Ipswich scored a comprehensive victory over Port Vale to boost their promotion chances and send the team from the
Potteries a step nearer to relegation.
Ipswich dominated the first half when goals from James Scowcroft in the 12th minute and David Johnston in the 39th
minute put them well in control.
Matt Holland rounded off the scoring in the 83rd minute with a shot off the inside of the post after he had been
put through by Dutchman Martijn Reuser, who made quite an impact after appearing as substitute for the final 19
minutes.
Reuser had a couple of shots saved by Kevin Pilkington and in injury time crossed for Scowcroft to put in a
powerful header that Pilkington touched over the bar.
The first goal came when Jamie Clapham cut in from the left but saw his shot blocked by Pilkington. The ball flew
high across the goal mouth and Scowcorft powered in at the far post to force a close-range header over the line.
There were occasional bursts from Vale, mainly from their lively Northern Ireland striker David Healy who is on
loan from Manchester United.
While Vale were only one behind they stood a chance because Ipswich lacked their usual fluency but a second
Ipswich goal in the 39th minute virtually ended their chances.
Scowcroft nodded on a long ball from the back and Marcus Stewart then headed across goal where Johnson took
advantage of a slip by Mark Snijders to score from close range.
Earlier Stewart, clean through on his own, had drawn Pilkington off his line but flicked over the bar.
In the second half Scowcroft was just wide with a fierce volley from a cross by Johnson but Ipswich tended to be
casual and relied greatly on a powerful display by the veteran Tony Mowbray in central defence.
Tony Rougier twice tested Ipswich with crosses from the left, one of them flying dangerously across the face of
goal.
Healy went close with a free-kick that dipped just over the bar but Port Vale never really looked likely to save
the game.
Teams:
Ipswich: R. Wright, Croft, Venus, Mowbray, Brown, Clapham, Holland, Magilton, Scowcroft, Johnson (Naylor 85), Stewart (J. Wright 69), Branagan (Reuser 71).
Subs Not Used: Stockwell, Branagan.
Booked: Venus.
Goals: Scowcroft 12, Johnson 39, Holland 83.
Port Vale: Pilkington, Carragher, Burton, Snijders, Tankard, Rougier, Widdrington, Cummins, O'Callaghan (Naylor 61), Viljanen, Healy.
Subs Not Used: Goodlad, Eyre, Burns, Talbot.
Booked: Burton.
Att: 19,663
Ref: S Baines (Chesterfield).
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