Valiants land key blow in battle to secure automatic promotion

PORT Vale delivered an excellent performance to bolster their promotion push. CLIVE YOULTON continues his review of the Valiants' season...

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ORT Vale edged closer to automatic promotion and kept their League Two title bid on track with a superb 2-0 win against Bradford City.

The third-versus-second clash was a pivotal one in League Two on the same night that fourth-placed Doncaster Rovers drew 2-2 with leaders Walsall.

Yet again, other results went in Vale's favour as Wimbledon lost too. Vale were the only team in the top five to win on a season-defining night as they delighted the home fans with one of their best performances of the season.

Significantly finally - it was the first time Vale had won a home league game on a Tuesday night for more than three years.

The Valiants produced a sparkling first-half display and scored two eye-catching goals from Lorent Tolaj and Mitch Clark before defending resolutely in a much more even second half.

Automatic promotion, if not the top spot, was surely theirs for the taking if they could produce this type of display in their final six games.

Once again, continuity was key. Moore made just one change to the Vale starting lineup, and that was enforced, as he brought in Jack Shorrock in place of the injured Tom Sang who had dislocated his shoulder against Crewe.

Rekeem Harper, an unused sub against the Alex, was out of the squad altogether as Ethan Chislett returned, while Sam Hart was back in too. George Byers remained absent as did Kyle John.