Port Vale 2-1 Peterborough
Ben Williamson drew level with Tom Pope at the top of this season’s scoring charts as Rob Page’s side came from behind to win at Vale Park.
Rob Page made two changes to his starting line-up with Chris Robertson replacing Richard Duffy and Chris Birchall coming in for Dany N’Guessan.
Vale made the brighter start with Michael O’Connor missing a good chance in the early stages. But it was the visitors who took the lead as Maddison strode into the area unchallenged and Connor Washington gave them the lead on 20 minutes. It was poor defending by the Valiants as too many players switched off.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead when Veseli misjudged a ball and Washington forced another great save from Chris Neal. Soon afterwards and against the run of play, the Vale equalised. Adam Yates crossed and Louis Dodds headed it down for Chris Birchall to score on the half-hour mark. It was his second goal of the season and 14th of his Vale career.
Almost immediately, the visitors broke and Vale were one again grateful to Neal for pulling off a fine save to stop Marcus Maddison scoring. In an entertaining end to the half, Vale had half-chances to take the lead but it ended all-square at the break.
Two minutes after the interval, Vale did take the lead when Ben Williamson took advantage of a misplaced pass to net his third in six games and ninth goal of the season.
The Valiants went agonisingly close to stretching their lead with Dodds’ potshot denied by a great save and another effort deemed to have not crossed the line despite Vale protests. Dodds was unlucky again a few minutes later when his rocket of a shot cannoned off the crossbar.
Vale could have rued those changes to stretch their lead when Posh had claims for a late penalty and mounted a late charge but Rob Page’s side held on for a valuable home win.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Veseli, Robertson, Dickinson, Marshall, O’Connor, Brown, Birchall (Daniel), Dodds, Williamson
Subs: Johnson, Campion, Moore, Lines, Duffy, N’Guessan