Bad decision costs Vale, but the overall display lacked conviction

PORT Vale were on the wrong end of a poor decision in their game at Bromley. CLIVE YOULTON continues his review of the Valiants’ season...

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HERE'S been some notable 'ghost goals' in the history of football, not least Frank Lampard's stunner against Germany in 2010 which was outrageously denied the nation.

Well, the setting might not have been as salubrious but Jayden Stockley's effort for Port Vale at Bromley was up there with the best of them.

The hosts’ ground might have been situated in Hayes Lane in Kent but most people in Hayes west London 30 miles away could have seen Stockley’s header had crossed the line with the score at 0-0. That remained the unjust scoreline at the end, given the calamitous officiating error.

Vale manager Darren Moore was surprisingly diplomatic. There are some who would have been blowing their top.

He was full of understanding for why the goal wasn't given.

And he recognised that his team were fortunate not to be behind at that stage saying the first half was, “the worst 45 minutes I've seen this season from us.”

On the decision not to allow Stockley’s goal six minutes from time, which was at least a couple of feet over the line, Moore said: “Your initial reaction is difficult.

“Obviously it was a goal. But I have to go with the linesman. When the goal went in there was a body on the line so from the linesman's view it was really difficult for him to see. So I can understand his explanation and when it happens in real time, you've got to have a real sharp eye to see.”

Unfortunately for Vale the linesman's eye was as sharp as a cushion.