WEATHER IS THE WINNER BUT

VALE NOW UNBEATEN IN FOUR

- Clive Youlton

RUINED by the wind and in home supporters' eyes, the officials, Port Vale had to settle for a point against Northampton Town in a scrappy 0-0 draw that was far from pleasing on the eye.

The fact the Valiants had a chance in the dying embers of seven minutes of stoppage time to clinch all three points was a bonus given it was only their second shot on target.

Nevertheless, Ruari Paton, only on the pitch as an 88th-minute substitute, missed a glorious chance to score from eight yards when he allowed keeper Ross Fitzsimons to make a fine save. He should have buried the opportunity.

Paton held his head in his hands after the final whistle but in fairness to Northampton, it would have been harsh on them to get nothing from the game at that late stage.

Vale have now gone four league games without a defeat and keeper Joe Gauci had made one or two excellent saves during the game, while Nesta Guiness-Walker had a massive chance to put the visitors ahead with 15 minutes to play but he drilled his effort from six yards into the side-netting.

Having said in a pre-match press conference that his rotation policy would continue, boss Darren Moore surprised everyone - including perhaps his players - by starting with the same starting XI that beat Barnsley the previous weekend.

It was the first time Moore had kept the same starting XI in consecutive league games since Good Friday last season.

The only change to the squad was Jayden Stockley returning to the bench in favour of Mo Faal. Stockley hadn't played a single minute in the league this season until appearing in the second half here.

The expected rain hadn't materialised but there was a strong wind in the faces of Vale in the opening half and the elements dictated throughout, with the rain arriving in the final few minutes and lashing down.