Port Vale vs Chesterfield match report

Apr 3 2011 by Ben Hurst, Sunday Mercury

CARETAKER boss Mark Grew reckons Port Vale face six ‘cup finals’ to keep their promotion dream alive.

Vale slipped back out of the play-off places after losing at League Two leaders Chesterfield yesterday.

Jack Lester broke the deadlock in the 48th minute and just as Vale threatened an equaliser, Deane Smalley struck to double the hosts’ lead with 19 minutes left.

The visitors failed to launch a late rally as they dropped to ninth, one point off the top seven with six games left.

While Chesterfield are preparing for a promotion party, Vale face a nail-biting run-in.

But with his side just six points off the three automatic places, Grew has vowed to fight to the finish.

“It makes the Southend game next week even bigger,” he said. “We’re disappointed but the season’s not over. Every game now is a cup final for us.”

Chesterfield are 11 points clear at the top of the table and started strongly as Craig Davies headed against a post.

Then just two minutes later the 23-goal striker, who scored seven on loan at Vale last season, was given room to volley against the other post.

Gary Roberts was among three changes to the side that beat Lincoln 2-1 on Tuesday and his searching ball picked out Doug Loft, who cut in from the right before firing wide.

Marc Richards was then unable to keep his header down after Tom Pope nodded down a Rob Taylor cross.

But just three minutes after the break, Dean Morgan was allowed to cross from the Vale right and Lester rose above McCombe to head home at the far post. Davies then tested Vale keeper Stuart Tomlinson before both Richards and Roberts had 20-yard shots blocked.

Rob Taylor and Loft switched flanks several times and both had joy down the right as Vale got on top.

But the visitors needed a last-ditch tackle by Adam Yates to deny Danny Whitaker from Lester’s pass.

And Grew’s men were carved open again moments later by another fine through-ball down the middle as Andrew Talbot found Smalley, who rounded Tomlinson before sidefooting home to seal victory.