4:55pm
Grimmer, who had caught the eye as an attacking right-back, was booked in added time for his foul on LuaLua.
Final: Port Vale 1 Albion 3
4:44pm
Vale had not given it up yet. A cross was not held by Brezovan under pressure and played from both sides hacked at the ball right in front of goal before Albion somehow scrambled clear.
Albion sent on LuaLua for March.
*
4:41pm
Albion string together a terrific bout of passing involving Andrews and Ince, plus a dummy from Forster-Caskey, to send Obika clean through on goal. But Neal spread himself to block the striker’s shot.
But the reprieve did not last long for Vale as Ince sent OBIKA clean through down the middle to calmly round Neal and slide the ball into the empty net.
*
4:38pm
Tomlin’s return from injury ended in the 76th minute when he made way for battering ram striker Hugill.
4:31pm
Albion’s first change saw Agustien make way for Andrews in the 70th minute.
4:28pm
Albion were inches from taking a real stranglehold on the tie in the 64th minute when Agustien let fly from outside the box with a shot which went across Neal’s dive and came back off his far post.
As Vale responded, Dunk was Albion’s fourth booking of the game after a foul.
Vale sent on Williamson for Myrie-Williams.
He went straight into the box and headed over with his first touch from the free-kick resulting from Dunk’s foul.
*
4:19pm
Clever work by Orlandi won a corner right in front of the Albion fans. When it was eventually cleared, Forster-Caskey let fly from outside the box and Neal leapt to fingertip it over the bar.
4:15pm
Grimmer stormed forward again and looked to have got into the heart of the area before Chicksen turned smarty and cleared for a throw in.
But Vale were coming forward with gusto again.
*
4:14pm
Att: 7,293 (1,142 away)
4:13pm
A chance suddenly opened up for Loft as the ball ran loose on the edge of the area but his attempted curler flew over the top corner.
4:11pm
Grimmer, the right-back on loan from Fulham, went on a storming run down the right and saw his cross headed behind by Upson. But Orlandi headed clear the resulting corner by Lines.
4:09pm
Yates replaced Taylor at half-time.
But Albion almost scored in the opening minute as March curled left-footed for goal and Neal dived low to his left to push it away.
Myrie-Williams wa booked for a foul and the free-kick caused problems before a shot was charged down.
3:56pm
Not really a cross Mikey.*Orlandi played a corner short to March who might have been looking to cross first time - but saw his chip into the danger area float inside the far post.
3:50pm
Albion won three quickfire corners to end the half.
Half: Port Vale 1 Albion 2
3:44pm
Vale really had their tails up now. Their fans accused Calderon of play-acting when he went down holding his knee.
And Adams seemed to have an observation to make to the right-back too as he went past the technical area before being allowed to resume.
Calderon almost silenced them when he appeared at the far post and had a drive blocked by a defender.
Orlandi worked the right-wing corner shot to MARCH whose first time clip into the goalmouth cleared Neal and dipped just inside the far post.
*
3:40pm
Then a long throw earned Vale another right-wing corner but this time Agustien cleared at the near post.
3:39pm
Vale fans were in geat heart now an cheered as an Orlandi corner was cleared at the far post.
3:37pm
Loft’s deep hanging cross forced Chicksen to concede a corner – to bring Vale fans back into good voice.
The delivery from the right by Lines was spot on and ROBERTSON met it with a stooping header which bounced inside Brezovan’s far post.
*
3:35pm
Agustien did well to make his way through the heavy midfield area with the ball at his feet and feed Calderon out wide. Calderon dug out a far post cross which Vale scrambled behind as Obika moved in.
The resulting corner caused problems before the hosts scrambled it away.
But there was excitement at the other end when Myrie-Willims got behind the defence and his low cross was just too far ahead of Pope.
*
3:30pm
Obika was booked for a late challenge.
