The Wonder Of P.V.F.C.: Port Vale Vs Chasetown FA Cup Round Two Sunday 2nd December 2007

OK then lets get this one over with. This was, without a doubt, the worst single performance by a Vale team that I have ever had to endure watching. The ugly scenes at the end of the game which saw the players being barracked by the home fans would usually have me angry, as normally it's not always the players fault, but today's inadequate performance has to be laid firmly at their door. This game was not about league placings or relegation worries, it was about showing the Vale fans who have shelled out hundreds of pounds to follow a team of supposed professionals giving back to them the commitment they have been shown. The crowds have been dwindling down now for the last few seasons, as it is getting far to expensive to follow the team, so the fan's who shelled out £19 to watch this pile of crap today were the die hard loyal fans. And how did they get repaid. With a performance that was quite probably the worst I have ever seen a Vale team give. The lack of quality was clear to see, but more worrying for me was the lack of professionalism the players showed before, during and after the match. As the players tried to scuttle off at the end manager Lee Sinnott made them stay on the pitch, not so much to receive the fans abuse vented at them, but more to show them what it means to be a footballer, as the players from Chasetown who have to work all week as well as play at a semi-professional level made them look like the amateurs.

As expected the visitors started the game on the front foot. A series of corners set out how they were going to play, and they were unlucky not to take the lead when Perrow missed. Vale supporters should of known what was to come as the inability to create anything even resembling a shot at the visitors goal became more and more apparent. But as the game began to settle, a gift of a free kick on 18 minutes gave Vale a chance to show the minnows how dangerous league players can be. Edwards was chopped down on the 20 yard line and the ref gave Vale the free kick. Whitaker an Rodgers stood over the ball, and as Whitaker moved away, Rodgers hit a perfect free kick that flew past the keeper inside his left hand post.

With the visitors clearly stunned Vale almost scored a second a minute later when a ball crossed in by Talbot was met with a spectacular overhead kick by Edwards, but the shot went just over the crossbar. As the visitors expected an onslaught by the home side, they seemed content to let the game go into half time only being a goal down, but the onslaught never came, and it was the visitors who grew in confidence and started to create havoc in the Vale defence. As each time Vale started a move, Chasetown got men behind the ball and became increasingly difficult to break down.

With half time drawing closer, the hard working Rodgers created a golden chance for Whitaker, but his inabilty this season showed, as he fired over the bar with nobody around him. The home team was left stunned by what followed in the final minute of the half, and the home players heads began to drop. A free kick awarded to the visitors as Westwood, caught out of position, brught down Perry. Mark Branch took the free kick from 30 yards out on the touchline and curled the ball over the Vale defence and looping ove Joe Anyon into the net to send the 2000 visiting supporters wild and leave the Vale defence looking bewildered. As the half time whistle went, it was the visitors half time team talk that would take on a whole new meaning as Vale looked like a beaten team, and they looked more like the league side. The home fans were starting to fear the worst as the players left the pitch at half time.

Half Time Score Port Vale 1 - 1 Chasetown

The teams appeared form the tunnel for the second half and the visitors looked the more confident of the two, as Vale looked as if they had lost the will to win. The second half was not up to much at all, but what happened in the half was the breakdown of the Vale team as a unit, and the fans, who had showed patience with the team throughout the game, finally broke their silence and turned on the players.

As Vale tried to salvage something from what was turning out to be a dire performance, only Rodgers and Laird were actually trying to create anything during the half. As individual performances go, it's hard to pick out who was worst on the day. Whitaker was probably the worst of the bunch. His inabilty to find a white shirt with a pass, the unchanging and pathetic attempts at corners, and the free kicks that led to, well nothing, topped for me the worst individual performance I have ever seen a Port Vale player give. Rocastle was back to his redundant worst again, with his game appearing to be one of losing the ball as often as possible and then blaming whoever was nearest to him. Willock was marked by a giant of center half, but he was being knocked off the ball far to easily, and the earlier promise he had been showing went out the window today.

Westwood was having a nightmare, being caught in position far to often and leaving huge gaps at the back. Pilkington had probably his worst game, with very few of his passes finding a Vale player. Miller got forward a lot in the second half, but his final ball was woeful every time, leaving us under pressure rather than on attack. Edwards was supposed to be a winger, but although he did recieve some hefty tackles, his inability to be able to beat a part time accountant for pace will be his contribution to the game.

And as the game wore on the tension on the terraces was beginning to build as it looked more and more likely that we were heading for a draw, and a replay. A free kick right on time summed up the game. A Whitaker lined up to take it the Vale had everyone except Anyon in the box, only for Whitaker to place the ball somewhere near the half way line for a Chasetown throw. As this happened the crowd finally turned on the home side, with cries of 'Your Not Fit To Wear The Shirt' being sang by the bitterly disapointed home fans. As the final whistle went, the anger was fully vented onto the players as Chasetown rightfully celebrated the biggest result in their history.

As the players tried to leave the pitch in disgrace, manager Lee Sinnott made them stay where they were to clap the visitors off, but also it may of been so they could hear how angry their lackluster performance had made them feel. Certain of the playes were feeling the full force of the fans anger, and several made their way towards Pilkington, already booed after being made man of the match, and was seen to throw the captains armband on the floor after he was acosted by a supporter. The only player to be clapped off was Luke Rodgers, as he was the only on who had tried.

In all Vale looked woefully inadequate against a team five divisions below them, but the lack of commitment was what turned the fans against them. Bill Bratt even had to come down from the directors box to face the angr fans, and after the match Whitaker had to be escorted to his car as a group of fans waited for him and told him in no uncertain terms to get out of the club.

After the game and the red mist had gone Sinnott had this to say " I can understand the fans frustrations, but some of what went on is illegal, and for very good reasons. I can understant the Chasetown reaction as I can understand the Vale reaction, but it should of been kept in the perimiter. I kept them on the pitch to show them what it means to be a part time player, who work extreemly hard and who will take the oppourtunity if presented to them. As for the crowds chants of them not being fit to wear the shirt, well they are professionals. If the players don't like it they should not be playing the game. It is an understandable reaction to our position at the moment. We are straight into it just 48 hours later. It's now a case of stand up and be counted. We are going to Elland Road with 30,000 Yorkshiremen breating down our necks and its a case of when the going get's tough, the tough have to get going. Lets see who gets going shall we "

Final Score Port Vale 1 - 1 Chasetown

Port Vale Line Up