Let’s be fair the game could have been done and dusted by 20 minutes as a flowing start saw us create at least three good chances, the best falling to Lee Williamson who hit the post when it seemed easier to score. We couldn’t get that goal and the home team eventually got back in to it testing Neil Cutler several times. Just as we contemplated a 0-0 score line to accompany our half time pie and Bovril ex Roth striker Lowndes popped one in the top corner. A bit of a kick in the balls but we felt the second half could yield goals for us. Second half started off ok with us building a bit of pressure and we had already hit the woodwork and had several goal bound efforts blocked.
Then Mr Lewis came to the party. David Worrell broke down the right and HEADED TOWARDS GOAL. Substantial shirt pulling had already taken place and then as he looked ready to shoot he was bundled over INSIDE THE BOX. Stone wall penalty. Despite preventing a goal scoring opportunity the Port Vale defender only received a yellow card. Burton missed the resulting kick, thus providing more weight to my theory of not being able to score when on top, and the game restarted. We were still in a period of pressure when Port Vale broke, the goalkeeper was unsure whether to come or not. Eventually the pacey Shaun Barker SENT HIM AWAY FROM GOAL before appearing to barge the striker over OUTSIDE THE BOX. Despite heading towards the byline and with the keeper still in his goalmouth, Barker was shown a red card. A truly disgraceful decision if only because the referee showed such inconsistency from the earlier incident. Not long after Mick Harford was also sent off when he kicked a water bottle after another incorrect decision by the ref but despite this we were the best team still. Transfer-listed JCR came on and threatened a lot but his final ball was a let down. Eventually Vale broke and got a second in added time when their striker out jumped a thoroughly shambolic Paul Hurst. Gillingham up next. Another tough game.