3:29pm
Albion went ahead when INCE scored his first senior goal. Orlandi hooked his left-wing corner behind the main body of players waiting in the middle and the midfielder hooked in an well controlled*first-time volley with his left foot.
3:25pm
The resulting free-kick was Lofted into the box and repelled by Brezovan's decisive punch.
3:24pm
Home fans were unhappy that their side were not making life too uncomfortable for Albion early on but there was no real threat from Ince’s shot which rolled wide.
Albion had Ince booked and there were penalty claims from the resulting free-kick as Lines charged into the box and went down.
Ref Tierney waved them away and the resulting counter saw Orlandi turned nicely in the box and shoot wide.
Then Dunk sent a low drive not far wide from outside the box.
March was next to have a go, turning inside and letting fly from 20 yards. Neal dived sharply down to his left to save – and then grab the loose ball before Obika could pounce.
It was a lively tie and Orlandi was booked for a foul on Vale’s next attack.
*
3:11pm
Albion are defending the away end in this first half.
Obika has juist let fly from outside the box with a low shot which slowed on the pitch and was easily gathered by Neal.
3:10pm
March popped on the right early on and cut in but his low cross or shot was blocked.
At the other end, Brezovan had to punch lear a dangerous cross into the box and the attempted follow-up chip by Loft from edge of the box was charged down more or less at source.
Upson is, of course,, being booed at every touch by the Vale fans.
3:08pm
Conditions are poor. Very wet underfoot, a strong wind blowing more or less down the pitch (behind Vale in this half) and persistent rain.
3:07pm
Short, sharp updates from me today due to poor internet connection (which eexplains the slightly late start) and the fact Football League reporting guidelines do not apply.
3:06pm
Not quite a winter wonderland. But we have the sort of conditions which are often described as “Cup upset weather” here at Vale Park.
Cold, wet, dark and sodden underfoot. And a home crowd who seem up for it. The pitch was white shortly before 2pm thanks to a spectacular hail and thunder storm.
That has now cleared – but it will be a tough one for much-changed Albion here today.
*
Original article
Grimmer, who had caught the eye as an attacking right-back, was booked in added time for his foul on LuaLua.
Final: Port Vale 1 Albion 3
4:44pm
Vale had not given it up yet. A cross was not held by Brezovan under pressure and played from both sides hacked at the ball right in front of goal before Albion somehow scrambled clear.
Albion sent on LuaLua for March.
*
4:41pm
Albion string together a terrific bout of passing involving Andrews and Ince, plus a dummy from Forster-Caskey, to send Obika clean through on goal. But Neal spread himself to block the striker’s shot.
But the reprieve did not last long for Vale as Ince sent OBIKA clean through down the middle to calmly round Neal and slide the ball into the empty net.
*
4:38pm
Tomlin’s return from injury ended in the 76th minute when he made way for battering ram striker Hugill.
4:31pm
Albion’s first change saw Agustien make way for Andrews in the 70th minute.
4:28pm
Albion were inches from taking a real stranglehold on the tie in the 64th minute when Agustien let fly from outside the box with a shot which went across Neal’s dive and came back off his far post.
As Vale responded, Dunk was Albion’s fourth booking of the game after a foul.
Vale sent on Williamson for Myrie-Williams.
He went straight into the box and headed over with his first touch from the free-kick resulting from Dunk’s foul.
*
4:19pm
Clever work by Orlandi won a corner right in front of the Albion fans. When it was eventually cleared, Forster-Caskey let fly from outside the box and Neal leapt to fingertip it over the bar.
4:15pm
Grimmer stormed forward again and looked to have got into the heart of the area before Chicksen turned smarty and cleared for a throw in.
But Vale were coming forward with gusto again.
*
4:14pm
Att: 7,293 (1,142 away)
4:13pm
A chance suddenly opened up for Loft as the ball ran loose on the edge of the area but his attempted curler flew over the top corner.
4:11pm
Grimmer, the right-back on loan from Fulham, went on a storming run down the right and saw his cross headed behind by Upson. But Orlandi headed clear the resulting corner by Lines.
