Luke Molyneux bags brace as Doncaster defeat Port Vale
Posted Saturday, August 31, 2024 by PA
Doncaster made it three League Two wins out of four as they held off a late fightback to edge a 3-2 victory away to Port Vale.
Luke Molyneux bagged his fourth and fifth goals of the season either side of providing an assist for Billy Sharp, while Ryan Croasdale and Ethan Chislett (penalty) replied for Vale, who are now winless in three league outings.
Three points for Rovers sees them move up to second place in the table ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs.
Doncaster went ahead in the 16th minute as Molyneux brought down Sharp’s beautifully-lofted pass over the top and smashed the ball home.
Owen Bailey had a good chance to double the visitors’ advantage midway through the first half, only for his header from Jordan Gibson’s delivery to go over the crossbar.
Rovers were made to pay for that missed opportunity on the half-hour mark, when Vale’s first shot of the match saw Croasdale equalise with a calm finish after latching onto a through ball from Lorent Tolaj.
But Grant McCann’s side retook the lead within seconds of the restart as Molyneux pulled the ball back for Sharp to score, moments after the latter had forced a brilliant save out of Connor Ripley.
The hosts came agonisingly close to restoring parity in the 55th minute when Connor Hall’s glancing header from Sam Hart’s cross went just wide.
And it proved to be a costly miss as Molyneux made it 3-1 shortly before the hour mark, having been played clean through on goal by Gibson.
Vale nearly reduced the deficit when Jayden Stockley’s looping header was acrobatically cleared off the line by Jay McGrath.
They did make it 3-2 in the closing stages as Chislett converted from the penalty spot after Stockley was pulled down by Tom Anderson in the box.
But despite a late surge, the home side could not find a leveller on a disappointing day for manager Darren Moore against his former club.
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