The Valiants are defeated at Vale Park this evening.
It was a near-perfect opening for the visitors as within the first minute Sam Vokes picked up a loose pass deep in Vale territory and threaded through Dale Taylor, who dragged his effort wide.
David Wheeler put the Chairboys in front three minutes later after he followed up an initial close-range header from Vokes, which was well-stopped by Connor Ripley, and made no mistake with the rebound.
The Buckinghamshire side could have added a second after Wheeler was played in one-on-one on the seven minute-mark, but he skewed his attempt to the wrong side of Ripley’s post.
Ryan Loft produced the first opportunity for the Valiants just one minute later. The ball dropped to the striker just outside the area and he connected sweetly on the volley forcing Franco Ravizzoli in the Wycombe net to parry the ball behind.
From the following corner, the ball was recycled out to the edge of the box where Chislett curled in a terrific delivery for Alex Iacovitti, but his header sailed over the crossbar.
On 16 minutes, Iacovitti caused more problems for Wycombe in the penalty area. After triumphing in multiple aerial battles from a corner, the defender nodded the ball out to Chislett, who saw his looping effort tipped over by Ravizzoli.
Chances continued to come frequently at both ends of the pitch and Ripley pulled off another fine save in the 20th minute when Luke Leahy fired towards his top left corner from distance.
The Valiants piled the pressure on the visitors towards the end of the first half, and on 36 minutes were denied an equaliser by fine margins when Uche Ikpeazu flicked on a bouncing Chislett strike, but a Chairboys defender scrambled it clear off the line.
It was a flying start to the second half for the Valiants as we levelled the scoring in the 47th minute through Chislett. The South African, who was everywhere on the night, latched on to a breaking ball and drove through the visitors’ backline before smashing into the far bottom corner.
It continued to be all Vale and we created two good opportunities in quick succession with hits from Ben Garrity and Ikpeazu. First, Garrity shot high and to the right of Ravizolli’s goal in the 49th minute before Ikpeazu steered the ball goal bound three minutes later, but a crucial touch from a Chairboys defender deflected the ball behind.
Clear-cut chances proved elusive for both sides until four minutes from time when the visitors regained their advantage. Substitute Richard Kone, who looked to be offside, slipped Nigel Lonwijk through on goal and he finished past our number one.
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Tom Sang (Rhys Walters 35’), Nathan Smith ©, Ben Garrity, Ryan Loft, Ethan Chislett (Jensen Weir 60’), Uche Ikpeazu (Gavin Massey 89’), Funso Ojo, Conor Grant, Alex Iacovitti (Kacper Lopata 89’), Jesse Debrah
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutwiler, Deklan Wynne, Jack Shorrock
Wycombe Wanderers | Franco Ravizzoli, Jack Grimmer ©, Chris Forino, Ryan Tafazolli, David Wheeler, Matt Butcher (Joe Low 90+6’), Sam Vokes (Richard Kone 69’), Luke Leahy, Dale Taylor (Josh Scowen 69’), Nigel Lonwijk (Joe Jacobson 90+6’), Kieran Sadlier (Gareth McCleary 60’)
Unused Subs | Nathan Shepperd, Gideon Kodua
