Vale fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Vale Park at the hands of AFC Wimbledon.
Following a game of few chances, the visitors claimed all three points as full-time approached when Callum Maycock found the back of the net in the final few minutes.
After the 1-0 win away at Leyton Orient, Jon Brady made just the one change to his starting lineup, with Jordan Gabriel replacing Ben Waine. New signings Eli Campbell and Tyler Magloire featured in the matchday squad for the first time since signing on the dotted line.
The Valiants got the game underway in Burslem, but the first opportunity fell the way of the visitors. A ball from Omar Bugiel found James Tilley on the right wing before the Dons number seven got a shot away that was parried behind for a corner.
Moments later, Vale created a chance of their own. A free kick into the box from Liam Gordon was volleyed back across the face of goal by Kyle John, who found Ben Garrity, but the captain couldn’t direct his effort goalwards.
With half an hour on the clock, Brady’s side had their first shot on target in the game. Another Liam Gordon free kick was this time met by the head of Ben Garrity; however, his attempt was straight at Nathan Bishop.
Vale started the second half on the front foot and created a couple of chances in quick succession. Firstly, Jayden Stockley just couldn’t quite guide an Ethan Archer cross on target, and then Connor Hall had an attempt saved from an Archer corner.
With three minutes of the game remaining, Wimbledon took the lead. Second-half substitute Callum Maycock found himself in acres of space on the right-hand side of the box and secured all three points for the visitors with a side-footed effort past Gauci.
Team News:
Port Vale: Gauci, Hall, Gabriel (Waine 90’), Garrity © (Hall 45’), Brown (Stockley 45’), Archer, Ojo, Gordon (Campbell 89’), Croasdale, John, Humphreys
Unused subs: Amos, Walters, Magloire
AFC Wimbledon: Bishop, Seddon, Johnson ©, Tilley, Bugiel (Stevens 82’), Browne (Maycock 71’), Smith, Hippolyte, Nkeng (Bauer 89’), Ogundere, Nelson (Hackford 71’)
Unused subs: McDonnell, Asiimwe, Reeves
