The Valiants progress to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round after a 1-0 win at Vale Park over Bristol Rovers.
The only goal of the game came two minutes into the second half as Ben Waine rifled an effort into the net following a clearance turned assist from Ben Heneghan.
Darren Moore made four changes to his side that dispatched Barnsley 5-0 on Tuesday, with Ben Heneghan, Funso Ojo, George Hall and Devante Cole replacing Jesse Debrah, Dajaune Brown, Rhys Walters and Mo Faal.
Vale got the game underway at Vale Park and did have the ball in the net with five minutes played. However, Ben Waine was deemed to have been in an offside position, and the goal was ruled out.
Ten minutes later, Vale had two chances to open the scoring. Firstly, Ruari Paton had a close-range shot blocked by a defender, and then Jaheim Headley cut inside onto his right foot and hit an effort over the crossbar.
With half an hour on the clock, Ben Amos was forced into a terrific close-quarters stop. A ball into the box from the left was poked towards goal by former Valiant Ellis Harrison, but there was Amos to deny him.
Vale had a brilliant chance to score on the stroke of half-time. A great pass from Paton set George Hall on his bike down the right before Hall played a ball across to Ben Waine. The New Zealand international took a touch, but fired the resulting effort over the bar.
It was a lightning-quick start for the Valiants as they took the lead two minutes after the restart. A powering header from Ben Heneghan caught the Gas defenders off guard, and Ben Waine capitalised by slamming the ball home to score his second goal in as many games.
Following a quiet twenty minutes, the Valiants almost got their second goal of the game. An in-swinging corner from Ruari Paton was glanced towards goal by George Byers, and with Ben Heneghan steaming in at the back post, the ball went agonisingly wide.
The chances were coming thick and fast for Darren Moore’s side. This time, Devante Cole beat his man for pace and got a low cross into the box, but the outstretched Ruari Paton could only find the side netting.
As stoppage time approached, the Valiants came close once more. A free-kick into the box from Ronan Curtis was met by the head of George Byers again. However, the captain's header went just over the bar.
Team News
Port Vale: Amos, Headley, Heneghan, Hall, Byers ©, Ojo, Paton (Faal 72’), Waine (Curtis 72’), John, Hall (Brown 85’), Cole
Unused Subs: Gauci, Stockley, Walters, Croasdale, Debrah, Humphreys
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Moore, Mola, Thomas (Issaka 63’), Lockyer ©, Cotterill (McEachran 63’), Harrison (Morton 78’), Conteh, Bilongo (Forde 50’), Negru (Lopata 50’), Cavegn
Unused Subs: Young, Sparkes, Howley, Dewsbury
