Vale fall to a 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle at Vale Park in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off in Sky Bet League One.
The only goal of the game came moments after the second half restart as Lorent Tolaj connected with a cross from the right to stab past Gauci and claim all three points for the visitors.
Coming off the back of last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Wycombe, Darren Moore made just one change to his starting eleven with Jahiem Headley replacing Marvin Johnson at left-wing back.
The Valiants got the game underway in Burslem and straight away, Ruari Paton got the Vale faithful off their seat. After Ben Garrity intercepted a pass, Paton gathered the ball and let fly a sharp effort, and with the keeper back-peddling, Paton’s effort went just over the bar.
Vale had another chance fifteen minutes later after Connor Hall connected with Kyle John’s cross. However, the centre back's header dropped just wide of Conor Hazard’s right post.
Another huge chance came Vale’s way with half an hour played at Vale Park. Jaheim Headley was played through on goal by Ruari Paton before putting the ball across the box looking for Devante Cole. Cole looked destined to score, but couldn’t quite make a solid enough contact on the ball, and the chance went begging.
Darren Moore’s side were the only side looking like scoring and came close again five minutes before half-time. After some neat link-up play between Devante Cole and Ben Garrity, the midfielder played a teasing cross across the box and the ball was almost turned into his own net by Argyle defender, Alex Mitchell.
The visitors made a lightning-quick start to the second half and took the lead through Lorent Tolaj less than a minute after the restart. A low cross into the box by Matty Sorinola was poked into the back of the net by the Argyle forward.
The Valiants came close to finding an equaliser on the hour mark. A cross into the box was headed back across goal by Devante Cole, who found Ruari Paton unmarked. Paton hit the ball first time on the volley, but his effort was well saved by Conor Hazard.
Two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game, Devante Cole had a great chance to equal the scores. An in-swinging corner from Ronan Curtis was met by the striker, whose header bounced wide of the post.
With Vale piling on the pressure, they came close once more. A ball into the box was headed back across by Ronan Curtis towards Ruari Paton, who got his shot away, but could only find the keeper's grateful grasp.
Port Vale lineup: Gauci, Headley (Curtis 69’), Heneghan (Stockley 58’), Hall (Brown 92’), Garrity ©, Walters (Ojo 69’), Paton, John, Humphreys, Hall, Cole
Unused substitutions: Amos, Croasdale, Debrah
Plymouth Argyle lineup: Hazard, Ross, Szucs, Tolaj, Mumba, Mitchell, Boateng, McCabe (Benarous 68’- Paterson 88’), Galloway, Sorinola (Edwards 78’), Dale (Ralls 68’)
Unused substitutions: Ashby-Hammond, Wiredu, Oseni
