Early Wilson strike secures Vale win

An early Scott Wilson strike secured a first win of pre-season for the Romans against Port Vale at Twerton Park this afternoon.

There were just five minutes on the clock when he reached a ball forward ahead of keeper Ripley before coolly curling it into the unguarded net from just outside the corner of the box. The League 2 side should have equalised six minutes later as a triallist headed wide from a great position. Wilson then fired a 27th minute shot narrowly over following great work down the right flank by Ewan Clark and Joe Raynes. Garrity’s well-struck shot on 37 minutes flew just wide of Harvey Wiles-Richards post but City reached the break with their narrow lead intact.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges of the second half but failed to create any clear-cut openings. Just before the hour mark a great dipping volley by Latrell Humphrey-Ewers flew narrowly over the bar. Wiles-Richards was finally tested on 63 minutes, turning Shorrock’s shot away, before eight minutes later a great block denied Paton. Despite a series of changes, particularly in defence, City continued to stand firm with only Stockley’s 79th minute header from a Shorrock cross threatening an equaliser. And it was City who came closest to adding to the scoring in the closing stages as Ripley saved well from a triallist’s 20-yard shot.