Port Vale 1 - 1 Stevenage Borough

Griffin earns deserved replay

Updated: November 7, 2009, 5:29 PM UK

Charlie Griffin earned Stevenage a second bite at the cherry when his injury-time leveller secured a 1-1 draw at Port Vale.

A replay was the very least the Blue Square Premier side deserved after they outplayed Vale for long periods of an entertaining cup tie.

The visitors must have wondered how they were behind at half-time after creating chances at regular intervals in a very impressive display.

David Bridges headed wide from 10 yards in the sixth minute before a ferocious 25-yard shot from Michael Bostwick forced a fine save from Chris Martin.

Bridges also struck the bar from 18 yards in the 31st minute before Vale took the lead against the run of play three minutes before the interval.

Adam Yates tried his luck from 30 yards out and the ball bounced before evading the dive of Chris Day, who should have done better.

Day made amends by pushing a Marc Richards header against the crossbar two minutes after the interval before Stevenage responded with a further spell of pressure.

Griffin shot wide from Adam Drury's pass and Bridges headed straight into Martin's grateful arms from six yards.

Vale stemmed the tide for a while, but Stevenage threw everything into a late barrage which ended with Griffin heading in Mitchell Cole's cross from six yards.