Super sub Barnett fires Vale to victory
NEIL Aspin’s tactical decision might have earned Port Vale all three points but he was quick to give the plaudits to his players for this win at Carlisle.
Half-time substitute Tyrone Barnett needed just six minutes to score after coming on before goal machine Tom Pope bagged the all important second.
Late on, Richie Bennett pulled back a consolation for the hosts but it wasn’t enough for a point.
And despite his decision to go with an extra forward paying dividends, Aspin refused to take credit.
Aspin said: “It was a fantastic win for us. To come here and win is full credit to the players, who deserve all of the plaudits.
“We didn’t start well and for 30 minutes we were on the back foot and certainly had to play our way back into the game.
“At half-time, I thought we would be positive and put on an extra forward and become more of an attacking threat and it’s worked, although we came under pressure at the end.
“We have a hard set of fixtures coming up against teams at the top end of the table.”
Prolific Pope has been on fire recently and his 11 goals in the Valiants’ last 17 games have moved them four points clear of the dreaded drop zone. Ben Whitfield dazzled throughout in midfield and after taking on a trio of defenders, unleashed Marcus Harness, who blasted wildly over.
Vale came close to taking the lead on the stroke of the break when Jack Bonham tipped Michael Tonge’s strike onto the bar.
The opener came five minutes after the restart as the ball fell to Barnett on the edge of the box and he fired home his second of the campaign, slotting past Bonham. And with 21 minutes left, Pope popped up to seal a vital three points. The hosts were caught on the break, with Pope gracefully chipping Bonham after being played in on goal by David Worrall.
Danny Grainger almost reduced the arrears, with Ryan Boot superbly tipping his free-kick over. A minute later, Bennett provided a late scare for the visitors by converting Grainger’s corner from six yards out.
Keith Curle said: “It was a really disappointing performance from us. Port Vale came here and outplayed us, so well done to them.
“We struggled to cope with them and that’s the truth of the matter unfortunately.
“We almost got back in it. It would have been nice to get a point in front of the home fans.”