Match Report: Vale 0, Bournemouth 0

by Steve Shaw

PORT Vale twice hit the woodwork against high-flying Bournemouth this afternoon but were unable to make the crucial breakthrough.

However, the Valiants can take great heart from fighting out a stalemate with the League Two leaders at Vale Park.

It was their first clean sheet in the league since their 4-0 home success against Grimsby Town on September 5 – their last league win.

Left midfielder Rob Taylor dropped out of the first 11 after being struck down by a virus yesterday.

Taylor's absence meant boss Micky Adams was able to hand a debut to midfielder Jason Jarrett who joined on a short-term deal last week.

The former free agent was making his first appearance of the season following his release from the Seagulls where he formerly played under Adams.

Centre-half Luke Prosser was named in the squad for the first time this season.

Adams has recalled the defender from Blue Square Premier side Salisbury City to provide cover for centre-halves Gareth Owen, John McCombe and Lee Collins.

Lewis Haldane was also named among seven substitutes

The striker was featuring in the last game of his one-month loan deal from League One side Bristol Rovers.

Bournemouth's long injury list meant they were only able to name three substitutes.

However, they were boosted by the arrival of 19-year-old midfielder Anthony Edgar who joined from West Ham on loan this week.

Edgar is the cousin of Tottenham and England striker Jermaine Defoe.

The league leaders looked more composed in the early stages as light rain swept across Vale Park.

On six minutes, McCombe did well to clear a decent right-flank cross as striker Brett Pitman prepared to pounce.

But Vale started to feel their way into proceedings as McCombe burst forward on nine minutes.

The defender's diagonal delivery was met by striker Marc Richards whose downward header was easily collected by Cherries keeper Shwan Jalal.

Bournemouth won a trio of corners around the 12-minute mark.

The third, taken from the right, was delivered to the far post.

Right-back Lee Bradbury headed the ball inside where Jason Pearce's looping header forced Valiants keeper Chris Martin to tip over.

In the 22nd minute Danny Hollands earned the game's first booking for a rash challenge on Louis Dodds.

Soon after, Jarrett's centre, from the left, was met by Doug Loft's 16-yard drive which flew over.

Bournemouth continued to play some neat passing play but failed to carve open their hosts open at regular intervals.

In the 27th minute the ball was worked into the box and into Pitman's feet, but a crunching challenge from Owen denied him a strike on goal.

Just after the half-hour Jarrett dispossessed a hesitant Warren Cummings. However, his squared ball was blazed over by Richards on the edge of the box.

The Valiants almost took the lead in the 36th minute after Kris Taylor's 20-yarder was deflected for a corner by Pearce.

Owen flicked on Taylor's corner to Richards whose thunderous header came crashing back off the bar.

Dodds followed up with a ferocious drive which was beaten away by Jalal.

Five minutes before the break Taylor cut inside Bradbury from the left before the defender hit the outside of the far right-hand post with a cultured effort.

Vale were the stronger team as the break approached. On 43 minutes Jarrett was unable to properly connect with an edge-of-the-box effort before Dodds almost broke clear following a jinking run.

In first-half injury time Dodds latched onto a long ball, but a heavy first touch, allowed Jalal to clear.

McCombe's deep cross, moments later, almost found the net but Jalal back-tracked to tip over.

During a lively start to the second half Richards and Owen entered Rob Shoebridge's referee's book for late challenges.

In August Shoebridge infamously ruled out a goal from Crystal Palace's Freddie Sears in their defeat against Bristol City.

In the 56th minute Richards stormed past Bradbury on the left before squaring to Dodds who fired over with a lame 20-yard effort.

Soon after, Dodds did likewise from a similar range.

It was Bournemouth's turn to hit the woodwork on 77 minutes when Cummings delivered from the right.

His cross was met by Pitman whose header hit the foot of the far left-hand post.

The game began to fizzle out as Pitman missed the target with a long-range effort.

Taylor's free-kick had to be finger-tipped to safety in the 86th minute.

At the death Martin made a superb save with his legs to deny Pitman's close-range effort.

Match stats

Teams

Port Vale: Martin, Griffith, Collins, McCombe, Owen, K Taylor, Fraser, Loft (Haldane, 56), Jarrett, Dodds (McCrory, 87), Richards (Horsfield 65).

Not used: Anyon, Stockley, Prosser, Yates.

Bournemouth: Jalal, Bradbury, Pearce, Garry (Bartley, 78), Cummings, Feeney, Edgar, Hollands, Robinson, Connell (Fletcher, 72), Pitman.

Not used: McQoid.

Referee: Rob Shoebridge

Attendance: 4,905 (including 253 visitors)

Writer: Steve Shaw