Vale pay for missed chances

Port Vale wasted a host of chances as Dwayne Mattis netted a late equaliser for Chesterfield in a 1-1 draw at Vale Park.

In a first-half dominated by Vale John McCombe's shot was cleared off the line by Chesterfield defender Jack Hunt, who then blotted his copybook with a part in the hosts' 12th-minute opener. Hunt and Simon Ford should have dealt with a hopeful long ball, but they allowed Marc Richards to barge between them and finish with a smart shot over Tommy Lee. Richards almost added a second when he headed against the bar moments later and his strike partner Justin Richards was also denied by the woodwork on the half hour. Vale paid for their profligacy 11 minutes from time when Mattis netted a right-foot shot from point-blank range after Drew Talbot's cross caused confusion in the home defence. Talbot then went close to winning it for Chesterfield when his shot was brilliantly saved by Stuart Tomlinson.