TITLE NOW IN REACH FOR FIVE-STAR VALE

PORT Vale saved their best performance of the season for the time when an extra 4,000 of their fans were there to witness it.

- Clive Youlton

Their 5-0 trouncing of Bromley on Saturday was the first time the Valiants have won by a five-goal margin in a league game since the 7-1 hammering of Burton Albion in 2013.

It was also only the second time they had scored four or more all season, having beaten Newport County 4-1 earlier in the campaign.

Boosted by supporters being allowed in for £10, Darren Moore and his players turned on the style, and the regular home fans must have been tempted to chant to the newcomers, "where were you for the gritty 1-0s?"

Those supporters cheered at news that start-of-day League Two leaders Bradford City had lost 5-4 to Swindon Town in an earlier kick-off.

Then they saw their team hit five of the best themselves against a side who had won 4-0 in their previous outing.

This was as good as it gets to be a Vale fan at Vale Park, and Moore and the players lapped it up.

Moore's men had only produced 54 goals in their previous 41 games, and boosted that total to 59 while, significantly, they now have an identical goal difference to Bradford, who are three points behind.

Having come through the difficult fixtures on paper - although Walsall are in a false position, fifth from bottom of the form league - the title is Vale's for the taking.

Rekeem Harper was left out of the squad once again and the only change to the starting XI was an enforced one with Jack Shorrock replacing injured Kyle John - ahead of the more experienced Sam Hart.

This calendar year, Moore has realised that making five changes to the team every week to keep players happy is not as effective as playing your best team.

The noticeable transition to playing longer to Jayden Stockley and winning second balls has also been a feature.

Back in the squad was Ethan Chislett, as well as Jemiah Omolu, as Antwoine Hackford dropped out.

Chislett was the only player to miss out on an appearance and he has suddenly become out of favour.