An own goal from Torquay defender Brian Saah handed Port Vale a deserved point in their League Two match at Vale Park.

The Gulls took the lead from a counter attack just before the break when Rene Howe fed Ian Morris, who stroked the ball home from inside the area.

Vale levelled in the second half when Saah inexplicably headed Doug Loft's free kick past keeper Michael Poke.

The centre-back almost scored a second in his own net when he sliced a clearance onto the post.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Torquay United manager Martin Ling told BBC Radio Devon:

"I feel we scraped it [the draw]. We scrapped away with not a lot of fluency in our play and we got the goal on the break.

"We looked a threat in the first half on the breakaway but in the second half, let's be honest, it was all one way traffic. We defended with our lives.

"You've got lads who are making their league debut today like Curtis Mackenzie, who I thought had an outstanding game.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Port Vale

  • 01 Neal
  • 05 McCombe
  • 14 McDonald
  • 24 Duffy
  • 07 Loft
  • 09 Myrie-Williams Booked
  • 15 Shuker (Williamson - 88' )
  • 18 Morsy
  • 08 Dodds (Burge - 88' )
  • 10 Vincent (Taylor - 82' )
  • 11 Pope

Substitutes

  • 12 Johnson
  • 02 Yates
  • 06 Owen
  • 03 Taylor
  • 22 Lloyd
  • 23 Burge
  • 19 Williamson

Torquay United

  • 01 Poke
  • 02 Oastler
  • 03 Nicholson
  • 05 Saah
  • 30 Mackenzie
  • 07 Mansell
  • 11 Morris
  • 15 Bodin (Cruise - 90' )
  • 20 Craig
  • 09 Howe Booked (Jarvis - 78' )
  • 29 Thompson (Leadbitter - 67' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Rice
  • 12 Leadbitter
  • 21 Cruise
  • 31 Sullivan
  • 32 Hutchings
  • 08 Jarvis
  • 23 Yeoman
Ref: Bratt
Att: 4,721

Match Stats

Shots

2 1

On target

2 1

Corners

15 2

Fouls

6 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:45 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:15

Unfair challenge on Michael Poke by Tom Pope results in a free kick. Michael Poke restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:46

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Burge from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Brian Saah.

90:00 +0:14 Substitution

Substitution Billy Bodin goes off and Thomas Cruise comes on.

89:40

Corner taken by Doug Loft.

88:11

Corner from left by-line taken by Sam Morsy.

87:27 Substitution

Substitution (Port Vale) makes a substitution, with Ryan Burge coming on for Louis Dodds.

87:27 Substitution

Substitution Chris Shuker goes off and Ben Williamson comes on.

85:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sam Morsy on Lee Mansell. Kevin Nicholson takes the free kick.

81:04 Substitution

Substitution Robert Taylor is brought on as a substitute for Ashley Vincent.

79:49

Inswinging corner taken by Ashley Vincent from the right by-line played to the near post, Brian Saah manages to make a clearance.

79:20

Corner taken by Chris Shuker from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Ian Morris.

78:50

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Shuker played to the near post, clearance by Ian Morris.

77:41 Substitution

Substitution (Torquay) makes a substitution, with Ryan Jarvis coming on for Rene Howe.

77:26 Booking

Booking Jennison Myrie-Williams booked.

76:27

Louis Dodds is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Michael Poke.

70:51

Daniel Leadbitter challenges Clayton McDonald unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Neal takes the free kick.

68:17

Assist on the goal came from Doug Loft.

68:17 Goal scored

Goal - Brian Saah - Port Vale 1 - 1 Torquay Own goal by Brian Saah. Port Vale 1-1 Torquay.

67:34

Foul by Kirtys Mackenzie on Tom Pope, free kick awarded. Chris Shuker takes the free kick.

66:10 Substitution

Substitution Niall Thompson goes off and Daniel Leadbitter comes on.

63:41

Corner from left by-line taken by Chris Shuker.

58:46 Booking

Booking Rene Howe goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

58:31

Rene Howe is caught offside. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

57:57

Corner taken by Chris Shuker from the right by-line played to the near post.

57:39

Ashley Vincent takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Poke.

57:07

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Shuker from the left by-line, clearance by Nathan Craig.

54:13

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Shuker from the right by-line played to the near post.

53:43

Chris Shuker takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Joe Oastler manages to make a clearance.

50:35

Kirtys Mackenzie challenges Tom Pope unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jennison Myrie-Williams.

45:55

Kirtys Mackenzie fouled by Tom Pope, the ref awards a free kick. Kevin Nicholson restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:04 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

39:49

Billy Bodin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John McCombe. Direct free kick taken by Richard Duffy.

38:24

Assist by Rene Howe.

38:24 Goal scored

Goal - Ian Morris - Port Vale 0 - 1 Torquay Ian Morris grabs a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Port Vale 0-1 Torquay.

37:46

Ashley Vincent takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Poke.

33:45

Corner from the right by-line taken by Chris Shuker, clearance by Nathan Craig.

31:00

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Shuker from the right by-line played to the near post, Brian Saah makes a clearance.

25:34

Corner taken by Chris Shuker from the right by-line played to the near post, Michael Poke makes a comfortable save.

23:57

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jennison Myrie-Williams. Kevin Nicholson takes the indirect free kick.

20:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Craig on Chris Shuker. John McCombe takes the free kick.

19:24

Kevin Nicholson takes the inswinging corner, clearance by John McCombe.

18:30

Billy Bodin fouled by Richard Duffy, the ref awards a free kick. Kevin Nicholson restarts play with the free kick.

16:46

Inswinging corner taken by Kevin Nicholson from the right by-line played to the near post, Sam Morsy manages to make a clearance.

10:18

Ashley Vincent challenges Joe Oastler unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael Poke takes the direct free kick.

9:39

Lee Mansell challenges Sam Morsy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Morsy restarts play with the free kick.

8:10

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Chris Shuker.

6:43

Sam Morsy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Craig. Michael Poke takes the free kick.

6:06

Ian Morris concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Morsy. Direct free kick taken by Sam Morsy.

3:19

Ian Morris concedes a free kick for a foul on Louis Dodds. Sam Morsy restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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