Wonder goal, red card and late drama in derby clash...

PORT Vale and Crewe Alexandra served up a thrilling encounter live on television. CLIVE YOULTON continues his review of the Valiants’ season...

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NEXT up was a Monday night showdown with rivals Crewe Alexandra live in front of the Sky TV cameras.

It was a mouthwatering prospect and ahead of the November 25 clash, Vale boss Darren Moore declared: "The anticipation, the appetite, the feelgood factor is all around this game."

Vale were top of League Two and five points clear.

Lee Bell’s Crewe were in the top three and looking forward to halting Vale’s charge.

Vale had already taken on some of the big-hitters in the division and won and Moore said: "The big thing for me is how we have been adaptable in those games. "That has been the most telling factor with the group of players and also the energy as well from the supporters.

"That's been a combined recipe as to why we have come out with a victory in those games.”

In the pre-match press conference Conor Grant admitted that being thrown in at the deep end for Port Vale at Harrogate Town was, “the best thing for me because I didn’t have time to think about it.”

Unfortunately for him, having been selected as the player to talk about the Crewe game pre-match, he wasn’t involved in the squad.

He was left out for Jack Shorrock - not a bad swap in the circumstances given what happened in the game against Crewe.

But Bell’s men were able to draw the match 1-1 which threw a couple of sizable rocks in front of the Vale promotion bandwagon.