Port Vale 1-0 Fleetwood Town Player Ratings: Shipley's Late First-Half Strike Secures a 1-0 Victory

Port Vale claimed a narrow 1–0 victory over Fleetwood Town in a tense FA Cup match at Vale Park. The game was closely contested, with both teams struggling to take control. Chances were limited as the two sides battled for possession and space.

The decisive moment came just before half-time. In first-half stoppage time, Devante Cole set up J. Shipley, who finished calmly to give Port Vale the lead.

Fleetwood increased the pressure after the break. They pushed forward in search of an equaliser and created several opportunities. However, they were unable to break through a well-organised Port Vale defence.

Ben Heneghan led the home backline with a strong performance. Port Vale defended resolutely and held on to secure their place in the next round of the competition. Check out Sportsdunia's Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town player ratings:

Key Takeaways:

1. J. Shipley scored in first-half stoppage time after an assist from Devante Cole.
2. Fleetwood Town pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half but failed to convert chances.
3. Ben Heneghan anchored a solid Port Vale defence to preserve the 1–0 win.

Port Vale Player Ratings vs Fleetwood Town

Here are Port Vale Player Ratings from the FA Cup game:

Goalkeeper

Joe Gauci - 6.5: Had a relatively quiet day at the office, with only one save to make. What stood out to us was his distribution, though his accuracy could have been better. He commanded his area well enough but picked up a needless yellow card for time-wasting late on which wasn't ideal.

Defenders

Mitchell Clark - 8.0: A fantastic performance from the right-back. He was a monster in the duels, winning an incredible 13 out of 19 battles. We noticed he was always in the right place, making three interceptions and four tackles. He was a constant outlet and provided defensive solidity throughout. A very impressive display.

Ben Heneghan - 8.5: Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. What a colossal performance at the heart of the defence. He was an absolute magnet to the ball, making a staggering 18 clearances. Winning 10 of his 12 duels and 9 of 11 aerial battles, he was simply unbeatable. A truly dominant display that was the foundation of this victory.

C. Humphreys - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular game alongside Heneghan. He was composed in possession and contributed with seven clearances and a couple of interceptions. However, we did note one error that led to a shot, which slightly marks down his otherwise steady performance. Did his job well enough.

Marvin Johnson - 7.0: Had a very active 75 minutes on the pitch. He was strong in the tackle, winning three of his four attempts, and contributed going forward with some dangerous crosses. He drew a couple of fouls and was a reliable presence on the left flank before being substituted. A good, solid shift.

Midfielders

George Byers - 7.0: The captain led by example with a typically combative display in the middle of the park. He won 10 duels and was a disruptive force, breaking up play effectively with four tackles. While his passing wasn't always perfect, his work rate and leadership were vital in a tight contest. He really put himself about.

Ben Waine - 6.0: A somewhat quiet game for Waine, who struggled to impose himself on the match. He worked hard but lost possession a few too many times for our liking. He was substituted after 78 minutes having not made the impact he would have hoped for. Not his best day.

J. Shipley - 8.0: The match-winner. His goal was the decisive moment of the entire tie, a clinical finish that showed his composure. Beyond the goal, he was a creative spark, providing two key passes and always looking to make things happen. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise excellent, game-changing performance.

George Hall - 6.5: A busy performance from Hall in his 62 minutes on the pitch. He showed flashes of skill with a successful dribble and tried to link play. However, he didn't quite have the final product, creating one chance but also losing possession a bit too often. A decent effort before being taken off.

Forwards

Devante Cole - 7.0: A frustrating but ultimately effective performance. He provided the crucial assist for Shipley's winner, showing great vision. However, he'll be kicking himself for missing a big chance that could have sealed the game earlier. His dribbling was a threat, but he needs to be more clinical. A mixed bag.

Jayden Stockley - 7.0: A classic target man performance. Stockley was an absolute beast in the air, winning an incredible 12 aerial duels during his hour on the pitch. He held the ball up well and brought others into play, even forcing a good save from the keeper. His physical presence was a constant problem for Fleetwood's defenders.

