Despite a 1-0 defeat to Gillingham, Port Vale celebrate promotion to Sky Bet League One!
The only goal of the game came in the second half when Aaron Rowe beat Ben Amos from distance. Regardless, the Valiants celebrated promotion in front of almost 14,000 fans at Vale Park.
Darren Moore made just the one change from last Saturday's 2-0 win at Wimbledon, which secured promotion to Sky Bet League One. Ronan Curtis came into the side with Jayden Stockley dropping to the bench. George Byers captained the side in the absence of Ben Garrity.
Following Gillingham’s 1-1 draw at home to Swindon last time out, Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to his starting eleven. Elliott Nevitt, Jonathan Williams, Bradley Dack and Shadrach Ogie all dropped out, being replaced by Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Euan Williams, Asher Agbinone and Dom Corness.
The Valiants got the game underway in front of a packed out Vale Park and looked for the opening goal. With two minutes on the clock, the ball fell kindly to Tolaj, who laid it off into space for Rhys Walters. The young midfielder let fly from eighteen yards out, but his effort was straight at the Gillingham keeper.
Vale were the only side looking like scoring and had another half chance midway through the first half. After a neat bit of play the left side, Curtis found himself with the ball at his feet and took aim from just outside the box. However, his attempt could only sting the palms of Morris in the Gillingham net.
Two minutes before half-time Vale had a golden opportunity to take the lead. Croasdale found Clark in all sorts of space down the right side. With the wing back advancing towards goal, he squared it to Tolaj, who seemed destined to score. Unfortunately, the ball took a horrid bounce just as Tolaj was about to hit it, causing his effort to fly over the crossbar.
Ten minutes into the second half Gillingham took the lead through Aaron Rowe. The forward picked the ball up on the right before making his way towards the centre of the eighteen-yard box. Rowe then let fly a thunderous shot into the top left corner, leaving Amos with no chance.
Darren Moore’s side looked to hit back instantly and came close to finding an equaliser. Richards took the ball down on his chest and played Stockley through on goal. The striker got his shot away only to be denied by the diving legs of Morris.
With five minutes left to play, Vale continued to push for an equaliser. This time Tolaj controlled the ball on his chest and laid it off to Byers, who was on the edge of the box. Byers hit the ball first time and forced Morris into an unconvincing save, before Gillingham cleared it away.
The referee brought the game to a close and brought to end a terrific season for the Valiants, seeing them secure promotion to Sky Bet League One at the first time of asking.
Port Vale Starting XI: Amos, Clark, Hall, Smith (57’ Stockley), Byers ©, Curtis (77’ Hackford) , Croasdale (57’ Richards), Tolaj, Debrah, Headley (84’ Shorrock), Walters (77’ Harper)
Unused Substitutions: Broome, Lowe
Yellow cards: Clark
Gillingham Starting XI: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Masterson, Rowe (69’ Ogie), McKenzie ©, Morgan (62’ Dack), Williams (62’ Coleman), Agbinone (81’ Andrews), Gale, Corness (63’ Khumbeni)
Unused Substitutions: Holtam, Webster
Yellow Cards: Hutton, McKenzie
