Classy Vale turn up the heat to hit Romans for five

At a scorching hot Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park this afternoon City were beaten 5-1 by League 1 side Port Vale in their second pre-season outing.

When the sides met last summer a Scott Wilson goal was enough to give the Romans victory. He was on target again but this time it was a mere consolation goal as the impressive Valiants swept City aside. They opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Paton’s great crossfield pass sent Clark clear to lift the ball past Harvey Wiles-Richards. City responded positively with Wilson flashing a shot narrowly wide but eight minutes later Hart made it 2-0 with a neat finish. On 35 minutes City pulled a goal back as Kieran Parselle won possession deep in the Vale half and Wilson held off a defender before steering the ball home. The visitors restored their two-goal lead six minutes later, Stockley lobbing Wiles-Richards from just inside the area.

Five minutes into the second half Vale made it 4-1 as Richards stabbed the ball home from close range after an initial shot appeared to come back off the post. The hour mark saw the away side change their entire outfield squad and nine minutes later one of the newcomers, Waine, shot home to make it 5-1. That completed the scoring, although it took a great Wiles-Richards save to deny Shorrock from close range three minutes from time.