Substitutes

Ryan Croasdale - 6.0: Came on and helped shore things up in midfield. Didn't do anything spectacular but provided fresh legs.

Mo Faal - 6.0: Looked lively after coming on, forcing a save and getting a shot away. Looked a threat.

Jaheim Headley - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Dajaune Brown - N/A: Brought on late to see the game out.

Manager

J. Brady - 7.5: His game plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to be solid and hard to beat, and they executed it brilliantly. The decision to rely on a strong defence paid off, and his substitutions helped manage the final stages of the game effectively. A great tactical victory.

Fleetwood Town Player Ratings vs Port Vale

Check out Fleetwood Town Player Ratings from the FA Cup match:

Goalkeeper

David Harrington - 7.0: It's hard to fault the keeper for the loss. He made three important saves, including a great stop to deny Jayden Stockley. He was let down by his defence for the goal but otherwise had a solid game. His distribution could have been quicker, but he did his job well.

Defenders

Zech Medley - 7.5: From our perspective, Medley was Fleetwood's best player. He was immense at the back, winning 11 duels and dominating in the air with 8 aerials won. He also tried to drive his team forward, but it wasn't enough. A superb individual performance in a losing effort.

Conor Haughey - 6.0: A bit of a mixed performance. He was comfortable on the ball with a high pass accuracy but struggled at times defensively. He was caught out for a couple of corners and missed a decent chance to score himself late in the game. An okay performance, but with room for improvement.

Toby Mullarkey - 5.5: A difficult evening for the defender. He picked up an early yellow card and seemed to struggle with the physicality of Port Vale's forwards. He was substituted just before the hour mark after a challenging display. Not a game he'll remember fondly.

Midfielders

Elliot Bonds - 6.0: The captain worked tirelessly in midfield, winning a good number of his duels and drawing three fouls. He tried to get his team moving forward and created a couple of chances. However, he couldn't quite dictate the tempo of the game as he would have liked.

Mark Helm - 6.5: One of Fleetwood's more creative players on the day. He created three chances and was always looking for a killer pass. The downside was that he was a bit wasteful in possession and lost the ball too often. A frustrating performance with moments of quality.

Jordan Davies - 6.5: Looked a threat whenever he got on the ball. He had three shots, though none troubled the keeper too much. He was energetic and tried to make things happen before being substituted after 71 minutes. A decent showing.

Ethan Ennis - 7.0: Fleetwood's main attacking outlet for much of the game. He was a constant menace down the wing, attempting 17 crosses and creating three chances. His final ball wasn't always perfect, but he was the player most likely to unlock the Port Vale defence. A lively and threatening performance.

Harrison Neal - 5.5: It was a tough game for Neal. He struggled to get a foothold in the midfield battle, picked up a booking, and was substituted after 59 minutes. He worked hard but couldn't make a significant impact on the proceedings. A day to forget for the midfielder.

Forwards

Will Davies - 5.0: A very anonymous performance from the striker. He only had 21 touches and won just two of his ten duels. He was completely nullified by the Port Vale defence and offered very little threat before being substituted. A really poor showing.

Lewis McCann - N/A: Unfortunately forced off with an injury before halftime. We couldn't give him a fair rating based on his limited time on the pitch.

Substitutes

Ched Evans - 6.0: Came on for the injured McCann and offered a physical presence but couldn't find a goal.

Shaun Rooney - 6.0: Added some energy but missed a good headed chance late on.

Kayden Hughes - 6.0: Tried to get involved but the game was already set in its pattern.

Matty Virtue - N/A: Came on late and missed a late chance to equalize.

Owen Devonport - N/A: Not enough time to influence the game.

Manager

P. Wild - 6.0: His team showed plenty of fight and created enough chances to get something from the game. However, they lacked a clinical edge in the final third. His substitutions were logical but couldn't change the outcome against a very organized Port Vale side.

Man of the Match

Ben Heneghan was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning goal.