Vale off to a flier as they sweep past rivals Salford on road trip

IT was a league victory and cup exit to start the season for Port Vale, reports CLIVE YOULTON

- 

ANY concerns that Port Vale's pre-season form might impact the new League Two season were swept aside in the campaign opener at Salford City.

Twelve months previously Vale fans had seen their team humbled 7-0 on the opening day at Barnsley.

Their balloon had been well and truly popped on day one.

Not so this time around as Darren Moore's side beat the Class of ‘92-backed outfit 2-0.

By this time, Moore had snapped up 12 new players and had a squad of more than 30.

But it was an old favourite who stole the show as Ben Garrity led the way as skipper with both goals.

It was a victory achieved without three key players - Ethan Chislett, Jayden Stockley and George Byers.

That hardly seemed to matter given the tools at Moore's disposal in the lower division.

Garrity was thriving on his responsibility as captain and typically led from the front.

But Vale knew they would have much sterner tests even though their squad was packed with talent. Five players made their competitive debuts for the club - Ben Heneghan, Ryan Croasdale, Ronan Curtis, Lorent Tolaj and Ruari Paton. Other newcomers Connor Hall and ex-loan player Sam Hart were also in the line-up.

Tolaj was making his first ever start in the Football League and looked like he needed to find his feet, as did Paton who looked neat and tidy but was not used to the hurly burly of League Two.