Pierre van Hooijdonk took his season's tally to 23 goals in 30 games as
Nottingham Forest stormed back to the top of the First Division at the expense
of Port Vale today.
But Dave Bassett's side did not have it all their own way against John Rudge's
team, who almost repeated their performance against Arsenal in last weekend's FA
Cup tie.
Vale, in fact, took the lead in the 16th minute and did not surrender all
three points until eight minutes from time.
Forest were stunned in the 16th minute when Lee Mills scored only Vale's
second goal in nine games.
He capitalised on hesitancy in the Forest back four and moved on to a flick
from Tony Naylor to finish with authority.
Forest were behind for only 11 minutes, with van Hooijdonk equalising via one
of his trademark free-kicks.
Steve Stone had been flattened by Stuart Talbot 25 yards out, and van
Hooijdonk bent his effort around the wall and into the top corner of the net.
Vale goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite got a hand to the ball but could not prevent
it flashing into the net.
As Forest set out to capture all three points, though, the Vale goalkeeper
saved his side time and time again.
He produced a string of fine saves to deny Kevin Campbell, Ian Woan and Andy
Johnson and as the second half progressed Forest's frustration mounted.
But it all came to an end in the 82nd minute with a goal fashioned by Stone.
He beat his defender to the byline and cut the ball back for van Hooijdonk to
fire his effort from six yards into the roof of the net, giving Musselwhite no
chance.
The last eight minutes were not played out without the odd fright for Forest,
and in the final stages Vale were as dangerous as they had been at any stage of
the match.
It needed a decisive tackle by Colin Cooper to deny Mills, and when the ball
ran free the Vale striker lobbed a tame effort into the hands of Forest
goalkeeper Dave Beasant.
Team:
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Lyttle, Rogers, Cooper,
Chettle (Armstrong 54), Johnson, Stone, Gemmill, Woan, Campbell,
Van Hooijdonk.
Subs Not Used: Moore, Bonalair.
Booked: Johnson.
Goals: Van Hooijdonk 27, 83.
Port Vale: Musselwhite, Hill, Tankard, Bogie (Corden 87), Aspin,
Snijders (Ainsworth 68), Talbot, Porter, Mills,
Naylor (Foyle 80), Beesley.
Booked: Tankard, Aspin, Mills, Snijders.
Goals: Mills 16.
Att: 17,639
Ref: A P D'Urso (Billericay).
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