A tale of two halves comfortable first half, and second half was back to the wall stuff, mixture of exceptional keeping and dogged defending was just enough to bring the 3 points home!!
Took United 11minutes to get themselves in front, Flaherty corner from the United right, Louis Rogers gets to the ball first and heads home through a crowded box, nestled into the bottom left hand corner. Stewart playing on the last man got to a long ball first, nudged back to Flaherty deep cross to the far post, Rogers at full stretch just wide. Then a defensive mix up, ball over the top finds Flaherty in a foot race 25yds from goal, sliding tackle from the Vale full back, knocks the ball past his onrushing keeper. Hinds on hand to run the ball into an empty net. Vale created very little their best chance worked well down the United right, low cross fired home from the penalty spot but the official deemed it offside. Ht 0-2
Second half was largely one way traffic. The home side came out with a real sense of urgency, work rate and intensity up several notches from their first half display. Reaped rewards when a free kick given 25yds out just off centre, good free kick into the far corner with the United keeper getting a full hand on the effort but unable to keep it out. United loved a charmed life from that point, Vale cross from their left finding the striker rising highest, header palmed up into the air from Osmon, dropped 3 yds out with a Vale striker looking to tap home, but a smart reaction diving to his left to palm away. Last 10 mins was not for the faint of heart, Long range effort heading goal bound but Osmon again diving high turning the ball away for a corner. Pinpoint corner finds a Vale head beats Osmon but cleared of the line by Ben Purcell. Another cross from the United right, this time inside of the right foot from the Vale striker strikes the bar from 9yds out and cleared away. Osmon again turning a long range effort over the bar diving to his left. United created very little second half mainly on the counter, Hinds skipped away down the left, pulled back to Harry Grant, a scuffed shot under pressure easily saved. Hinds jinking inside from the left, right footed high and wide. Moments later Flaherty with a half chance from distance but high over the bar. Last United chance fell to substitute Ryan Ewhare running the length of the pitch, his pace gets him into the area sadly his strike deflected wide for a corner.. FT 1-2
Mom Harris Osmon excelled between the sticks, several saves keeping Vale at bay. Skipper Calum Duffy also worth a mention standing up to a bombardment of crosses and set pieces.
First game since the new management have taken control. Definitely seems to be a togetherness in the group now back slapping and high fives when defending under pressure. Still a lot of work to be done, especially with the squad looking unbalanced in certain areas.
Needs time now to implement his ideas on the group. Nice to see a proper management team in place, giving instructions from the sidelines, subs made with the idea of changing the flow of the game..
COYH