Will Forrester’s first goal for the Vale ensured we returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 win over ten-man Exeter City at Vale Park.
Our number 15’s second-half strike just moments after Rekeem Harper received his marching orders, secured the three points and meant we leapt above the visitors in the League One table.
The Grecians went down to ten in the 59th minute after Harper was shown his second yellow card for a cynical foul on Ben Garrity.
One minute later, Forrester netted what turned out to be the winning goal, firing past Gary Woods from inside the area.
The 21-year-old reacted quickest when Exeter failed to clear their lines, finishing low into the bottom left-hand corner after Gavin Massey’s cross wasn’t dealt with by City’s defence.
Matty Taylor came into the team to make his full debut for the Valiants as one of three changes Darrell Clarke made from the side that faced Barnsley in midweek.
It looked like Taylor had made the dream start to his full debut when he nodded the ball into the back of the net from close range, but the flag was raised for offside.
Taylor was then denied by Woods ten minutes later after he managed to get his head on David Worrall’s delightful dinking set piece.
January signing, Aaron Donnelly, also came close to giving Vale the lead with his head, but his effort from a Sammy Robinson cross was tipped over the bar.
Vale continued to show their initiative after the interval, with Robinson curling an effort from the edge of the area inches wide of the left-hand post.
Then Taylor, who had proved a nuisance for Exeter throughout the game, saw a brilliant save from Woods prevent him from opening his Vale account from a free kick.
Port Vale | Stone, Donnelly, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Ojo, Forrester, Massey (80’ Massey), Taylor (90+3 Proctor), Pett, Robinson (86’ Benning)
Unused subs | Stevens, Conlon, Agyakwa, Politic
Exeter City | Woods, Caprice (75’ Sparkes), Hartridge (46’ Grounds), Harper, Collins, Stansfield (75’ White), Nombe, Aimson, Kite (75’ Mitchell), Scott, Sweeney
Unused subs | Blackman, Key, Chauke
Attendance | 6,209 (324 away)