Port Vale 2 York 2: Reed grabs opportunity to stake his claim for a permanent starting role

Jason Walker has not been at his best this season and Reed’s form at Wimbledon on Monday when he came on as a substitute and scored prompted manager Gary Mills to give him his chance.

“Jamie has looked good in training so I thought he earned his opportunity to be in the starting line-up. He did well and I was delighted with the team performance, particularly after the previous home game against Wimbledon when we played so badly,” said Mills.

York seemed to be heading for defeat against second-placed Vale when they trailed 2-0 at the break.

Ryan Burge put the Valiants ahead on 29 minutes, rocketing the ball home after Michael Ingham had done well to parry Tom Pope’s shot. It was 2-0 after 42, Jennison Mayrie Williams scoring from the penalty spot after Chris Smith handled Chris Shuker’s shot. At this stage, York had done well without troubling Chris Neal in the home goal.

But what a transformation after the break as York stormed forward. Reed’s slide-rule pass saw Alex Rodman run clear before beating Neal on 67 minutes.

Chances were missed before Reed hit an 88th-minute equaliser, substitute Walker providing the centre which Smith headed back for Reed to hammer into the roof of the net.

Port Vale: Neal; Yates, McCombe, McDonald; Taylor (McAllister 74), Mayrie Williams, Burge, Duffy, Shuker (Williamson 74), Dodds, Pope. Unused substitutes: Johnson, Davis, James, Lloyd.

York City: Ingham; Oyebanjo, Smith, Doig, Fyfield; Kearns, Blair, Parslow; Chambers (Challinor 56), Reed, Rodman (Walker 84). Unused substitutes: Musselwhite, McGurk, Potts, Carlisle, McLaughlin.

Referee: J Simpson (Carnforth, Lancashire).

Man of the match: Jamie Reed.