Alfie's Devine intervention at Oxford

Alfie Devine made the desired impact for Port Vale on Saturday as he came of the bench to score a 99th-minute winner.

Starting on the bench for his loan side Vale as they travelled to Oxford United in League One at the weekend, the midfielder entered the fray on 68 minutes at the Kassam Stadium tasked with helping his side find a winner - and he made an instant impact.

Having staved off relegation last season in their first season back in the third tier, the Valiants are flying this term and Alfie got them on their way to another win as his free-kick from the left channel on 70 minutes was glanced home by Alex Iacovitti.

Oxford, who had been reduced to 10 men in the first half as Mark Harris was dismissed following an off-the-ball incident with Vale captain Nathan Smith, did level the game in stoppage time with Greg Leigh lofting home from close range in the third added minute.

Moments later though, Leigh was also dismissed for Oxford after picking up his second yellow card before, in the ninth minute of additional time, Vale were awarded a penalty after Ben Garrity was brought down in the box. It was then up to 19-year-old Alfie to show nerves of steel, stepping up to the spot in the final minute of the game before producing an emphatic finish, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to take all three points.

Heading into the international break, Alfie will now link up with the England Under-20 squad.

Watch Alfie's match-winning penalty

Alfie Devine: cool as you like.

🥶 pic.twitter.com/wxRd4HXzNA

— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) September 2, 2023