Stalemate at Vale Park

Rotherham United and Port Vale played out a boring draw today at Vale Park and, to be honest, it never looked like either side would score.

Micky Cummins had a shot in the first few minutes which was blocked by Robert Taylor and Pablo Mills had a shot that was deflected wide a few minutes later. For the home side both John McCombe and Kyle Perry had opportunities to score but didn’t. The Millers nearly took the lead on the half hour mark when Ian Sharps crossed for Drewe Broughton but the strikers firm header hit the post and the rebound found Cummins who’s shot was well over the bar from eight yards out.

Cummins afternoon was made worse when, less than ten minutes into the second half, he was stretchered off with, what looks like a leg or knee injury and taken by ambulance straight to hospital. As the ambulance was going round the pitch and both sets of supporters were applauding the midfielder inside, Mark Hudson had a shot saved by Chris Martin in Vale’s goal and a Pablo Mills free kick was squandered. Reuben Reid and Broughton started to work well together with Broughton holding up play while Reid’s pace was causing some problems to Vales defenders and on fifty-six minutes, Martin had to be on his toes to smother a shot from the twenty year old. Ten minutes later Martin was on hand again to save a low shot from Reid. Towards the end of the game, Ian Sharps had to be alert to block a good shot from Steve Thompson, on for Dodds and in stoppage time, a Lee Collins header went well wide of goal to leave both teams with a point and the Millers still in fourteenth place in the league.