Port Vale 0-2 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient secured their first win at Vale Park since 1956 as the Valiants controversially had two goals disallowed.
Micky Adams made one change with Adam Yates replacing Jack Grimmer at right-back. Vale, fresh from their win over Carlisle on Saturday, made a strong start with Myrie-Williams causing problems to the Orient backline. But the home side failed to take any of their chances and Orient made them pay as Dean Cox scored an excellent goal five minutes before the break.
Despite that setback, the Valiants started the second period strongly, forcing a number of corners with captain Doug Loft’s effort cleared off the line. But once again, Orient scored against the run of play with Nathan Clarke scoring from a corner. Almost immediately, Vale had a good chance to equalise only for Birchall to fire at the keeper when well placed.
Vale countered and a scrambled ‘goal’ was disallowed for a foul. Moments later, sub Billy Knott’s shot hit the crossbar. And to cap a frantic few minutes, another strike by Tom Pope was also disallowed. In the dying moments, a Doug Loft shot was well saved by the keeper.
Ultimately, those controversial disallowed goals proved crucial as Orient held on to halt a six match losing streak at Vale Park and leave the Port Vale fans fuming at the match officials.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Robertson, Duffy, Dickinson, Myrie-Williams (Hugill), Griffith (Lines), Loft, Birchall (Knott), Williamson, Pope
Subs: Johnson, Jones, Dodds, Grimmer
Attendance: 4,235 (224 away)