Moore feels 'pure adulation' as Vale revival gathers pace

RONAN Curtis' stoppage-time penalty gave the Vale a 2-1 win at home to Mansfield to continue their revival.

- Michael Baggaley

After not winning any of their first seven league games, they won at Exeter last week, then followed that up by seeing off a visiting side who were reduced to ten men on 14 minutes when Ryan Sweeney was ordered off for bringing down Ruari Paton.

Devante Cole broke the deadlock, on 53 minutes, with his third goal in three games, but Vale were pegged back on 86 through Rhys Oates’ superb strike into the top corner.

Vale weren’t done. They swept forward in stoppage time, starting a move in their own half which concluded with Curtis being brought down in the area.

The winger took the spot kick himself, confidently beating the keeper for the 95th-minute winner.

That goal put Vale two places outside the relegation zone, when a draw would have left them second from bottom.

Darren Moore contrasted the conclusion to this game with Vale conceding in stoppage time to lose to Leyton Orient in their previous match at Vale Park.

He said: “You think of the Leyton Orient game and the 20 seconds there and how that left everyone feeling at Vale Park.

“I'm asking everyone to think deep within their souls about how they felt after that game. Then look deep within their souls to see how they feel today. That's football. As a manager, my job is to remain focused and calm.

“Football can take you into places you don’t want to be some weeks! But it also takes you to some places where there is pure adulation.

“Well done to everyone at the club. Now we can focus on Wednesday's cup match.”