The first team travelled down to the Midlands to take on Port Vale, who are next to the bottom of League 1. The Valiants have recently changed managers and now have Lee Sinnott, from Conference team Farsley Celtic, in charge so the Rovers know they will be in for a hard game because traditionally teams under new management pull out all the stops to impress. Last season when the Rovers played here in the League it was Mickey Walker's first game in charge and the Rovers won in front of the Sky cameras. Today, a stiff and bitterly cold wind blew down the pitch to the away end on Hamil Road. It was also wet underfoot following morning rain but as kick off time approached the sky although grey did at least brighten up.
On Thursday, the last day for loan transfers to be effected, Port Vale signed Mark Salmon from Wolverhampton Wanderers as cover for Robin Hulbert and Richard Walker, both out with injury. The Rovers, however, lost centre back Matt Mills with a cartilage injury and as a consequence returned to his club, Manchester City. Replacing him today was Gordon Greer, with Sean McDaid continuing at left back in place of Gareth Roberts, recovering from an operation for a groin problem. Craig Nelthorpe was on the bench in place of Paul Green. The Youth team were here on Tuesday in the F.A.Youth Cup going down by 2-1 in a hard fought game so it's up to the first team to redress the balance and also take the three points on offer and push on to the play-off places. The Rovers were set to defend the away end.
The Rovers set the ball rolling and forced a corner immediately and despite an anxious moment in the home defence the ball was cleared. Port Vale's answer was to attack down their right and win a corner when Sullivan pushed out a shot from Whitaker. Two more corners followed to the home team in quick succession but they were cleared. The Rovers then got the ball to Guy on the right and his cross found Hayter but his shot was blocked. After 10 minutes, Rodgers worked hard to get a corner for the home team on their left. The ball was then played in to the near post, not cleared properly and fell to PILKINGTON to the right of goal about 15 yards out. A low, fierce drive nestled in the net for the opening goal. The Rovers reply was go down their right with Guy, whose cross was headed by Talbot just over his own crossbar for a corner. The ball came out to Wellens but Anyon saved. On 16 minutes, the Rovers were caught short at the back as the home team went down their right. It quickly became three on one, the ball was fed to Harsley who hit it first time from about 25 yards well over the bar. Three minutes later, a good Rovers build-up came to Guy on the right, inside to Hayter then to Wellens running in and then to Hayter in the penalty area but his shot was pushed out by the keeper and eventually cleared by a relieved defence. Both teams were having a fair share of the game but the next chance fell to the home side on 26 minutes when Laird's header to a corner was blocked by a mass of bodies. The Rovers were forced to make a change on 34 minutes when Heffernan went down with an ankle injury. Coppinger replaced him. Further even play followed then, on 43 minutes, Rocastle went down the home left before hitting a low cross to the middle. Harsley missed the ball and Laird, at the far post, could only stab wide from close range. Two minutes later, Guy was put through down the inside right channel, Talbot came across to challenge, Guy turned inside him and was blocked as he went to collect the ball. The break came with the Valiants going in with a one-goal lead.
The Rovers came out for the second half with all guns blazing but all they had to show for it in the early minutes was a corner. Then, on 53 minutes, a sweeping movement upfield had the ball go to O'Connor on the right. A great cross to the middle found Guy, on his own, with only a sure touch needed to equal things up. Unfortunately he only got the faintest of touches and the ball went past the far post. Six minutes later, however, he made amends when a good link-up between Coppinger and O'Connor gave the latter a chance to lift another great cross to the middle for GUY to head into the net. The Rovers were having the bulk of the play at this stage and incresed their lead on 68 minutes when a clearance out of defence by Wellens landed in the centre circle and bounced high. HAYTER beat Pilkington for the header, ran round him and had a clear run on goal before slotting past the keeper for a second goal to the Rovers. The Vale tried to get back into the game with Westwood heading straight into Sullivan's hands following a corner. On 75 minutes, another corner to the home team came out to Talbot and from 30 yards he rifled in a tremendous drive that Sullivan did well to tip over for a corner. However, the Rovers recovered their dominance and, on 81 minutes, a cross by Coppinger on the right found WELLENS in the middle. He turned his marker and calmly slammed past the keeper for a third goal. As time ran down the home team tried hard to get something out of the game but the Rovers defence were in no mood to see their lines breached again. The end came with the Rovers running out winners by three goals to one.
A terrific second half performance from the Rovers saw them dominate almost totally and three well worked goals gave them the three points.
Teams - Port Vale - Joe Anyon; Marc Laird, Paul Harsley, George Pilkington, Ashley Westwood; Craig Rocastle, Mark McGregor, Jason Talbot, Danny Whitaker; Luke Rodgers, Calum Willock.
Subs used - Paul Edwards for Willock 69 mins; Marc Richards for Harsley 80 mins; Mark Salmon for Laird 87 mins;
Subs not used - David McGoldrick, Mark Goodlad gk
ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Adam Lockwood, Gordon Greer, Sean McDaid; Lewis Guy, Richie Wellens, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson; James Hayter, Paul Heffernan.
Subs used - James Coppinger for Heffernan 34 mins; Martin Woods for Wilson 74 mins; Steve Roberts for Guy 82 mins;
Subs not used - Mark McCammon, Craig Nelthorpe.
