Match Report: Town 3 - 4 Port Vale

Nov 10 2008 By Mel Booth

TOWN’S fans didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as 11 minutes of madness cost them their FA Cup hopes.

Sure, the result was a bitter disappointment after Gerry Murphy’s rejigged and rejuvenated side led 3-1 with 79 minutes on the clock.

But the manner in which they put League II Vale under the cosh for long spells with a brand of bright, attacking, passing football warmed the heart and rekindled belief of better things to come in the rest of the campaign.

Town, perhaps, got a bit too cocky because they were playing so well – and they paid a heavy price for not killing off visitors who rarely threatened to soil Matt Glennon’s gloves let alone cause an upset.

Only three clean sheets in the 19 competitive outings so far tells its own story, however, and the lesson of Saturday’s closing minutes is that Town have got to know when simply to batten down the hatches and protect what they’ve already achieved.

The reaction of Vale caretaker boss Dean Glover said it all.