Thankfully the Vale raised their game for the second forty at Moorgate Avenue after an undistinguished, rather lethargic first half. Perhaps too many players had been seduced into thinking that because of Rochdale’s lowly position in the league, second from bottom and only one win to their credit the result would be a foregone conclusion. How wrong this turned out to be, because the Vale had to raise their game to a much higher level than the one they had rolled out in the first half. Tony Gilmour’s silver tongued half time team obviously touched a nerve.
Putting mind games to one side the Vale had to wrestle with another problem before they set off from The Lane because at the last minute they relinquished two of their players, Kyel Dempsey and Joe Wallbank, to the first team squad.
In addition to travelling with only fifteen players their resources were reduced in the twenty fifth minute when Josh Whyke picked up an injury and took no further part in the game.
Vale made a disappointing start, conceding a sloppy try in the ninth minute when a Rochdale centre swept serenely through for a try converted by the fly half. This score sent a surge of confidence through the Rochdale side but they were deflated in the fifteenth minute when debutant centre, Nathan Manning, neatly touched the ball down after a well constructed crossfield attack, for an unconverted try.
Josh Whyke’s departure caused a reshuffle in the back division and it threw an extra responsibility to nullify Rochdale’s numerical advantage. In the thirty fifth minute the home side exploited the situation with an unconverted try to open up a seven point gap.
The half time words of wisdom worked quickly because in the forty second minute the scores were level. Matt Shaw was ideally positioned to take a ricochet and bolt through a transfixed Rochdale defence for a try converted by Neil Walker.
Sam Hoare was the first to react and snaffle up a bouncing ball for a try in the forty fifth minute converted by Neil Walker. This was just the tonic the Vale needed and with their noses in front the true character of the side began to emerge.
Harry Fellows blasted his merry way down the blind side for a try converted by Neil Walker in the fiftieth minute and two minutes later his long legs took him on a sixty metre dash for his brace with Neil Walker adding the two points.
The gauntlet had been thrown down by Harry so action man Sam Hoare, not wishing to be outdone, picked it up to showcase his straight line speed with a scuttle from a similar distance, Neil Walker converting his try.
Holding a deserved lead the Vale relaxed and were punished by Rochdale who plundered two tries, one of which was converted, in the final ten minutes.
However, with two minutes remaining skipper Scott Manning chipped ahead. Nathan Manning showed great anticipation to touch down for his second try which Neil Walker kicked from a most difficult angle.
It had been an unusual performance from the Vale in the first half, but they hung on to turn their fortunes round in the second half. Sam Hadlington, Sam Hoare, Harry Fellows, Joe Clarkson and Matt Field put in a full shift. Skipper Scott Manning was a commanding figure throughout and used all his leadership skills to remind his troops not only of their responsibilities, but to let their skills blossom.
Special mention must be made of the contribution made by referee Bob Gall, a young up and coming official who controlled the game with quiet authority and sympathy, and earned the respect of the players out on the park.