PORT VALE 1 STEVENAGE BOROUGH 1

Stevenage can consider themselves unlucky not to have won at Port Vale in the FA Cup first round, despite relying on a stoppage time equaliser to force a replay.

Charlie Griffin scored the crucial goal in added time with a fine glancing header from Mitchell Cole’s cross to level the score at 1-1. Borough had been the better side over the 90 minutes in this entertaining, end-to-end cup tie, watched by 3,999 fans at Vale Park.

Adam Yates had put Vale ahead in the 43rd minute against the run of play with a low effort from long range.

Graham Westley made two changes from the side that drew with Kettering last week, with Andy Drury and Mitchell Cole replacing Joel Byrom and Chris Beardsley.

The hosts also made two changes, as Anthony Griffith and Adam Yates came into the side at the expense of Louis Dodds and Sam Stockley, who retired in midweek.

Both sides took a while to settle, but it was David Bridges who had the first chance of the match when Scott Laird crossed from the left. Bridges got to the ball ahead of his marker but headed wide of the far post.

Cole had a chance to open the scoring when he went through on the left, but his shot went just wide. At the other end, Vale’s Kris Taylor also had a shot which went wide of the far post.

But it was Borough who were looking the more likely to break the deadlock, and came close through the lively Yemi Odubade. Cole ran down the left and squared the ball for the Nigerian, but he was unable to hit the target.

Bridges was then inches away from making it 1-0 as his effort from the edge of the area cannoned back off the bar.

Another shot from Bridges nearly caught out the Vale keeper, when he spotted him off his line from 40 yards and forced a backpedalling Chris Martin into a save.

However, Vale scored just before the break, which left Borough 1-0 down at the break. The Valiants had not looked like scoring all half, but Yates collected the ball on the right and his shot evaded Day and crept into the far corner.

It was very nearly 2-0 just a minute into the second half, as Marc Richards headed the ball against the bar from Kris Taylor’s cross. The ball bounced back to Richards, via Day, but the striker put the rebound wide.

Vale’s Griffith picked up the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Laird, which left the full back requiring treatment.

 From the resulting free kick, Griffin missed the target, before having an even better chance when he dragged his shot wide after put through by Cole. Good work from Odubade down the right then set up Griffin again, but he could not force the ball home whilst under pressure.

Vale had a chance to seal the win and take the game out of Borough’s reach when Jason Jarrett released substitute Jamie Guy, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Day.

With ten minutes remaining, Westley gambled and replaced Laird with Peter Vincenti, and reverted to an attacking 3-4-3 formation. But it nearly backfired, as Richards and Yates combined down Vale’s right, but the cross from Yates was just too long for Guy.

But Stevenage applied plenty of pressure in the final stages and Vincenti headed wide from Drury’s corner. Westley then brought on Eddie Odhiambo and Joel Byrom in place of Jon Ashton and Drury for one last push.

It paid off in the 91st minute as Cole’s cross was met by the head of Griffin in front of the ecstatic travelling fans. Odubade was booked for his over-celebrating as the players charged towards their supporters.

Both sides had free kicks in good positions to snatch a late winner, but neither were able to convert, and will have to play again at the Lamex Stadium on November 17.

Stevenage Borough: C Day, R Henry, M Roberts, J Ashton (J Byrom 87), S Laird (P Vincenti 80), A Drury (E Odhiambo 87), D Bridges, M Bostwick, Y Odubade, M Cole, C Griffin.

MATCH REPORT BY OWEN COKER