HONOURS EVEN IN POTTERIES DERBY
Port Vale started much the better of the sides and even tested Gavin Ward in the Stoke goal in the very first minute, when Finnish striker Ville Viljanen fired in a low shot from the edge of the area.
The home side were rewarded after only 10 minutes for their bright start, when former Derby County player Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (pictured) headed home a superb effort from 15 yards out. The youngster did well to create his own space, and placed his downward header past the helpless Ward.
The goal seemed to spur the visitors into life and were denied by an excellent save from Vale keeper Mark Goodlad, when he parried a point-blank effort from Bermudan international Kyle Lightbourne‚ÇÖs header wide for a corner.
However from the resulting corner City were level when Nicky Mohan‚ÇÖs powerful header was blocked on the line by Matthew Carragher, but Kyle was in the right place to fire home the rebound to level the scores.
Stoke continued to pile on the pressure and Graeme Kavanagh was next in the queue to test Goodlad when he fired over from long-range, after some neat passing set up the opportunity.
City could even have taken the lead after 33 minutes when after Vale failed to clear a cross into the box, the ball fell kindly to Thordarson who's goal-bound effort was blocked by Alan Tankard.
Stoke on-loan striker Marvin Robinson then found himself in the referee‚ÇÖs notebook when he was booked for a late sliding challenge on keeper Goodlad, despite it appearing as though he made a genuine attempt to win the ball.
The second half began much like the first when both sides looking for the all important goal. Former England international Tony Dorigo make a superb run down the left and played in an excellent cross, however Robinson was unable to find the power in his header to test Goodlad from close range.
The visitors were then desperatley unlucky not to take the lead when Lightbourne‚ÇÖs header crashed off the bar, before being scrambled away by the Vale defence.
Kavanaugh played in a superb set piece, after the Carribean star was fouled originally to win the free-kick.
Bridge-Wilkinson, who was released by Derby County at the end of last season, always looked a threat for the home side and almost added his second of the match, but saw his volley flash past the post with Ward making a despairing dive to his right.
It was then a case of deja vous for City when after a cross from the right, Robinson saw his powerful header crash off the cross-bar in similar fashion to Lightbourne‚ÇÖs effort earlier in the half.
Bridge-Wilkinson did have one final effort to sneak the points for his home side, however he could also direct his volley tamely towards goal after stoke failed to clear a bouncing ball.
Despite the match finishing level Stoke fans were rewarded with the return of last season‚ÇÖs top goalscorer Peter Thorne, who came on to make his first appearance of the new campaign after injury as a second half substitute.
The point for the home side takes them up into 16th place, however they are still only three points from the relegation zone.
