Having won three of their last three games, Vale approached this game full of confidence. Baltinglass were sure to offer a stern test of that confidence however.
The first half was scrappy in parts but Vale looked dangerous when they got the holy trinity of Lee Conran, Trevor Nolan and Andy Brennan on the ball. Lee Conran tested the keeper from range and Andy Brennan came close on several occasions. Despite the created chances, Baltinglass took the lead with an excellent finish on 30 minutes.
Vale continued to press but failed to level before half time. The second half would see Vale gradually take control of the game. Ciaran Fitzpatrick and Lee Conran were causing the most damage down the right.
Andy Brennan, John Miley, Lee Conran and Andrew Townsend all came agonisingly close to levelling but with the minutes running out it seemed like it might be one of those days for Vale.
Martin Bridgett had other ideas however and after winning the ball the centre back grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and marched into midfield and sprayed an incredible pass out wide to Lee Conran. Conran took it down beautifully and then beat a defender before whipping in an inviting cross for the fox in box Andy Brennan to header home.
With a few minutes on the clock it seemed Vale would be the most likely to hit a winner but a sucker punch came when Baltinglass again took the lead in added time after a scramble in the box.
Despite only seconds left on the clock, this Vale team is never beaten. A corner kick would surely be the last chance. Andrew Townsend pinged the cross into the box. Martin Bridgett rose and powered a header into the top corner only for a Baltinglass defender to throw his arm into the air and block the header. Penalty awarded.
Up stepped John Miley and with the last kick of the game drove home the equaliser to the bottom corner.
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