Clueless Vale Lose ground

Port Vale 0-0 Exeter City 

PORT VALE slipped further behind the promo- tion race last night with their failure to beat a makeshift Exeter side, writes CHRIS HARPER.

Possession was again no problem for Vale, who dominated much of the game, but they sadly lacked the guile to breakdown a resolute defence. Injuries and illness robbed Exeter of their recognised strike force but the visitors packed too much experience at the back for an inept home attack. It was arguably Vale's poorest home performance of the season at a time when they desperately needed to win to stay among the pacemakers. With Orient and Chester both winning away from home Vale lost valuable ground and they urgently need a tonic to stop a season of promise wasting away. Glum-faced manager John Rudge, whose team have not won this year. said: "It was a frustrating match. We had enough of the ball but lacked the quality to break them down. "Give Exeter credit because they defended well. They are no mugs at the back and Everton had the same problem when they played them in the F.A. Cup recently. It took them 75 minutes to force a way through. The Midfield was so congested that we needed width from our full-backs because they were basically free. Russel Bromage made some good runs but we still hit too many balls down the middle which they swallowed. Bromage and skipper Phil Sproson shared the £50 man of the match award donated by sponsor Mr. Sam Emberton, of Hampshire, while Mr. Rudge forked out his £10 reward for a clean sheet. It was Vale's slender consolation in an eminently forgettable contest which might have been worse but for the alertness of Jim Arnold on a couple of occasions. No urgency Vale again seemed to lack urgency from the start and in 23 minutes, following a dangerous run and cross by Jackson, the ball reached the unmarked Marker. whose close range header was brilliantly clutched by the Vale keeper. Geoff Hunter worked hard in Vale's midfield but there were no clear cut openings and close on half- time Jackson's infield ball to Marker left Vale wide open until Wayne Ebanks slid in with a vital tackle. Shaw saved comfortably from Andy Jones and then reacted smartly to prevent Hunter's header_reaching the challenging Earle, but Vale generally hit too many stray passes to put their game together with any effect. Vale's best chance stemmed from a Paul Maguire corner kick. The ball was flicked on at the near post by John Williams but Earle headed over from six yards. Exeter were quite content to soak up pressure. They were seldom stretched and threatened to snatch the points when Ebanks gave the ball away to Ling. whose shot to the near post was saved by Arnold. One goal would have been enough to win a tight match but an inswinging corner by Maguire was cleared off the line by Viney and then Ally Brown just failed to make contact as Bromage played another low cross into the box. Oshor Williams replaced Maguire for the last few minutes as a last throw of the dice but it was to no avail and the stony silence that greeted the final whistle summed up the growing concern.

PORT VALE-
Arnold; Ebanks, Bromage, Hunter, Sproson, John Williams, Jones, Earle, Brown, Bowden, Maguire (Oshor Williams, 83mins.).

EXETER-
Shaw; Harrower, Viney, McNichol, Impey, McCat- frey, Ling, Jackson, Gale, Keogh, Marker. Substitute: King.

Referee: Mr. R. Guy, of Kirkby.

Attendance: 3.385