Half-time report from the main site.

PORT VALE 2 (Sonner 24, Constantine 27)

BARNSLEY 0

CATACLYSMIC defending and a horrendous error by keeper Nick Colgan left the Reds with a mountain to climb in the second half at ValePark.

Reds boss Andy Ritchie handed a debut to Barnsley-born Paul Heckinbottom as his defensive crisis eased at Vale Park. Matt Carbon and Bobby Hassell returned to training late this week and came straight into the back four and there was also a place up front for Marc Richards with Paul Hayes dropping to the bench.

Dale Tonge, Robbie Williams and Paul Reid were also missing from the side that beat Gillingham at Oakwell on Tuesday night through injury and suspension as the Reds looked to build on a run of just one defeat in 17 matches in all competitions.

After a low key opening Tommy Wright almost powered the Reds into the lead on two minutes as he outfought the Vale defence before playing the ball back for Martin Devaney but the winger saw his low shot kicked away by Craig James.

Wright then went close to bagging his first goal for the club on five minutes as he first saw a header from Chris Shuker's cross well cleared away and then nodded over second later after Hassell had swung the ball back into the danger area.

At the other end former Chesterfield midfielder Mark Innes had Vale's best chance of a stuttering opening from the home side on eight minutes when he volleyed well wide from 25 yards after Hassell's header had dropped just outside the box.

Barnsley were rampant and a flying Devaney made the home defence look statuesque on nine minutes as he breezed past three challenges before bringing a fine save from Mark Goodlad.

A quick break by Leon Constantine almost caught the Reds out at the other end on eleven minutes but Heckingbottom showed great pace and composure to slide in with a great last ditch tackle.

The Reds were almost caught out again on 15 minutes as Sam Togwell found a great pass through the heart of the Barnsley back line and Michael Husbands managed to run in on goal but Nick Colgan stood up well to make a great save.

Wright thought he had won a penalty on 18 minutes as he tumbled under a challenge from Clayton Fortune at the near post but the referee waved away his half hearted appeals for a spot kick.

Barnsley were undone on 24 minutes through their own adventurous start to the game as Husbands shrugged off a challenge on the half way line to race clean through at Colgan. The striker took his time and found a perfect pass out to Danny Sonner, who slotted the ball easily into the net.

It got even worse on 27 minutes as abdominal defending by the Reds allowed Leon Constantine the chance to beat a poor offside trap to run onto Sonner's pass and in on Colgan again. The striker's shot was woeful but a horrendous error by Colgan allowed his weak shot to trickle under his body and through to goal.

Husbands again went close to a goal on the half hour after Barnsley had again failed to clear a bouncing ball but the striker's acrobatic effort flew wide of the target.

Barnsley finally got their game back on track on 38 minutes after Wright had managed to get his head onto Jacob Burns' free kick. Goodlad managed to save his effort but it was just the kick in the backside the Reds needed. Burns then went close himself a minute later when he hammered a rising volley inches over the top.

PORT VALE: Goodlad, Pilkington, James, Sonner, Fortune, Cummins, Abbey, Innes, Constantine, Husbands, Togwell.

Subs: Brain, Doherty, Lowndes, Bell, Homes.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Heckingbottom, Carbon, Burns, McPhail, Austin, Shuker, Richards, Devaney, Wright.

Subs: Flinders, Howard, Hayes, Nardiello, Atkinson.

 

Sounds like weve had the chances but have been made to pay for not taking them. Where have I heard that before????

 

"Abdominal defending"?

 

I think

that's when fatty Williams blocks their shots with his beergut.
I thought he was injured today though

 

RE: "Abdominal defending"?

Does this means that we have no stomach forit?