Debrah strikes in the nick of time to rescue key point

PORT Vale had to show their powers of recovery to earn a point against Grimsby. CLIVE YOULTON continues his review of the Valiants' season...

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JUST when it seemed Port Vale were about to fritter away another three points, Lorent Tolaj and Jesse Debrah came to the rescue.

A last-gasp equaliser from Debrah reignited Vale's League Two title and promotion hopes in a 2-2 home draw against Grimsby Town on April 21, just when it seemed they were faltering.

Two goals down, the Valiants had rescued a point.

The irony that striker Tolaj had been largely overlooked in November and December and that Debrah was ignored from December 29 until the start of February will not have been lost on both players. Here they were vital men in Vale's cause.

The Easter Monday clash had once again seen Darren Moore's side play poorly until the class of Jaheim Headley and Rhys Walters - on as second half substitutes - changed their fortunes.

Moore's side needed other results to go their way to be promoted on the day but first and foremost they needed to win their own game and they didn't do that, ending their Easter programme with just one point from six.

Such were the results from other clubs in the previous three weeks, what Vale did hardly seemed to matter much.

Moore made three changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Carlisle United on Good Friday.

Injured pair Ben Garrity and Jack Shorrock were replaced by finally fit-again George Byers and Sam Hart while Walters was dropped to the bench in favour of Rekeem Harper who came in from the cold.