Louis Dodds is
ready to step out of Tom Pope's shadow to drive Vale's promotion push.
Co-striker Pope has already raced to twenty-one goals this season, but Dodds made sure of a draw against fellow contenders Cheltenham and joked:
"He's had too much glory so far - now it's my turn."
Dodds, 26, pounced to level with his fifth of the season in the 67th minute after Robins keeper Scott Brown had blocked Pope's header and revealed:
"It's great playing alongside him. He's an unselfish player and a good guy, but it's my job to pick up the pieces.
"I hadn't scored since September and so I think, subconsciously, it was starting to get to me. It wouldn't have mattered if it had come off my backside, I just needed to get back on the scoresheet.
"As a striker though you are always going to go through patches when you don't score and so you just have to keep plugging away."
Midfielder Darren Carter,28, opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season five minutes earlier.
Striker Chris Zebroski's low shot was blocked by full back Richard Duffy, but Carter pounced to drill home from ten yards.
Co-striker Pope has already raced to twenty-one goals this season, but Dodds made sure of a draw against fellow contenders Cheltenham and joked:
"He's had too much glory so far - now it's my turn."
Dodds, 26, pounced to level with his fifth of the season in the 67th minute after Robins keeper Scott Brown had blocked Pope's header and revealed:
"It's great playing alongside him. He's an unselfish player and a good guy, but it's my job to pick up the pieces.
"I hadn't scored since September and so I think, subconsciously, it was starting to get to me. It wouldn't have mattered if it had come off my backside, I just needed to get back on the scoresheet.
"As a striker though you are always going to go through patches when you don't score and so you just have to keep plugging away."
Midfielder Darren Carter,28, opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season five minutes earlier.
Striker Chris Zebroski's low shot was blocked by full back Richard Duffy, but Carter pounced to drill home from ten yards.
Carter is
hoping to play a part in taking the Robins up this season even though his six
month deal ends in January. He said:
"I'll be speaking with the gaffer. I've loved it here. We're on a roll and when you're on a roll you want to stay to be part of it and finish the job."
"I'll be speaking with the gaffer. I've loved it here. We're on a roll and when you're on a roll you want to stay to be part of it and finish the job."
Vale
substitute Chris Shuker made sure of the draw in injury time by clearing off
the line twice in a matter of seconds from Darryl Duffy and Jeff Goulding.
Cheltenham should have sealed the win before Dodds's equaliser.
Three minutes after the break, full back Billy Jones saw his angled shot hit the inside of the post before being cleared.
And keeper Chris Neal palmed away a header at full stretch from midfielder Jake Taylor in the 58th minute.
Brown saved twice in three first half minutes keep the scores level.
In the 19th minute Brown turned central defender John McCombe's volley from two yards past the post and then beat away a fierce 25 yard drive from former Cheltenham team mate Ashley Vincent.
Cheltenham manager Mark Yates said:
"I'm delighted with the performance and the number of chances we created. We kept going right to the 93rd minute. We're just a bit shell-shocked we didn't win the game to be honest. I thought we were excellent and deserved it, but you don't always get what you deserve. Everyone to a man had a decent game and we were really good value."
Manager Micky Adams was pleased with the point, but said:
"We'll know how good it is at he end of the season. It feels like a decent result because Cheltenham are a good side. We could have won it and we could have lost it. It's a point on the board."
Cheltenham should have sealed the win before Dodds's equaliser.
Three minutes after the break, full back Billy Jones saw his angled shot hit the inside of the post before being cleared.
And keeper Chris Neal palmed away a header at full stretch from midfielder Jake Taylor in the 58th minute.
Brown saved twice in three first half minutes keep the scores level.
In the 19th minute Brown turned central defender John McCombe's volley from two yards past the post and then beat away a fierce 25 yard drive from former Cheltenham team mate Ashley Vincent.
Cheltenham manager Mark Yates said:
"I'm delighted with the performance and the number of chances we created. We kept going right to the 93rd minute. We're just a bit shell-shocked we didn't win the game to be honest. I thought we were excellent and deserved it, but you don't always get what you deserve. Everyone to a man had a decent game and we were really good value."
Manager Micky Adams was pleased with the point, but said:
"We'll know how good it is at he end of the season. It feels like a decent result because Cheltenham are a good side. We could have won it and we could have lost it. It's a point on the board."
My piece from Sunday's paper ...
... and Monday's
No comments:
Post a Comment