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Despite being reduced to ten men before half time, Port Vale still comfortably took all three points at Vale Park this afternoon running out 2-0 winners.
John Trewick gave a debut to 17 year-old Lateef Elford-Alliyu alongside Leon Constantine with Craig King dropping to the bench. For Port Vale, Lee Collins and Kris Taylor both started with Big John McCombe among the substitutes.
An early Bulls attack came to nothing when Constantine screwed his effort well wide when put in by Marc Pugh while at the other end Dodds' overhead attempt was almost turned in by Richards. However, in the tenth minute, Vale took the lead when a long through ball caught the Bulls' defence square and Craig Davies chased through before rounding Bartlett and slotting home from 15 yards on the angle. Shortly afterwards, The Bulls were lucky not to concede another when the woodwork twice saved them before Dodds blazed over when well placed. Hereford got the ball into the net when Constantine nodded in Pugh's deep cross but the striker was ruled offside. For The Valients, Yates produced a cross, which Richards deflected just wide before. Fortune again shone on Hereford when Sam Gwynne mistimed a challenge on former Bristol Rover player Haldene in the box. Gwynne appeared to be nowhere near the ball as he took Haldene's legs in the box but referee, Horwood, chose to issue a yellow to Haldene presumably for diving when a penalty was the more likely decision. Constantine's header glanced back off the foot of the post but Port Vale continued to boss the proceedings while The Bulls were only able to muster sporadic assaults into the Vale danger area. James McQuilken replaced the injured Jamie Tolley before Haldene’s over zealous disputing of a throw-in decision brought a second yellow as he was dismissed with five minutes of the half remaining.
HT Port Vale 1 HUFC 0
Sam Gwynne's probing delivery into the Vale box was cleared by Collins before Kris Taylor was cautioned for a robust tackle on the United fullback. The free kick failed to produce anything of note. Hereford were looking brighter as the half developed but still failed to bring a real save from home keeper Martin as Pugh glanced a header wide from a Valentine through ball and Darren Jones fired a half-clearance wide from just outside the box. Kris Taylor pinged a delightful cross to Dodds who headed wide while Elford-Alliyu hooked over from a Matty Done cross. Manset and McCallum replaced Elford-Alliyu and Done as Trewick tried to find a way back into the game. A Manset surging run produced a chance for McCallum whose shot was partly blocked and Martin was able to gather safely. The Bulls attacked with a bit more effect in the later stages but when Constantine softly lost possession in the Vale box to Lee Collins, the former Bulls loanee came away with the ball and sprinted the length of the pitch before sliding a cross for Richards to net unmarked from inside the Bulls box. Valentine received a second yellow following a skirmish in The Bulls half, which evened player numbers. Game, set and match to the home side.
FT Port Vale 2 HUFC 0
Debutant Elford-Alliyu showed some nice touches at times but it did appear to be a case of men against boys for much of the game as once again Hereford failed to really to produce a decent volume of attempts on goal. It was particularly noticeable that even when wide men Pugh and Done got into good positions, there was rarely a striker in a position to score.
All in all, it was another disappointing day on the road for Bulls fans who numbered around 180 in a crowd of 4686. Port Vale played reasonably well but their defensive division will be happy to face attacks as few and frail as they had to today. I keep peering down the tunnel but the light isn't visible yet. See you all on Tuesday.
Port Vale: Martin, Yates, Owen, Collins, Taylor, Haldane, Griffith (Loft 83), Fraser, Dodds (Howland 83), Richards, Davies (Rigg 64). Subs not used: Anyon, Taylor, McCombe, Glover.
Hereford: Bartlett, Gwynne, Lowe, Jones, Valentine, Pugh, Lunt, Tolley (McQuilkin 32), Done (McCallum 75), Constantine, Elford-Aliyu (Manset 71). Subs not used: Adamson, Weir, Downing, King.
