Port Vale vs Notts County. Sky Bet League One.
Vale ParkAttendance5,090.
Saturday 23 August 2014 18:19, UK
Notts County had to survive a second-half bombardment from Port Vale before making it two wins on the spin with a 2-0 victory.
The visitors took the lead in the 11th minute when veteran midfielder Gary Jones scored a goal which must rank as one of the best of his career. Vale defender Carl Dickinson attempted to head clear, but the 37-year-old cracked a first-time volley from 30 yards and the ball flew low inside Sam Johnson's left-hand post. And Liam Noble should have capitalised on poor Vale defending five minutes into the second half when he failed to beat Johnson when clean through. Vale boss Micky Adams had seen enough by the 64th minute when he brought on summer signings Byron Moore and Colin Daniel for Chris Birchall and Ben Williamson. The substitutions sparked an almost instant response as Roy Carroll made a terrific save from Tom Pope before Moore and Mark Marshall went close. County's goal then led a charmed life before Noble's 87th minute free-kick from 25 yards deflected off the defensive wall and swerved low inside Johnson's left-hand post.
