Jake Taylor secures local bragging rights for Port Vale

Posted Sunday, November 03, 2019 by PA

Port Vale ended local rivals Crewe’s seven-game unbeaten run in League Two with Jake Taylor’s second-half effort securing a 1-0 win.

A typically tight derby match was settled on the hour mark by Taylor’s close-range finish, leaving Crewe still to beat Vale on home turf in their last four meetings and dropping down to fourth.

Vale went close early on when Richie Bennett’s close-range header from a corner was cleared off the line by Paul Green.

Crewe’s first threat almost ended in a freak goal for Charlie Kirk with the attacker’s driven cross catching out Scott Brown and clipping the far post.

Clear chances were at a premium, but Crewe found room around the Vale box to get shots away as Green fired high over, with Kirk going closer with an effort which flew wide.

Alexandra were on the front foot at the start of the second half with Brown spilling Green’s angled shot before the veteran got on the end of Kirk’s cross, heading just wide at the far post.

Against the run of play, Vale took the lead with Taylor reacting the quickest to poke home from inside the six-yard box after Will Jaaskelainen pushed Nathan Smith’s header from a corner onto the post.

Crewe responded but leading scorer Chris Porter ballooned an effort over from 12 yards.

Vale were close to doubling their advantage as substitute Tom Pope’s downward header was scrambled onto the bar by Jaaskelainen.

Brown preserved the visitors’ lead by pushing out Porter’s close-range header in the closing minutes.