on 38 minutes after he received the ball from Haldane.

The 22-year-old side-stepped his marker before finding a gap in the top right-hand corner with a stunning 16-yard bullet.

For all Dagenham's huff and puff, Martin had not seen too much meaningful action.

But three minutes after the break he sprung into action by palming away Gain's edge-of-the box drive.

He repeated the trick just after the hour mark to deny Benson's shot-on-the-turn from 10 yards.

Vale were forced into to a counter-punching style as Haldane raced down the right in the 69th minute, which led lead to Jarrett missing the target from 20 yards.

Soon after, Dodds's glancing header, meeting a Kris Taylor cross, just cleared the bar.

Daggers boss John Still threw on three substitutes as his side threw caution to the wind.

One of his replacements Josh Scott wasted a golden opportunity to equalise by volleying over from eight yards in the 80th minute.

But Vale were not quite out on their feet as substitute Rob Taylor appeared to be chopped down in the box by Antwi. However, the midfielder was left unimpressed when referee Roger East waved away his penalty shout before Richards failed to test keeper Tony Roberts with a tame 20-yarder.

Dagenham edged ever closer to hitting the net as Harlee Dean headed over from close range, before fellow substitute Graeme Montgomery volleyed inches wide.

Vale were beginning to look a little battle weary, although not completely out on their feet.

However, they suffered late heartache when Scott made up for his earlier indiscretion in the 88th minute.

After racing onto the ball in the right channel the striker kept his composure to calmly lob the ball over the onrushing Martin before the final bell tolled.

If this had been a boxing match Dagenham may have edged the contest on points, although Vale's cleaner, and more decisive work, may well have caught the judges' eyes.

In any case Adams was happy to glean the positives in declaring his team had proved they were no "northern push-overs" happy to roll over and "let people tickle our bellies."

The result leaves Vale in 13th while Dagenham drop one place to third.

"I wouldn't say we are deflated," added Adams. "When you get so close to winning a game you're disappointed not to see it through.

"But in all honesty Dagenham deserved a point.

"There are a couple of areas on the pitch we need to improve on. But having said that everybody has given their all for the cause and I've got no complaints about anybody in the dressing room.

"Occasionally we could do things better but we're taking strides forward."

Stockley, meanwhile, headed off into the sunset unconcerned at picking up a fifth booking of the season in the dying moments of his long career.