Port Vale 6 Rotherham 2, full match report.

Port Vale VS Rotherham United

8th September 2012

An unchanged Port Vale return to Vale Park for the third time in 8 days hoping to take their unbeaten run to 4 games, their last outing was a 2-0 win in The Johnsons Paint Trophy against top of League 1 team, Tranmere Rovers. Today’s opponents are the hotly tipped for promotion (as always) – Rotherham United. Tom Pope starts against old club who are in their home colours of red and white, who have brought quite a few travelling fans down from Yorkshire. Rotherham’s number 11, Gareth Evans was on trial at Vale a few years ago.

So Vale kick off shooting left to right from my vantage point in the press box, shooting towards the Bycars end first. Early banter from the Vale fans is aimed towards Rotherham’s’ boss Steve Evans, as both teams start quite brightly. Vale get a free kick on 3 minutes which Shuker takes but it’s headed away. Dodds breaks away in the 5^th minute, gets the ball to Dodds who does a one two with Shuker and Dodds slots away easily, 1-0 Port Vale. O 8 minutes Richard Duffy brings down a Rotherham player, they have a free kick on the edge of Vale’s area, Ben Pringle hits the ball at Vale’s wall. Straight after, good work from Vale sees Dodds put Myrie Williams through; he beats the keeper but can’t keep the ball in play. On 15 minutes, Rotherham get the first corner of the match, but Vale get the ball away and great work from Shuker and Myrie Williams who crosses the ball to Pope who heads in past his old club, 2-0 Port Vale. A couple of minutes later, Williams get’s a corner for Vale, but Rotherham clear.

Myrie Williams has a chance to make it 3 on 19 minutes; he gets a great save out of Scott Shearer who parries it to Vincent who spoons the ball across the face of goal. On 20 minutes Sam Morsy sets Pope up and he makes no mistake and slots the ball home to make 3-0. Ben Pringle tests Chris Neal on 22 minutes, but he saves easily. Vale are rampant with Myrie Williams and Dodds linking up well, this game seems as one sided as the Torquay game but Vale have taken their chances better this time and have a convincing lead. Vale make it 4-0 when Pope puts Vincent through who shoots from 15 yards out and breaks the net, Vale 4-0 on 27 minutes.

Bang on the half hour, Rotherham pull one back with a goal from O’ Connor with Pringle on the assist,  4-1. Rotherham bring on Tonge for Wilson straight after to try and change things. O’ Connor has another chance for Rotherham on 37 minutes, but shoots over. On 45 minutes there is another 3 minutes given for stoppages.

At half time it’s: Port Vale 4 Rotherham 1.

Second half is underway and Rotherham have taken off Nicky Hunt and replaced him with Craig Morgan. Rotherham get the first shot on 47 minutes, but Neal is all over it. On 50 minutes Vale give away a free kick on the edge of the box, the Rotherham players think it was inside, O Connor takes it hits the wall and the referee awards a penalty (In the press box, we all assume it’s for a handball, but not sure). The former Manchester United player Nardiello steps up and makes no mistake as he slots it bottom left, 4-2. Thoughts of a game against QPR come to mind, when Vale let a 4-0 lead slip and the game ended 4-4. Rotherham seem to be having a purple patch after what was a one way first half, great work from Vale keeps them at bay.

A free kick on 61 minutes from Pringle on hits Myrie Williams, the resulting play gets a corner, Neal collects easily from the cross. Another corner a minute later sees a Loft header set Myrie Williams free, Rotherham mop it up. Myrie Williams produces some trickery on 62 and gets Vale a corner, Shuker takes and it’s headed away. Straight after Vale get a free kick, Shuker lofts it above the Rotherham defence, a Rotherham defender gets his head to it, it hits the Post where Pope is and he tucks it away for his first Vale hat-trick, 5-2.

Kayode Odejayi gets a good save from Neal on 72 minutes when he attempts to sneak it across from the right wing. Gareth Evans is replaced by Lionel Ainsworth on 76 minutes as again Rotherham try to freshen things up a bit. Pope makes it 6-2 on 77 minutes, after some Rotherham head tennis lets him in. Vale take off McDonald and bring on Gareth Owen who is back from injury on 78.

Cries of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ ring out to the Rotherham boss Evans as Rob Taylor is brought on for Vale as Myrie Williams receives a standing ovation coming off. On 88 minutes, Wiliamson comes on for Vale replacing Ashley Vincent who had a great first half. On 90 minutes, the fourth official says there will be 2 more minutes of play.

 Final score Port Vale 6 – Rotherham 2

Tom Pope is the vice chairman’s’ Man of the match.

Port Vale starting XI: Neal, McCoombe, Loft, Dodds, Myrie Williams (Taylor), Pope, McDonald (Owen), Shuker, Morsy, Vincent (Williamson), Duffy.

Rotherham:  Shearer, Wilson (Tonge), Sharps, Mullins, O’Connor, Evans (Ainsworth), Pringle, Odejayi, Nardiello, Hunt (Morgan), Noble.

Attendance:  5544 (747 away fans)

Terry Bossons.