Valiant effort as club avoids seventh loss on the trot

PORT Vale avoided setting an unwanted club record with a stunning upset of promotionchasing Mansfield.

Defeat would have made it seven in a row at Vale Park but two goals in three minutes early in the second half from Ricky Miller earned a 2-1 victory.

Nicky Ajose made home nerves jangle by pulling one back with half an hour remaining but Vale held on.

With bottom two Macclesfield and Notts County both losing, it was a potentially decisive win for Vale in their bid to avoid the drop.

Sol Campbell’s Silkmen took a shock lead against high-flying MK Dons through Nathan Cameron in the 19th minute but David Wheeler equalised just before half-time and Callum Brittain put the visitors ahead eight minutes after the interval.

Kieran Agard’s third made sure of the points and a 3-1 win that, coupled with Mansfield’s loss, saw the Dons climb up to third.

It was a thoroughly miserable afternoon for County, who went down 4-1 to Cheltenham.

William Boyle’s 29th-minute opener was added to seven minutes later when Luke Varney converted a penalty. Billy Waters netted Cheltenham’s third 10 minutes into the second half.

Kane Hemmings did pull one back from the spot but Tyrone Barnett had the final word with the Robins’ fourth two minutes from time.

Bury left it very late against Stevenage, with Nicky Maynard scoring the only goal in injury time to move the Shakers back to within two points of leaders Lincoln, who beat Yeovil on Friday.

Northampton made it three victories in a row with a 2-1 success against promotion-chasing Exeter, while Colchester climbed into the play-off places with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Newport in Essex.

In a game affecting both ends, Morecambe moved eight points clear of the relegation zone and dented Forest Green’s play-off hopes with a 3-0 victory.

A first-half brace from Ollie Palmer helped Crawley to a 2-1 victory over Grimsby, who had taken the lead through Wes Thomas.

Paul Scholes’ Oldham were unable to win for a fifth successive match, drawing 1-1 with Cambridge. Peter Clarke gave the Latics the lead in the 12th minute but Jevani Brown levelled straight after half-time.