IT’S JUST PERFECT DAY FOR MOORE

By Mike Allison

PORT VALE 5

Shorrock 5, Tolaj 28, 68, Byers 66, Croasdale 82

BROMLEY 0

STRIKE: Port Vale’s Lorent Tolaj scores their fourth goal

PICTURES: Alamy

PORT Vale manager Darren Moore hailed an all but “perfect day” as they capitalised on Bradford’s defeat to move top of the table with a thumping win over Bromley.

Youngster Jack Shorrock gave the Valiants an early lead before in-form striker Lorent Tolaj scored a double either side of substitute George Byers’ goal.

Ryan Croasdale put the icing on the cake late on as Moore’s side, who have now won six of their last seven games, moved three points clear at the summit with four matches left.

And with rivals Walsall, Doncaster and Wimbledon, placed third to fifth, joining Bradford in dropping points, the day couldn’t have gone much better for Moore.

“Overall, it was a real team performance and even the subs that came on played their part,” he said. “So really, it’s been almost like a perfect day for us.

“We’ve had a good week to work and we’ve got another good week to work before we go into the Bank Holiday.

“Momentum’s really good at any part of the season, especially at this stage of the season. To have the momentum, to get another win and to have six wins in seven, it’s really, really good.

“What we’ll just do as a group is we’ll come back in on Monday and turn the page, and just work as we’ve been working.”

Vale went ahead in the fifth minute, when 17-year-old Shor-rock fired the ball home from inside the box after being set up by Tolaj.

It looked as though the hosts had doubled their advantage just before the quarter-hour mark as Tolaj found the net from Shorrock’s delivery, but it was ruled out for offside.

At the other end, Ben Thompson had a good chance to bring Bromley level, but he didn’t really get hold of his shot inside the box and goalkeeper Ben Amos saved comfortably.

Tolaj’s assured finish made it 2-0in the 28th minute after he was picked out by Croasdale’s cut-back.

The Swiss forward nearly added a third as the hour mark approached, stealing the ball from Omar Sowunmi and racing towards goal before sliding his effort wide.

It mattered little, though, as Byers, who had just come off the bench, scored from six yards out to all but end the match as a contest in the 66th minute.

Two minutes later, Tolaj bagged his fifth goal in three appearances and Vale’s fourth of the day after latching onto a ball over the top and finishing expertly.

Croasdale added extra gloss to the scoreline in the 82nd minute, tapping in from Jemiah Umolu’s cross to round off a perfect afternoon for Vale.

Bromley boss Andy Woodman said it was probably the toughest afternoon he has had since taking the job.

He said: “If you start like we started here against a team that’s bang on form, and make the mistakes we make to give them a two-goal lead, you’re facing an uphill battle.

“We made two pretty poor errors. We could have been down more. We were poor, I can’t dress it up any other way. “We were completely off everything we’re about. Let’s be honest, I felt like we were a Non-League team.”

PORT VALE: Amos 7, Debrah 8, Smith 7, Hall 8, Walters 7 (Byers 65, 8), Shorrock 8 (Hart 65, 7), Croasdale 9, Garrity 7 (Richards 75, 6), Clark 8, Tolaj 9 (Umolu 80, 7), Stockley 7 (Curtis 64, 7). Subs not used: Broome, Chislett.

BY GEORGE! Port Vale’s George Byers takes the plaudits for his goal

BROMLEY: Smith 5, Grant 6, Sowunmi 5, Webster 6, Mayor 6, Arthurs 5, Charles 6 (Ilunga 62, 6), Imray 6 (Whitely 76, 6), Thompson 6, Congreve 6 (McKirdy 62, 6), Cheek 6 (Kabamba 76, 6). Subs not used: Long, Ifill, Kacurri.