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  • Kick-off: 19:45
  • Venue: The Alexandra Stadium
  • Attendance: 5229
  • Referee: Dean, M

Live Commentary

90 mins

That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.

81 mins

Goal!! Luke Rodgers scores for Port Vale.

77 mins

Dean Morgan is replaced by Byron Moore.

77 mins

Steven Schumacher is replaced by Gary Roberts.

76 mins

Port Vale are replacing Marc Richards with Kyle Perry.

68 mins

Michael O'Connor goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

68 mins

Marc Richards goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

66 mins

Robin Hulbert goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

57 mins

Paul Harsley takes a penalty for Port Vale and scores!.

46 mins

Joe Anyinsah is being taken off, Nicky Maynard has come on in his place.

46 mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 0.

45 mins

The ref has blown his whistle for half time.

15 mins

The referee has booked Patrick Boyle.

0 mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Second-half goals from Paul Harsley and Luke Rodgers earned Port Vale their first win in 11 games as they saw off local rivals Crewe.

Lee Sinnott's side were by far the best of the two relegation-haunted teams at the Alexandra Stadium.

Their passing was crisper and their commitment in the middle of the park was undeniable as they scrapped their way to victory.

Crewe, on the other hand, while creating chances looked certain to be fighting against the drop from League One until the final game.

Port Vale, cut adrift from the bottom of the table, are more or less certain of playing League Two football next season but they started the game in a high tempo and pushed Crewe back into their half.

Harsley and Chris Herd forced keeper Ben Williams to save early long-range efforts, but Harsley wasted a good chance to apply more pressure on the home goal when he cracked his free-kick straight at the Crewe wall.

Crewe took until the 18th minute to mount an attack, but when they did Tom Pope flicked a header on to the top of the woodwork from Dean Morgan's cross.

Morgan also showed his intent to go for goal as the half closed with two efforts which went narrowly wide.

Port Vale keeper Joe Anyon came to his side's rescue with a great save seven minutes into the second half after tipping Pope's 25-yard volley onto the roof of the net.

George Pilkington made a last-ditch challenge to deny Pope as Crewe forced the issue.

But they were caught on the break when Herd's pass released Marc Richards, who was tripped by Danny O'Donnell.

Harsley slotted the 57th minute spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner to give Vale a precious lead.

Rodgers made the three points safe with nine minutes left when he out-muscled O'Donnell and hooked the ball past Williams.

Crewe Alexandra Team

Port Vale Team

Crewe Alexandra

Port Vale

Corners

8 4

Fouls

13 19

Goal attempts

9 18

Shots off target

3 10

Offsides

7 4

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