Match report Port Vale vs Barnet (18-08-2012) by Steven Brookes.

Match report Port Vale vs Barnet - League 2(18-08-2012)

Port Vale started the new league campaign with a well deserved win. Goals from Dodds, Myrie-Williams and Pope ensured 3 points against Mark Robson's Barnet. Micky Adams gave league debuts to Richard Duffy, Ashley Vincent and Chris Neal.

Vale were on top from the start as Sam Morsy had a low shot pushed out for a corner by the ever busy Liam O'Brien in goal. Louis Dodds got the ball rolling with an eighth minute strike with a well executed volley to the keepers right after a smart header from Morsy. As the defence was marshalling the Barnet attack at one end, captain Doug Loft and Vincent were working well together at the other end of the pitch.

On 20 minutes Vale doubled their lead as local lad Tom Pope was brought down from behind following a clumsy challenge from Jon Nurse. Jennison Myrie-Williams stepped up to open up his Vale account, sending O'Brien the wrong way.The delighted Vale Park faithful were loving the great start to the game and started to chant "We are top o'th league" as Barnet struggled to get into the game.

The Vale defence were opened up just after the half hour mark when Nurse forced a shot on target which Steel pushed out for a corner. Dodds was threatening to get on the scoresheet again and he went close on 34 minutes and poked his shot wide.Vincent then had a chance to increase Vale's lead, however hit his effort straight at the keeper. Barnet had hardly mustered anything to shout about and gained a free kick on 37 minutes but the defender nodded over. Myrie-Williams shot wide just before the break as he tried to double his goal tally for the afternoon at a sun baked Burslem.

In the second half Clayton McDonald's early long range shot went tamely to O'Brien. Louis Dodd who had been causing a nuisance to Barnet's defence put Pope in a great position, but then he failed to hit the target. Morsy picked the ball up from way out but blazed widely over the bar. Barnet then copied Morsy's effort as one of their very rare openings went over the cross bar too following a free-kick.

Adam Yates replaced Richard Duffy at right back for Vale's first substitution. On 69 minutes Dodds went close again for the Valiants but he failed to make the keeper work on this occasion. Vincent then made way for Ben Williamson after a lively league debut. In the 74th minute, Pope capped a hard working display by getting the goal his man of the match performance deserved, when he cut inside on the corner of the box and stroked a brilliant shot into the net

Ryan Burge came on for Chris Shuker late on but by then the points were comfortably in the bag. Even so, Vale should have gone 4 ahead on 83 minutes when Dodds volleyed a cross from Yates straight at the keeper.

Steven Brookes.