Port Vale 2 Stevenage 2
It seems to have become an irregular and unintended tradition in our family to watch the Port Vale versus Stevenage match at Vale Park, once every four or five years. I saw Vale's infamous 3-1 defeat almost exactly 13 years ago, featuring THAT own goal (yep, I was there and couldn't believe what I saw). That game was so long ago, it even pre-dates this blog, (but not my other blog, where I posted my eyewitness review of the game). More recently I saw Vale win 1-0 in a tight game in the 2019 season. So, although it's been a few years, I decided to mark the start of my birthday week with a trip to Vale Park to watch my favourite match.
I'm not a loyal, life-long fan. I'm not even really a supporter, I just like watching the very occasional football match, and soaking up the match atmosphere - so don't expect deep tactical insights. This will be another eyewitness account of a sporting event!
Vale were between managers for this game, but it didn't seem to affect their performance. They started very brightly, moving the ball quickly around the midfield and looking to get forward as much as possible. It was not surprising when their strikers combined effectively to cause havoc in the Stevenage penalty area, leading to a Terence Vancooten own goal, and Vale's first goal after just six minutes. This lifted the whole atmosphere and the home fans settled in for some Saturday afternoon entertainment. To quote Star Trek Deep Space Nine: "War is more fun when you're winning." And they were certainly winning, as Stevenage only managed around two chances in the whole of the first half and the Vale goalkeeper (in his tasteful all-shocking-pink kit) had very little to do.
The Vale players celebrate the first goal of the game
Vale made a change, bringing on number Mighten (number 11) for number 10, and this opened up a range of attacking opportunities. Mighten was fast, always making runs down the wing - primarily the left but swapping to the right occasionally - and was constantly pressurising the Stevenage defenders.
Vale's goalkeeper in a rare action shot from the first half
As always, the referee made some controversial decisions. Football matches are truly like pantomimes, with all the usual characters and all the usual audience participation. "He's behind you," and, "Oh yes he is..." are replaced with other phrases, but the underlying concept is the same. The players on the stage are heroes and villains; there are ugly sisters (if I understood the comments lobbed at the officials) and there's plenty of booing and cheering.
The unfortunate linesman, who got a load of stick from the Vale fans
The referee makes a questionable decision: the crowd questions his abilities. The fans question his eyesight; his parentage; his integrity, and his nocturnal behaviour. They insult his intelligence, his grasp of the rules of the game, and his competence. The referee ignores it and carries on with the game. The same appliers to the 'liner', the assistant referee who was nearest to us. My opinion - the referee made some very suspect decisions, and most of them went against Port Vale. It even seemed, as it often does in games, that he would try to compensate for one bad decision by making another one to benefit the other side, trying to bring the game into balance. Was his judgment accurate? Probably. Did it look it? No.
Anyway - at half time, Vale were 1-0 up and had been looking relatively comfortable. It all changed in the second half.
Stevenage appeared better organised after the restart, and following a free kick near the Vale penalty area made some neat passes that ended with an equalising goal. Six minutes into the second half, and the scores were level; Jamie Reid the scorer for Stevenage. This was compounded by Terence Vancooten scoring (at the right end) for Stevenage, giving them a 2-1 lead.
The Vale players regroup after conceding a second goal
There followed a tense period of play, with Vale trying to get forward but only rarely connecting any incisive passes. There was a lot of header-tennis around the centre circle, but with both teams maintaining a relatively high line, there wasn't much space. Vale were definitely better getting the ball on the floor and playing neat passes around the midfield - they were able to stretch the play and create opportunities for the strikers to get forwards - especially Mighten, who was constantly causing headaches for the Stevenage right-back.
Vale managed a series of corners and goalmouth scrambles in front of the Stevenage goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, who stood resolute in defence, and it seemed that he was going to help his team to victory. Despite Mighten's persistence down the left, it was the right wing that finally provided Vale's second goal. A cross into the box from the right wing was blocked by Stevenage defender Dan Butler, and the linesman flagged for an offence. This was in front of where we were seated, and the Port Vale fans were howling and shouting immediately. Except me - I didn't think it was a deliberate handball, but I'm not daft and I kept my mouth shut. It did happen very quickly, and it was the linesman who flagged for the penalty. Maybe the abuse from the Vale fans had got to him.
There was, as always, a lengthy debate on and off the field as the Stevenage players commented to the referee how unlikely it was that it was a genuine penalty, while the Vale players stood around the edge of the box waiting for the chance to equalise. This was already over the three minutes after the full 90 minutes had elapsed, so things were very tense.
Eventually, Ojo took and scored the penalty for Vale. If you heard the roar of the Vale fans, you'd think they'd won the match (in the eighth minute of stoppage time). There were a few seconds of play after the restart, then the ref blew for the end of the game - at which point the Stevenage players resumed their conversation with him about his questionable decisions.
The Stevenage players after the final whistle, in conversation with the match officials
It was a good game, and probably a fair result, and for the occasional fan masquerading as a die-hard Vale fan it was also extremely entertaining. I might go again in a few years...
