Tottenham falls to third div. Port Vale, 2-1

Press, 1 February 1988, Page 19

Tottenham falls to third div. Port Vale, 2-1

NZPA-Reuter London Not since they acquired the services of the legendary Stanley Matthews have humble Port Vale made such an impact on English soccer.

The third-division club’s 2-1 win over Tottenham in the fourth round of the F.A. Cup on Saturday, putting them through to the last 16, was the first big upset of a competition showing a stubborn refusal to throw up its traditional surprises. It may prove that Port Vale’s continued survival in the Cup is as brief as was their association more than 20 years ago with Matthews.

The magical winger joined the club as manager after a playing career spanning more than 30 years, but like many bigname players was unable to make the switch successfully and left England to continue as a player in Malta well into his fifties. But even if Port Vale come to grief in the next round, for years to come they will be remembered as the club which toppled the aristocrats of Tottenham in 1988 ... and not the team once managed by Matthews. John Rudge, the current Port Vale boss, a garrulous character in contrast to the introverted Matthews, was not surprised by his side’s stunning victory.

He had dreamed that they would humble Spurs and that Darren Beckford would score the winner. In reality, the goals came from Ray Walker and Phil Sproson in the opening 25 minutes.

Said the bald-headed Rudge: “The last 20 minutes, after they had scored, were a bit hairraising. But we set the standards and I don’t think they could complain about the result.

"There hadn’t been a shock in the Cup so far and after my dream I thought it might be Port Vale’s dav.”

Spurs’ manager, Terry Venables, was angry that his side did not "wake up” until the second half.

“You don’t wait to get hurt before you start fighting,” but he added philosophically: “There has got to be something good come from this disaster.”

Coventry’s manager, John Sillett, was also in philosophical mood after the Cup holders — they beat Spurs 3-2 in a memorable Wembley final last May — lost 1-0 at home to Watford.

“We’re disappointed, of course, but you have to take it on the chin and get on with game next week,” he said. “We had the chances — it was something like 17 goal attempts to two — but it’s all about putting tile ball in the net.”

Trevor Senior, a second-half substitute, for Watford, highlighted the Coventry forwards’ lapses by heading the only goal a few minutes after joining the fray. F.A. CUP Fourth round Barnsley 0, Birmingham 2; Blackpool 1, Manchester City. 1; Bradford 4, Oxford 2; Brighton 1, Arsenal 2; Coventry 0, Watford 1; Everton 1, Middlesbrough 1; Leyton Orient 1, Nottingham Forest 2; Luton 2, Southampton 1; Manchester United 2, Chelsea 0; Mansfield 1, Wimbledon 2; Newcastle 5, Swindon 0; Plymouth 1, Shrewsbury 0; Port Vale 2, Tottenham 1; Queen’s Park Rangers 3, West Ham 1. Postponed: Portsmouth v. Sheffield United; playing Sunday: Aston Villa v. Liverpool. ENGLISH LEAGUE Division two Ipswich 0, Blackburn 2 (postponed from January 23); Reading 1, Leicester 2 (from November 4); West Bromwich 1, Leeds 4 (from January 23); played Friday:

Oldham 1, Crystal Palace 0 (from October 17). Division three Bury 2, Chesterfield 0; Chester 1, Rotherham 0; Northampton 1, Wigan 1; Notts County 5, Fulham 1; Preston 1, Southend 1; Sunderland 2, Gillingham 1; Walsall 2, York 1. Postponed: Brentford v. Grimsby, Bristol Rovers v. Bristol City. Playing Sunday: Doncaster v. Aidershot. Division four Cardiff 4, Cambridge 0; Exeter 0, Tranmere 1; Hartlepool 0, Swansea 2; Hereford 2, Carlisle 0; Peterborough 0, Bolton 4; Scarborough 3, Colchester 1; Scunthorpe 0, Wolverhampton 1. Postponed: Halifax v. Wrexham, Torquay v. Darlington. SCOTTISH F.A. CUP Third round Arbroath 0, Dundee United 7; Celtic 1, Stranraer 0; Clyde 0, Cowdenbeath 0; Dundee 0, Brechin 0; Dumbarton 0, Hibernian 0; Dunfermline 1, Ayr 1; East Fife 1, Airdrieonians 2; Falkirk 1, Hearts 3; Gala Fairydean 3, East Stirling 5; Motherwell 0, Kilmarnock 0; Queen of South 1, Morton 2; St Johnstone 0, Aberdeen 1; St Mirren 0, Clydebank 3. Postponed: Forfar v. Partick, Raith v. Rangers. Playing Sunday:' Hamilton v. Meadowbank. SCOTTISH LEAGUE Division two Albion 0, Berwick 2. SOCCER POOLS Results of postponed British soccer matches assessed by the Pools Panel yesterday: English F.A. Cup fourth round: Portsmouth v. Sheffield United — score draw. English division three: Brentford v. Grimsby — home win. English division four: Halifax v. Wrexham — home win; Torquay v. Darlington — away win. Conference League: Dagenham v. Runcorn — no score draw; Fisher Athletic v. Wycombe — home win; Lincoln v. Maidstone — home win; Wealdstone v. Stafford — away win. Homes League, premier division: Dartford v. Witney — home win; Willenhall v. Alvechurch — no score draw. Scottish F.A. Cup, third round: Forfar v. Partick — home win; Raith v. Rangers — away win.