By SCM Football Writer
VALE PARK -The hallowed, if chilly, turf of Vale Park was transformed into a footballing torture chamber last night as Port Vale delivered a brutal, five-star demolition job on hapless Barnsley.
The 5-0 hammering in the EFL Trophy not only secured the Valiants a place in the last 16 but sent a thunderous message across the leagues: when this place is rocking, anything is possible.
For years, Vale Park, nestled snugly in Burslem, has been waiting for a night like this. It’s a ground steeped in history, where the ghosts of legends like Roy Sproson and John Rudge surely nod in approval.
Last night, its 19,000-seat capacity felt like a cauldron, even with a crowd just over 650, as the faithful few cheered a side playing with a fire that has often been missing this season.
The atmosphere was electric from the moment Ruari Paton decided to turn the Stoke-on-Trent ground into his personal playground.
TWO-GOAL LIGHTNING STRIKES
The Barnsley defence, looking more wooden than the old Railway Stand’s foundations, simply collapsed under the initial onslaught. Paton, playing as if the very spirit of Vale Park was urging him on, netted a quick-fire brace in the fifth and eighth minutes. The roar that greeted the second goal threatened to shake the historic Bycars End to its foundations.
The travelling Tykes support could only watch in stunned silence as their boys in red were systematically dismantled on the pitch.
You could practically feel the collective groan of despair ripple through the visitors’ section high in the Hamil Road Stand.
The second half brought no relief, only further punishment. Vale boss Darren Moore, who knows a thing or two about making a home venue formidable, saw his side turn the screw with a ruthless efficiency the fans will be demanding in the league.
Dajaune Brown, a constant menace, grabbed the third after a sweeping move in the 72nd minute.
Then, the floodgates truly opened. Ben Waine notched a superb fourth with a venomous strike into the top corner, sparking delirious scenes in the stands.
The final, humiliating blow came from Jesse Debrah, who bundled home the fifth from a corner just three minutes later.
This wasn’t just a win; it was an exorcism. It was a statement that Vale Park is a fortress, not a playground.
For Barnsley, the long journey back up the M1 must have felt like a pilgrimage of shame.
For Port Vale, the roar of the crowd and the taste of this huge victory will linger, reminding everyone that their grand old ground is finally a place where dreams – and five-goal thrillers – are made
