Port Vale 2-1 Carlisle United
Vale came from behind to secure the double over Carlisle thanks to two goals in four mimutes from Ben Williamson and Tom Pope.
Micky Adams made four changes with Lines, Dodds, Jones and Knott dropping out and Griffith, Birchall, Myrie-Williams and Williamson coming in.
The first-half was a frustrating and lack lustre affair for Vale. The home side had the better of the opening exchanges but Carlisle missed the first decent chance as Miller forced Neal into a decent save. However, six minutes before the interval, the visitors did take the lead as centre-half Courtney Mepen-Walter headed home a free-kick. It was the nineteen year-old’s first-ever senior goal.
Vale nearly slipped further behind in the second-half but Neal pulled off another good save. It was to prove vital as five minutes later, Vale had taken the lead. It started on 56 minutes as Ben Williamson scored his fourth of the season. That sparked Vale into life and after Myrie-Williams had rattled the post, the winger crossed for Tom Pope to head home his fourteenth of the season.
In a lively second-half, Pope almost scored his second goal from a terrific Birchall cross but the Carlisle keeper made a fine save. Meanwhile, Miller should have done better with a chance for the visitors. That proved to be the last decent chance of the game as Vale ended their recent poor run of form.
Vale: Neal, Grimmer, Robertson, Duffy, Dickinson, Myrie-Williams, Griffith, Loft, Birchall (Shuker), Williamson (Knott), Pope
Subs: Johnson, Hugill, Jones, Dodds, Lines, Knott
Attendance: 5,009