Byers on scoresheet, but Vale are defeated

DARREN Moore’s Port Vale lost 3-1 at home to League Two Notts County in their latest preseason outing behind closed doors at Vale Park.

- Clive Youlton

Notts County took the lead in the seventh minute as Jodi Jones picked the ball up once more and fired into Marko Marosi’s bottom left-hand corner from around 20 yards

Vale’s first half-chance of the game came in the 12th minute when Ruari Paton battled to win the ball down the left before laying off to George Byers for a right-footed effort from outside the area, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide of goal.

The scores were levelled up in the 25th minute when Byers picked up the ball on the edge of the County area and fired a powerful effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

Byers fired over the bar soon after and the first half ended all square.

Vale started the second half the brighter of the two sides and had the chance to take the lead in the 51st minute when Jayden Stockley got on the end of Ben Waine’s cross and knocked the ball down into the path of Paton, but his effort on the spin was well-blocked by the Notts defence.