Port Vale 2-1 Gillingham: Match Report

18 February 2012 17:31

Richards on the spot for Vale

Port Vale striker Marc Richards scored a 90th-minute penalty to secure a 2-1 victory over Gillingham.

Richards, who was pushed to the ground by Chris Whelpdale, fired his spot-kick low to Paul Gazzaniga's left as the visiting keeper dived to his right.

Vale just about edged a scrappy first-half but it was the visitors who took the lead, with Whelpdale breaking the deadlock in stoppage time. Gavin Tomlin whipped over a cross from the right and Whelpdale directed a well-placed header inside Stuart Tomlinson's right-hand post from eight yards.

Vale offered little at the start of the second period and manager Micky Adams made a triple substitution just before the hour, with Gareth Owen and newcomers Paul Marshall and Chris Shuker replacing Clayton McDonald, Sam Morsy and Ben Williamson.

And Marshall almost conjured a 64th-minute equaliser when his free-kick was clawed past the far post by Gillingham stopper Paul Gazzaniga. Doug Loft also tested Gazzaniga before Connor Essam flung himself to block Sean Rigg's shot as Vale finally began to up the ante.

Danny Kedwell squandered a great chance to increase the visitors' advantage on the break before Vale drew level nine minutes from time. Loft crossed from the right and Rigg rose majestically to bury a perfectly placed header high inside Gazzaniga's right-hand post ahead of Richards' late winner.


Port Vale 2-1 Gillingham: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.

Source: PA