Report by Ben Davis

Pompey threw away a first half lead from Lee Russell in a game which the referee failed to get a hold of with some misleading decisions. Guy Butters failed a fitness test so Tony Dobson came in.
Vale pushed forward first with Guppy blasting a shot from the edge of the box over the Fratton End, but it was Pompey who quickly got their game together and Carter's skills on the right proving to much for Vale's defenders. It was his run and pull back which almost ended with a goal for new boy Andy Turner. From Carter's cross Simpson crashed a shot against Van Heusden and on the follow up Turner hit a shot against the post.
Pompey then had a penalty claim rejected when Hall's pace was too much for Griffiths but Pompey did take the lead not long after. Simpson floated in a corner from the right and Russell flicked the ball with his head into the net.
Vale threatened now and then but Pompey's defence was coping well however it was the lack of imagination up front which meant Pompey's lead only stayed at one.
It wasn't the most exciting half where both teams had battled but only Pompey getting any reward on a boiling hot afternoon.
Pompey had the first chance of the half where Hall used his pace to good effect but the shot lacked any power to cause Van Heusden trouble. Vale's passing and movement was a lot better while surprisingly Pompey lost their rhythm and couldn't keep the ball on the ground to cause any real problems for their visitors.
In the 58th minute Vale struck back with a goal Flahaven could do nothing about. Guppy's pace and skill was looking an ever increasing danger for Pompey and it was he who won a corner. The former Wycombe man crossed it himself and the ball fell invitingly to Porter on the edge of the box to power home past a stranded Flahaven.
The game died out again but when Pompey did get the ball out to Carter on the right there was always hope that something might come. It was his cross that caused trouble in the Vale area when Burton flicked it on to Hall. His shot was blocked and Turner's effort was stopped by Van Heusden's left foot.
From the Dutchman's clearance Pompey were very lucky not to be behind when Foyle found Mills and with Pompey calling for offside the tall striker hit the ball against the bar and over.
It was Vale's wide players that were doing the most damage and it was McCarthy on the right who created the next chance. His low cross was met by Talbot, on as sub, and his shot instinctively saved by Flahaven and he was almost embarrassed when Awford headed the ball straight back at him. The young keeper though just clawed on to it before it dropped in for an own goal.
Then Fenwick annoyed the crowd when he took Carter off for Igoe considering Carter was Pompey's best route to a goal. Pompey though still had to keep an eye on Vale's dangerous wingers and it was Guppy who created more trouble. Fortunately Awford was in the way to cut out his cross to Foyle.
In a last ditch attempt to get a winner deep into stoppage time Dobson played a ball out on the left to Turner and he was upended just out side the area. Simpson put it in and when it fell at the far post to Dobson his shot was punched away by Van Heusden.