FOUR WINS ON THE BOUNCE FOR VALE
PORT Vale made it four league wins in a row for the first time since 2015 as their remarkable change of fortunes under Darrell Clarke continued with this 1-0 victory at home to Exeter.
The Vale were in relegation trouble at the start of this run but are now surely safe, 12 points clear of trouble after Theo Robinson’s second-minute strike was enough for the win to add to those at home to Newport and at Colchester and Crawley.
Clarke stuck with the same XI and 3-5-2 formation that won on the road at Crawley and Colchester in the last two games – and also named the same bench as in last week’s 3-1 win at Crawley.
He was rewarded inside two minutes. Robinson won possession 30 yards out and found Devante Rodney who ran at the defence before sliding the ball to Dave Worrall on the right of the area. His low shot was deflected across goal to Robinson who scored a tap in at the far post.
That set the tone for a hugely impressive start by Vale as Exeter struggled to get going. Joshua Key got down the Exeter right but was dispossessed by Montano who looked up and hammered a crossfield pass to fellow wing-back Worrall. His cross was just too deep but dropped to Montano who volleyed well wide from 16 yards out.
The visitors got a breather when referee Leigh Doughty was forced to hobble off and replaced by reserve official
Phillip Dermott after 15 minutes.
But the break didn’t seem to have halted Vale’s momentum as Robinson gathered the ball 35 yards out and threaded a pass through to Rodney. The forward got there a split second before keeper Jokull Andresson but the keeper did well to claim it before Rodney could go round him.
The impressive Rodney won the ball from Key wide on the left, charged goalwards then hit a swerving effort from 20 yards that the keeper did well to tip over.
Exeter boss Matt Taylor made a tactical change as Pierce Sweeney came on for Lewis Page, on 32 minutes. They went on to have their best spell of the half, but without creating a huge amount.
Nathan Smith had been enjoying the opportunity to get forward from the right of the Vale back three but was alert with his defensive duties to deny Robbie Willmott as the forward tried to get through into the area.
At the other end, Robinson did well to win the ball then combined with Oyeleke before finding Rodney but his first
time strike from 25 yards was well over.
Vale were still looking dangerous, and were helped when a poor backpass found Rodney, but the visiting defence recovered and Rodney’s shot from 20 yards was blocked.
But Vale started the second half brightly as Rodney beat his man in the left of the area and tried to beat the keeper at his near post rather than square it. But the keeper got enough on the ball to deny the forward.
The visitors threatened as a corner was headed clear by Shaun Brisley to Nigel Atangana but his 25 yard volley was way over.
Jay came closer with a low 25-yard strike well held by Brown low to his right.
But Vale were back on the front foot as Conlon’s superb chip picked out Worrall’s run into the right of the area. However, Worrall probably then chose the wrong option as, rather than drill the ball across the six yard box, he played it back to the edge of the area to Oyeleke whose shot was blocked.
Montano was having an eye-catching game on the left.
He lost the ball to Key but won it straight back before finding Rodney. However, his cross towards Robinson was overhit.
Conlon beat his man and threaded the ball through to Rodney but the offside flag was up before the striker slotted past the keeper.
But Rodney was a constant threat and he took on and beat Sweeney on the left of the area but just overran the ball into touch as Vale searched for the second goal to make the game safe.
They almost found it when Montano’s cross was picked up by Conlon at the back post. He rolled the ball back to Rodney whose strike from 14 yards was heading for the top corner before it was tipped over by Andresson.
The visitors threatened when Jack Sparkes’ free-kick dropped to Tom Parkes but his shot was blocked and hammered away by Smith.
Clarke made his first change, on 89 minutes, as Kurtis Guthrie replaced Robinson, before Mark Cullen came on for Rodney in stoppage time.
Guthrie wriggled past his marker but was denied by the keeper at the near post but that didn’t matter as his side claimed a hard-earned win.