Two goals from centre back John McCombe helped Port Vale keep the pressure on League Two leaders Chesterfield with a 2-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers, writes Christopher Finch.
The three points keep Vale in second place in the table, just two points off top spot, as the Spireites secured a 2-0 win over Aldershot.
Both sides remained unchanged from their previous outings, Micky Adams sticking with the side that dispatched Dartford 4-0 in an FA Cup first round replay on Tuesday night, while Gary Waddock kept faith with the 11 that beat Bradford 1-0 last Saturday.
It was a nervy, but exciting opening, and Vale had an excellent chance to get on the board early-on.
A Marc Richards through ball released Gary Roberts, who picked out Justin Richards perfectly, but the 30-year-old could not add to his goal midweek, shooting wide when he should have done much better.
He had the chance to atone for that miss in the 10th minute as he turned and unleashed a powerful shot at visiting keeper Nikki Bull, who comfortably parried it away.
However, the deadlock was broken just 60 seconds later. A Rob Taylor corner to the far post reached Marc Richards, and the Valiants top scorer nodded across goal to McCombe, who buried a header in to the back of the net.
Wycombe responded quickly though and in the 16th minute Vale’s goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson slipped from a corner, and that left David Winfield with an easy header to level the match.
Both sides had chances to take the lead in the rest of a very even first-half. Gareth Ainsworth, returning to one of his former clubs almost put Wycombe in the lead at the end of a classy passing move across the Chairboys midfield. He cut inside from the right wing, but his hopeful effort went wide.
John McCombe
A cross from Stuart Beavon just evaded the head of Kevin Betsy, as the visitors continued to come forward.
However, it was Vale who came closest to taking the lead at the interval. A through ball from Roberts found Justin Richards on the left hand side. He crossed perfectly for namesake Marc at the back post, but Bull produced a fantastic save at point blank range to deny him his 13th goal of the season.
A quiet start to the second-half ensued, prompting Adams to make the first switch of the game, bringing on Louis Dodds for Sean Rigg. The move almost paid dividends immediately as Justin Richards ran down the left wing and dragged the ball back for substitute Dodds, but he could not get full contact with the ball and scuffed it wide.
The winning goal came just after the hour mark. Roberts swung a free-kick into the penalty area, and after taking a touch to bring the ball down, McCombe turned, and hooked the ball past a surprised Bull in to the corner of the goal. Vale had chances to further extend their lead.
A Doug Loft free-kick was punched away unconvincingly by Bull, landing at the feet of Roberts, who could only shoot wide.
The golden chance to put the game to bed came with ten minutes left. Loft floated the ball to Justin Richards at the far post, who aimed the ball back at Marc Richards, but the latter could not take advantage and launched the ball high into the stands behind the goal.
Wycombe also had their opportunities to snatch an equaliser late-on. Andy Sandell fired a stinging shot at Tomlinson, who palmed the ball away, and Ben Strevens missed from close-range.
It was not to be though, and Vale took home the three points at the start of a busy week for them. A trip to Stockport County on Tuesday night is followed by an FA Cup second-round match with Accrington Stanley on Friday.
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