Free-scoring Vale helped serve up stunner in Swindon

As Port Vale kicked off pre-season with a double-header, CLIVE YOULTON continues his review of the Valiants season...

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THE trip to Swindon Town on February 8 was a cracker during a period when goals were becoming easier to come by for Port Vale.

Unfortunately for Darren Moore's Valiants, scoring three times wasn’t enough to collect the three points and hey had to settle for one in a thrilling 3-3 encounter.

The midfield had been a key area of improvement in recent matches, and that was in no small measure down to the form of Ryan Croasdale.

On the improvement in the middle of the park, the former Stockport County man told the club: “It has definitely improved. Me and Gaz [Ben Garrity] had that partnership earlier on in the season and I think the more you do play with people the stronger it’s going to be.

“We still have George [Byers] to come back fully fit and that’s always good.

“We've got Lowey [Jason Lowe] in there and an abundance of experience and good players in that midfield. We are lucky with that.”

The wing-backs have been vital too, and he added: “I think wing-back is a tough position. You've got to be up and down but it's got to be at a high pace as well.

“Jaheim [Headley] has done really well. He has shown his calmness on the ball and he’s a natural left-footer, so in that position it’s brilliant for us.

“Even when we had Kyle [John] out there, and Sangy [Tom Sang}, if you've got energy it’s effective.