4:09pm
Yates replaced Taylor at half-time.
But Albion almost scored in the opening minute as March curled left-footed for goal and Neal dived low to his left to push it away.
Myrie-Williams wa booked for a foul and the free-kick caused problems before a shot was charged down.
3:56pm
Not really a cross Mikey.*Orlandi played a corner short to March who might have been looking to cross first time - but saw his chip into the danger area float inside the far post.
3:50pm
Albion won three quickfire corners to end the half.
Half: Port Vale 1 Albion 2
3:44pm
Vale really had their tails up now. Their fans accused Calderon of play-acting when he went down holding his knee.
And Adams seemed to have an observation to make to the right-back too as he went past the technical area before being allowed to resume.
Calderon almost silenced them when he appeared at the far post and had a drive blocked by a defender.
Orlandi worked the right-wing corner shot to MARCH whose first time clip into the goalmouth cleared Neal and dipped just inside the far post.
*
3:40pm
Then a long throw earned Vale another right-wing corner but this time Agustien cleared at the near post.
3:39pm
Vale fans were in geat heart now an cheered as an Orlandi corner was cleared at the far post.
3:37pm
Loft’s deep hanging cross forced Chicksen to concede a corner – to bring Vale fans back into good voice.
The delivery from the right by Lines was spot on and ROBERTSON met it with a stooping header which bounced inside Brezovan’s far post.
*
3:35pm
Agustien did well to make his way through the heavy midfield area with the ball at his feet and feed Calderon out wide. Calderon dug out a far post cross which Vale scrambled behind as Obika moved in.
The resulting corner caused problems before the hosts scrambled it away.
But there was excitement at the other end when Myrie-Willims got behind the defence and his low cross was just too far ahead of Pope.
*
3:30pm
Obika was booked for a late challenge.
3:29pm
Albion went ahead when INCE scored his first senior goal. Orlandi hooked his left-wing corner behind the main body of players waiting in the middle and the midfielder hooked in an well controlled*first-time volley with his left foot.
3:25pm
The resulting free-kick was Lofted into the box and repelled by Brezovan's decisive punch.
3:24pm
Home fans were unhappy that their side were not making life too uncomfortable for Albion early on but there was no real threat from Ince’s shot which rolled wide.
Albion had Ince booked and there were penalty claims from the resulting free-kick as Lines charged into the box and went down.
Ref Tierney waved them away and the resulting counter saw Orlandi turned nicely in the box and shoot wide.
Then Dunk sent a low drive not far wide from outside the box.
March was next to have a go, turning inside and letting fly from 20 yards. Neal dived sharply down to his left to save – and then grab the loose ball before Obika could pounce.
It was a lively tie and Orlandi was booked for a foul on Vale’s next attack.
*
3:11pm
Albion are defending the away end in this first half.
Obika has juist let fly from outside the box with a low shot which slowed on the pitch and was easily gathered by Neal.
3:10pm
March popped on the right early on and cut in but his low cross or shot was blocked.
At the other end, Brezovan had to punch lear a dangerous cross into the box and the attempted follow-up chip by Loft from edge of the box was charged down more or less at source.
Upson is, of course,, being booed at every touch by the Vale fans.
3:08pm
Conditions are poor. Very wet underfoot, a strong wind blowing more or less down the pitch (behind Vale in this half) and persistent rain.
3:07pm
Short, sharp updates from me today due to poor internet connection (which eexplains the slightly late start) and the fact Football League reporting guidelines do not apply.
3:06pm
Not quite a winter wonderland. But we have the sort of conditions which are often described as “Cup upset weather” here at Vale Park.
Cold, wet, dark and sodden underfoot. And a home crowd who seem up for it. The pitch was white shortly before 2pm thanks to a spectacular hail and thunder storm.
That has now cleared – but it will be a tough one for much-changed Albion here today.
*
Original article