VALIANTS ON THE VERGE
PORT Vale moved to the brink of qualification from their EFL Trophy group with a convincing 3-1 win at Wigan last night.
Two goals from Theo Robinson and one from Cristian Montano separated the sides but Vale could have scored double that. So, John Askey will have been hugely encouraged to see his side create so much, particularly as chances had been scarce in their last two league matches, the goalless draw at home to Harrogate and 1-0 defeat at Morecambe.
However, the win came at a price as David Amoo and James Gibbons were both forced off with hamstring injuries.
The manager had made eight changes as Gibbons, Shaun Brisley and Scott Burgess were the only survivors from the starting XI at Morecambe. That meant Dino Visser, Adam Crookes, Cristian Montano, Danny Whitehead, Alex Hurst, Amoo, Tom Pope and Theo Robinson all got the chance to impress as Vale lined up 4-4-2 with Pope and Robinson up front and Amoo and Hurst on the right and left.
However, Amoo was forced off after just seven minutes, seeming to clutch his hamstring before he made his way off, dejected and frustrated.
He was replaced by David Worrall who made an instant impact when he raced down the right and cut the ball across the area to pick out Hurst’s run - but his low shot from 14 yards was blocked
The visitors, who had made five changes, threatened as the ball was worked to Tom Pearce on the left of the area. He drilled it across goal but well wide of the far post.
But Vale took the lead on 13 minutes when a long ball forward was misjudged by the defender,
allowing Worrall to run in behind and into the right of the area. He could have shot but looked up and unselfishly squared to the back post where Theo Robinson side-footed home.
Wigan hadn’t regained their composure when a diagonal ball
from Scott Burgess freed Worrall in the right of the area. This time he shot, but too close to the keeper who saved fairly comfortably at his near post.
Wigan captain Lee Evans picked up the ball 30 yards out and tried a low strike that zipped a yard wide
but Vale were back on the front foot as Worrall tried a 25 yard volley that dipped too late and sailed a yard over.
Vale were looking comfortable at the back but were tested when Theo Robinson gave the ball away and Pearce broke into the area. However, Shaun Brisley slid across and timed his challenge perfectly to win the ball.
From threatening an equaliser, the Latics found themselves 2-0 down on the half hour as Vale counter attacked through Montano and the ball broke for Robinson, leaving him one on one against keeper Owen Evans. The striker never looked like missing as he slid the ball low past Evans for his second.
That sparked a spell of Vale dominance which should have yielded a third goal.
A lovely first-time pass from Worrall found Pope who looked up and picked out Whitehead with a cross from the right but he volleyed just wide of the near post.
Pope’s flick found Whitehead who played in Montano into the left of the area. He smashed a shot past keeper Evans but against the bar from 12 yards.
Wigan must have been desperate for the half time whistle, but had to survive another scare as Gibbons found Robinson who turned sharply but his shot was beaten away by Owen Evans at the near post.
Wigan needed a foothold in the game, and almost found one at the start of the second half as Tom James connected with a cross from the right but headed just over.
But Vale added the third on 55 minutes after Burgess found Montano down the left. He took on his man before cutting inside towards the area and trying to play the ball through to Robinson. The pass was blocked by a defender but Montano was first to the rebound, surged into the area and fired low past the keeper from 14 yards.
Askey made a double change, on 64 minutes, as Devante Rodney and David Fitzpatrick replaced goalscorers Robinson and Montano. Fitzpatrick took Montano’s spot at left back while Rodney joined Pope up front.
Brisley’s mistake almost let in Alex Perry but Adam Crookes slid across to clear.
Pearce’s 25-yard free kick was pushed away by Visser but the home side did pull a goal back, on 79 minutes, after winning a free kick 25 yards out. Pearce struck the ball brilliantly, bending it over the wall and into the top corner, giving Visser no chance.
However, a promising night for Vale ended with concern as James Gibbons was forced to limp off on 89 minutes.
Perry was denied by Visser from close range before the final whistle
blew on a result which means Vale will have matters in their own hands when they take on Liverpool under21s in their final group game next month.
Wigan : Evans, Pearce, Johnson, Evans (Baningime, 62), Gardner,
Crankshaw, Obi, Merrie, Perry, Jolley, James (Solomon-otabor, 70).
Subs: Jones, Joseph, Aasgaard, Robinson.
Port Vale : Visser 7, Gibbons 7, Brisley 7, Crookes 7, Montano 8 (Rodney, 64, 7), Whitehead 7,
Burgess 8, Hurst 7, Amoo (Worrall, 7, 8) Pope 7, Robinson 8 (Fitzpatrick, 64, 7).
Subs: Brown, Conlon, Cullen, Mckirdy, Trickett-smith
Referee : Samuel Barrott 6 Entertainment :8