Defeat in Greater Manchester results in relegation for the Valiants
Dion Charles came close for the hosts in the opening ten minutes of the game as his flicked effort from a low cross almost found the net but it went over the crossbar.
The Valiants had their first chance of the game a couple of minutes later as Ben Garrity tried a half volley on the edge of the area which rolled wide of the Bolton goal.
A number of hopeful efforts from the hosts as Aaron Collins and Paris Maghoma looked to break the deadlock but both failed to work Connor Ripley.
A bizarre moment 20 minutes in when Funso Ojo looked to clear the ball and was tripped up by referee Charles Breakspear before Bolton put the ball into an empty net which saw the goal scrubbed out.
Centre half Caleb Taylor saw his curling effort go just wide from distance on 35 minutes as he tried to grab the opening goal.
A crazy moment on 41 minutes which saw a spilled shot from Ripley fall to an attacker whose effort crashed against the post before another strike rolled across the face of goal before it was cleared.
Ten minutes into the second half and Charles was sent through on the left. His shot from inside the area went through the legs of Jack Shorrock but was well kept out by Ripley who hung onto the ball.
57 minutes in saw Josh Sheehan with the latest Bolton effort. He tried a curler from distance looking for the top corner but it drifted wide of the Vale goal.
Eight minutes later and the hosts hit the bar as their search for an opener continued. Randell Williams cut in on the left as he aimed for the top right corner but it smashed against the woodwork and out for a goal kick.
Shortly afterwards the Valiants had a huge opportunity following a set piece when the ball fell to Chislett in the area. He looked to find the bottom corner from close range but it just rolled wide.
Wanderers found their goal on 72 minutes through Aaron Collins. On the left side of the area, the forward found space to curl one into the top corner and put the hosts ahead.
Vale tried to get back level five minutes later through Chislett. His first effort from the edge of the area was blocked, the South African then tried again but saw his effort fall wide of the far post.
The Valiants continued to press for that equaliser. Both Tom Sang and Nathan Smith had strikes saved by Nathan Baxter as the hosts looked to protect their slim advantage.
The Valiants' relegation was confirmed in stoppage time when Cameron Jerome headed in from close range to make it 2-0.
Bolton Wanderers | Nathan Baxter, Gethin Jones, George Thomason (70’ Kyle Dempsey), Josh Sheehan (85’ Cameron Jerome), Dion Charles (79’ Dan Nlundulu), Josh Dacres-Cogley, Eoin Toal, Paris Maghoma, Caleb Taylor, Randell Williams, Aaron Collins (85’ Aaron Morley)
Unused Subs | Joel Coleman, Jack Iredale
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Tom Sang, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity, Ethan Chislett, Uche Ikpeazu (46’ Ryan Loft), Funso Ojo, Conor Grant (30’ Jack Shorrock), Alex Iacovitti (77’ Jensen Weir), Rhys Walters (65’ Baylee Dipepa), Jesse Debrah
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutwiler, Kacper Lopata, Gavin Massey