Exeter City would continue their unbeaten run as goals from Carlos Mendes Gomes, Jayden Wareham and Timur Tutierov would seal victory in Staffordshire.
Exeter City travelled to Stoke to face Port Vale in Sky Bet League One, a week on from their dominant display against Stevenage at St James Park. Gary Caldwell will have been looking for his team to continue their fine run of form that was initiated during the busy festive period.
Port Vale however would have been to better themselves as they came off the back of a three-nil defeat away to Mansfield Town a week prior. With only three games under his belt as manager of the Valiants, Jon Brady’s men were desperately in need of a win as they sat rock-bottom of the division on just 19 points.
Caldwell named a single change in the Grecian starting eleven, with Jack Aitchison introduced in place of Cole after impressing off the bench in the Grecians win a week prior, while Jack McMillan would find a spot on the bench after missing two games through injury.
First Half
Devante Cole looked to make an early impression just two minutes in after receiving a sumptuous through-ball. Luca Woodhouse however was there to win the ball with some last ditch defending before clearing up-field.
Seconds later it was Vale again on the front-foot, a ball flashed across the City goal was met by no-one in a dangerous area, before Whitworth got down low to save an effort at his near post.
With 15 minutes on the clock, it would appear the Grecians were beginning to settle after a turbulent opening quarter of an hour.
Liam Oakes, Ethan Brierley and Carlos Mendes Gomes would combine on the edge of the Valiants penalty area to send a fine ball into the area forcing a corner, the subsequent set piece being punched away by Gauci.
With little over 20 minutes played, it would be the Grecians who struck first. A fine ball sent into the area by Ilmari Niskanen, was met by a leaping Mendes Gomes whose header found the bottom-right corner of the Vale goal to give City the lead.
The hosts would look to respond immediately with another ball drilled across the face of the City area, mercifully met by no-one however and sent behind for a corner which would later find only the outside of Whitworth’s net.
With Funso Ojo booked for a challenge on Oakes, the Grecians would again set off down the right-hand side. Gauci would be called to action, the Australian managing a brave low stop at close range to prevent Jayden Wareham from doubling in the City lead.
With seconds on the clock until half-time, Jordan Shipley would drag a ball back for Ethon Archer on the edge of the box, his shot too high however as it sailed over the Grecian goal.
Moments later Wareham would look to contribute, volleying the ball from 40 yards out and striking the post much to the relief of the onlooking Vale fans. That would prove to be the last action of the first 45, the referee blowing for the break shortly after.
Second Half
Moments into the second half it would be Wareham who picked up where he left off. A weak cross from Niskanen was deflected out only as far as City’s number nine on the edge of the area, driving a precise shot into the bottom-left of the goal to double the Grecians’ advantage.
The hosts would look for a route back into the game with another ball driven across the City goal, miraculously met by nobody once again however, much to the dismay of the onlooking home crowd.
Ten minutes into the second half and Caldwell made his first change as Jack McMillan replaced Jake Doyle-Hayes, the Scotsman’s first appearance since suffering injury in the buildup to Manchester City (A). Simultaneously, Timur Tutierov was introduced in place of Mendes Gomes, a week on from his debut goal against Stevenage.
The Ukrainian would strike gold minutes after the change, as Jack Aitchison would find the Sunderland loanee at the back post to make it a third for the Grecians, and a second goal in as many appearances since signing eight days prior.
Shortly after, Tutierov would then look to set Wareham up inside the area, a precise ball finding City’s top goalscorer only for a goalmouth scramble to ensue, in which the hosts managed to clear the ball from danger.
Substitute Cam Humphreys would give the home fans something to cheer about in the 75th minute, the 27-year old meeting a deflection from Ben Heneghan’s previous shot before drilling the ball into the back of Whitworth’s goal.
With six minutes added on at the conclusion of the 90 Tutierov would send another ball towards goal, this time the substitute Josh Magennis inches away from making contact and so the ball trickled away from danger.
Match Details
Port Vale XI
Gauci (GK), Heneghan, Hall, Gabriel, Archer, Ojo (Humphreys 64’), Gordon, Croasdale, Shipley (Stockley 64’), Hall (Brown 64’), Cole ©
Port Vale Unused Subs
Amos (GK), Headley, Waine, John
Goalscorers
Humphreys (75’)
Yellow Cards
Ojo (28’)
Exeter City XI
Whitworth (GK), Fitzwater, Brierley, Mendes Gomes (Tutierov 54’), Wareham (Magennis 68’), Aitchison (Cox 82'), Niskanen, Woodhouse, Sweeney ©, Doyle-Hayes (McMillan 54’), Oakes (Cole 68’)
Exeter City Unused Subs
Bycroft (GK), Turns
Goalscorers
Mendes Gomes (22’), Wareham (47’), Tutierov (59')
Yellow Cards
Aitchison (74’), Whitworth (89'), Cole (94'), Magennis (96')
Attendance
8,432 (including 383 Exeter City supporters)