06/07/2024
By Chris Gibbs
Vale class shown in pre-season opener
Newcastle Town 1 - Barry (38)
Port Vale 3 - Tolaj (6) Chislett (75,78)
Two goals from Ethan Chislett in the final 15 minutes – one a bizarre but well controlled what can only be described as a shouldering – gave Port Vale a 3-1 win in our first pre-season friendly.
Ultimately our professional visitors proved too strong in the pre-season opener, but this was an excellent test for our lads with the start of our competitive season still a month away.
It was a tough test for the boys as we were forced to concede a lot of possession and matters weren’t helped when Slinny made an extremely uncharacteristic error to allow Vale’s new signing Lorent Tolaj in to put Vale in front after six minutes.
The Swiss striker, who represented his country through to under 19s, could easily have had a first half hat-trick but passed up a couple of headed opportunities and was also denied brilliantly by Slinny down at his left midway through the first half.
Despite having our backs up against the wall for the opening half hour, we hung in well and our determination was rewarded when a defensive slip in Vale’s backline enabled Tom Jones a route to goal.
Tom’s scuffed shot was blocked but the rebound fell nicely for Nathan Barry, who calmly brought us back on level terms.
The Valiants rung the changes at half time with a completely new side coming on bar the goalkeeper and that extra sharpness they brought with them was ultimately decisive.
Chislett created a bit of space for himself fifteen minutes from time and finished with style and then three minutes later after Slinny had done brilliantly to repel an initial strike, the talented South African midfielder twisted his body intelligently to use his shoulder to put Vale 3-1 up.
Next up for us is an away game at Whitchurch Alport on Monday night before we welcome Crewe Alexandra to Buckmaster Avenue next Saturday.