Months of hard work paid off as Vale sampled promotion success

PORT Vale return to AFC Wimbledon this afternoon - the scene of a memorable promotion back in April.

- By CLIVE YOULTON

Jaheim Headley celebrates his goal in the 2-0 win at AFC Wimbledon which earned Port Vale promotion.

ENSATIONAL, stunning, spectacular. If you wanted to encapsulate Port Vale's Saturday afternoon at AFC Wimbledon in three words as they beat the hosts 2-0 to earn promotion, those adjectives fit the bill.

Darren Moore's side knew what they had to do and went out and did it.

With Bradford City losing at Doncaster Rovers in the other lunchtime kickoff, that result, coupled with their own 2-0 victory, was enough for both Rovers and Moore's side to celebrate even before the later afternoon matches.

Vale were tentative in the first half in a tense game but, roared on by more than 1,200 travelling fans, they came alive in the second half, scored two brilliant goals from Jayden Stockley and Jaheim Headley, and wrapped up a return to League One with a game to spare.

Owner Carol Shanahan, the staff, the players and management team jumped for joy on the pitch after the final whistle sounded and who could blame them?

Moore made just one change to the team that drew 2-2 at home to Grimsby Town with Jaheim Headley coming in for the injured Sam Hart.

Vale kicked off with the visiting fans behind their backs against a Wimbledon side who had not scored in their previous two matches and were without a win in three.

None of the away fans sat this was a standing only occasion as they made a proper din from the word go.

With Wimbledon needing a win of their own to try and attain automatic promotion, the noise in the ground was deafening.

George Byers and Rhys Walters began to play the ball on the deck and Ryan Croasdale put in a crunching tackle to the delight of the travelling hordes.

Vale meant business when business needed to be done.