Port Vale: Chris Martin, Anthony Griffith, John McCombe (Kris Taylor 63), Doug Loft (Louis Dodds 58), Marc Richards, Adam Yates, Lee Collins, Gareth Owen, Sean Rigg, Craig Davies (Robert Taylor 63) , Lewis Haldane

Subs: Joe Anyon, Sam Morsy, Geoff Horsfield, Anthony Malbon

Town: Chris Neal, Dean Holden (c), Joe Skarz, Terry Dunfield, Kelvin Langmead, Kris Bright, Benjamin Van Den Broek, Steve Leslie, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Kevin McIntyre, Tom Bradshaw

Subs: Graham Coughlan, Paul Murray, Jake Simpson, Lewis Neal, Andreas Arestidou, Andre Gray, Jon Taylor

Goals: K.Bright 10

Ref: K Hill
Assistants: S Copeland & S Massey
Reserve official: P Gibbs

Attendance: 8467 (673)

There is just the one change to the starting line-up with Tom Bradshaw coming in to starting up with Jake Simpson dropping down to the bench.

The Vale fans were in fine voice as the game kicked off with Vale Park in expectant mood.It was the home side who were having the better of the early pressure but it was Town who had the first chance to take the lead after Bradshaw had worked hard to win the corner.It was swung over by Van Den Broek and dropped to Cansdell-Sherriff in the box, he shot but it took a slight deflection to take it away from the target.

Vale had a couple of good efforts on the Town goal but Neal was there to save from Haldane and then Holden slide in bravely to block at the back post.Then Town quickly broke down field and the ball came to Bradshaw, he did well to hold up the ball and then get away from his marker to feed Bright, he continued his run in on goal with the Vale defence backing off and then drove in a low shot that Martin got a hand too but the power of the shot kept the ball going into the back of the net.

Town were good value for their lead and Bright had a good chance to double the lead with another good shot but this time it went just wide of the target.Vale had to push to get a win for the game and this was making for an entertaining attacking game.

Town were looking dangerous on the break and when there was a slip in the Vale attack Town were straight back at the home side.A Vale attack broke down with Bradshaw pouncing to nick the ball off Griffith just inside the Vale half, Bradshaw looked to break and had options to his right but held onto the ball, he managed to get it in the run of McIntyre who continued to break forward, he laid it off for Bright who shot but got under the ball and it sailed over the Vale bar.

Chris Neal had been having a solid but unspectacular half with little to do other than a long range effort early on from Haldane.he had to be alert as the game entered injury time after Griffiths received the ball just outside the Town box, he curled in a low shot that came through a clutch of players but Neal was down at his far post to save and then smoother the ball.

Half-time: 1-0

Ref Hill was having a decent game and was keeping a lid on things quite nicely. The Vale fans were on his back for most of the game but as the temperature in the stadium rose so did the tackles on the pitch.There were good hard tackles going in from both side but bar one moment when Van Den Broek got bundled over it was all in quite fair and above board.

Vale boss Mickey Adams had made all of his substitutions with over 25 minutes of the half remaining as he pushed his team to get something from the game.Town were being pushed all the way but were weathering the pressure well and were looking to get at the home side when they got the chance.

Vale grabbed a goal back with 15 minutes on the clock but it looked very fortunate for the home side.The ball was thrown into the Town box and came to Sean Rigg who had Dean Holden behind him, Rigg then collapsed to the floor and ref Hill made no hesitation in pointing to the spot.Marc Richards placed the ball and kept his cool to calmly slot the ball past Chris Neal to make it 1-1.

Town weren't down and continued to look to get all 3 points from the game.Kevin McIntyre was alert to chase down and collect a wayward clearance from Vale, he took the ball down to control it and then played a lovely ball in behind the Vale defence to put Bradshaw in on goal, he nicked a low shot past the dive of Martin but the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

With the fourth official showing the board for injury Town were continuing to put the pressure on the home side.The ball was with Bradshaw and he held it up well before putting it back to Holden, he hit it first time but Martin did well get down smartly to save the shot.

Full-time: 1-1