Oldham Athletic Res 0-3 Port Vale Res
Stu Vose

Lee Duxbury's young reserve side lost out to a three-goal blast from visitors Port Vale.

Danny Edwards opened the scoring with a rather fortunate first for the away side, and Danny Glover's unstoppable effort doubled the advantage just before the break.

Athletic fought back in the second period and came close through KC Owen, but the Valiants secured the points in the last ten minutes courtesy of Keith Lowe's header.

While Athletic enjoyed more of the possession in the opening stages, Vale threatened first when Josh Bell tipped Glover's shot on the turn over the bar on seven minutes.

Bell was forced to move quickly to prevent Danny Knight's mis-hit backpass going in before seeing Lowe's bullet header drop just past the post as the visitors upped the ante.

And the Valiants' pressure told when Chapman's mis-hit shot struck the lurking Edwards in front of goal and squirmed under the body of Bell.

Aaron Chalmers couldn't convert a chance when he Ashley Kelly's free kick over the bar, while Lawrie came close with a left-footed snapshot at the other end.

With Vale in the ascendancy Edwards almost notched a brace when he was just inches away from Ross Davidson's low ball across the six-yard box.

But they made sure just a minute before the break when Glover conjured up a fine 25-yard strike which flashed into the roof of the net.

Glover almost set up a goal with a clever backheel just two minutes into the second half, but strike partner James Lawrie could only blast high and wide from a useful position.

Athletic were finding chances hard to come by, although Kelly fired a snapshot into Chris Martin's midriff after Ryan Brooke released him down the right.

Lawrie missed a glorious chance to extend Vale's lead when he fired a deflected cross wide from just six yards out.

His side were almost made to pay when Tom Eaves managed to evade the visiting goalkeeper at an acute angle, but a defender managed to scramble clear as Eaves attempted to cut the ball back to Brooke.

KC Owen shot just past the post as Athletic threatened to reduce the arrears, but it was Vale who added a further goal when Lowe nodded in Rob Taylor's deep cross seven minutes from time.

 
Latics: Bell, Walsh, Rose, Chalmers, Knight, Winters, Kelly, Rothery (Rowney, 80), Eaves (Kilcourse, 69), Brooke, Owen.
Subs Not Used: Fitzgerald, Cowen, Ollerenshaw.

Booked: None.

Goals: None.

P Vale: Martin, Hanson, Taylor, Slater, Lowe, O'Loughlin, Davidson, Edwards (Beeston, 76), Lawrie, Glover, Chapman (Miles, 68).
Subs Not Used: Ransome, Crompton, Lovatt.

Booked: None.

Goals: Edwards (30), Glover (44), Lowe (83).