Derby hero Stockley is right man in right place

By David Binns

CREWE ALEX’ 0

CREWE: Marschall 7, Demetriou 7, O’Riordan 7, Williams 6 (Bogle 89), Billington 7 (Cooney 88), Lowery 7, Tabiner 7 (Sanders 27, 6), Conway 7, Long 6 (Lankester 76, 6), Holicek 6, Hemmings 6. Subs not used: Booth, Knight-Lebel, Powell.

PORT VALE 1

Stockley 86

PORT VALE: Amos 8, Debrah 8, Smith 8, Hall 7, Sang 7 (Shorrock 83, 6), Croasdale 7, Walters 7 (Richards 71, 6), Clark 7, Garrity 7, Tolaj 6 (Curtis 89), Stockley 9. Subs not used: Broome, Hackford, Harper, Lowe.

PORT Vale boss Darren Moore praised match-winner Jayden Stockley after the striker snatched a late winner as Port Vale rebooted their promotion push at local rivals Crewe.

But the goal triggered disgraceful scenes as home and away fans clashed with lines of police in one corner of Gresty Road.

Moore said: “If you want the ball to fall to anyone in the box it’s Jayden.

“He was right on the spot to finish that one and then it was a matter of keeping it tight and giving nothing away. It was a really tight game, but we managed aged to get the all-important goal.”

A lot was at stake for both sides with recent form hardly promotion standard and a cagey first period ensued, although Crewe offered the greater threat as the half drew to a close.

Early on Jesse Debrah thwarted Kane Hemmings’ route to goal with a decisive tackle after Chris Long slipped the Crewe frontman through inside the box.

Matus Holicek was a thorn in the flesh for the visitors and the youngster’s low drive just missed hitting the bottom corner.

Vale were grateful to keeper Ben Amos for staying on terms as the interval approached. The keeper came off his line smartly to make a double save, first from Long and then the follow-up from Max Conway, after Tom Sang’s bad touch in the middle of the park allowed Crewe to break swiftly.

Crewe went close again when Tommy Lowery’s volley clipped the bar.

Vale were busy in the home half, but they only once forced Crewe keeper Fillip Marschall into a save in the first half, with the Aston Villa loanee beating out Ryan Croasdale’s snapshot.

Crewe were pressing again after the restart with Lewis Billington’s deflected effort flying inches over and Debrah deflecting a Conway cross uneasily past the far post. Vale wasted two late chances with substitute Rico Richards skewing a volley past the far post and Croasdale prodding tamely effort straight at Marschall.

But it was Stockley who was lurking to apply a header into the top corner at the far post after the ball ricocheted around the penalty area for Vale’s 86th-minute winner.

Alex boss Lee Bell admitted: “It’s really disappointing for everybody and the players are on their knees. Our fans were magnificent during the game, so it’s a tough one to take.”