Match Report: Port Vale 3-2 Chesterfield
Port Vale 3-2 Chesterfield: winger Sam Kelly scored his first-ever Port Vale goal as they saw off Chesterfield at a snowy Vale Park.
Rob Page brought in Sam Kelly for a rare first-team start after Michael O’Connor was ruled out with a groin injury.
Kelly was making just his third start for the club but he was on the mark just six minutes into the game. During a frantic start, Chesterfield deservedly equalised two minutes later through Lee Novak after a McGivern error but Vale retook the lead when Kelly fed Leitch-Smith who scored his fourth goal in three games on ten minutes.
Vale then dominated the game and deservedly stretched their lead just after the break when Anthony Grant fed Louis Dodds who calmly finished. Vale then created further chances for Leitch-Smith and Moore but Vale were unable to add to their score.
Despite the home side’s dominance, Chesterfield came close to narrowing the gap only to rattle the crossbar with ten minutes left. But that was an isolated moment as Vale largely dominated the second period.
In the closing stages, Jak Alnwick was forced to leave the pitch giving Chris Neal his first appearance of the season and minutes later Ebanks-Blake missed a good chance to score. However, sub Simons made no mistake moments later and Vale had to endure a nervy three minutes of stoppage time.
However, considering the cold conditions and that Vale were playing their second game in the space of three days, this was an excellent victory for Vale and their third straight league win.
A win over Blackpool on Tuesday and the Vale could be eyeing a possible play-off place.
Full-time: Port Vale 3-2 Chesterfield
Vale: Alnwick (Neal), Yates, Duffy, McGivern, Dickinson, Grant, Foley, Moore, Kelly (Daniel), Dodds, Leitch-Smith
Subs: Streete, Hooper, Purkiss, Ikpeazu, Birchall
Attendance: 4,420