Port Vale and Crewe take a point each from sodden stalemate
Crewe kept a clean sheet for the third game running.
Local rivals Port Vale and Crewe took a point apiece from a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
An attritional first half, with driving rain throughout, provided limited chances. Crewe’s Jordan Gibson was denied early on by Jackson Smith’s save and, at the other end, Vale defender Jordan Gabriel fired wide from distance.
As the game livened up late in the half, the visitors’ Reece Hutchinson blasted over and Gibson was off-target with two long-range efforts.
The Valiants’ Onel Hernandez then saw his fierce shot saved by Tom Booth, the ball rebounding onto striker Oli Lynch and out to safety.
The half’s last action saw Connor Hall head Kyle Dempsey’s cross over at close range.
The stalemate continued after the break, with Ben Garrity heading over for Vale and Crewe’s Luke Offord whistling a shot narrowly past the post.
Josh March came close to scoring but shot into the side netting and Hernandez almost netted a fine winner for the hosts after skipping past defenders. Booth proved equal to his shot, his save preserving Crewe’s third straight clean sheet in the league and ensuring they took home a point.