Vale fall short after fightback
Saturday 1 February 2014 18:56, UK
Adebayo Akinfenwa's first goals of 2014 helped Gillingham to a hard-fought 3-2 home victory over Port Vale.
An unmarked Akinfenwa connected with Bradley Dack's corner three minutes before half-time to head the opening goal, before the same two players combined in similar fashion to double the scoreline in the 61st minute. Cody McDonald added a third for the hosts shortly after, as he neatly slotted past Port Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal after another assist from Dack. However, Vale scored twice in six minutes to set up an exciting finale. Defender Chris Robertson headed home the first, an effort that the home players believed had been cleared off the goalline by Joe Martin, before substitute Jordan Hugill fired past Gills goalkeeper Stuart Nelson from close range for the visitors' second. Both sides created good chances throughout and Neal somehow produced a quick-fire triple save to deny McDonald, Dack and Amine Linganzi when the game was still at 1-0. Vale midfielder Louis Dodds then fired over from close range for the visitors and former Gills loanee Gavin Tomlin hit the side netting with a powerful effort from an acute angle in an entertaining clash.
