Late comeback proved 'sliding doors' moment

In the latest part of CLIVE YOULTON’s review of Port Vale’s promotion season, he looks back at what may well have been one of the turning points of their season...

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TALK about one of those sliding doors moments in a football season.

Saturday, September 21 saw Port Vale perform a great escape.

The 2-2 draw away from home against the second-bottom team was not the worst result in the world.

But wow, Vale were fortunate. They trailed 2-0 as Accrington bullied Darren Moore's men in every department for 85 minutes.

But as the hosts faltered, the Valiants somehow plundered a goal out of nothing from Jayden Stockley in the 90th minute before Antoine Hackford rammed home a last-gasp leveller six minutes later.

In their opening seven games in League Two, Stanley had got themselves into another fine mess and their 16 goals conceded was more than any other team in the division.

Moore looked edgy and ill-at-ease throughout the match and he was aware how fortunate he was to be able to receive applause from supporters at the end.

Those same fans had been primed to give him and his team both barrels had the full-time whistle gone just a few moments earlier.

For the supporters it was rather like a police raid when, at the critical moment, the order came for them to stand down.

It had been an awful game lacking any sort of quality but, having been outfought and out-thought, Vale got the bounce of the ball when it mattered.

It was further proof that Vale’s players could play badly and still get something out of the game.