The Valiants battled to a second consecutive league win after Onel Hernandez poked home a winner right before half time.
A lowkey first half saw both sides struggle to find a rhythm or create any meaningful chances to trouble either goal.
That was until a pot shot from Chesterfield’s Ryan Stirk after 24 minutes was the first time any keeper was called into action. His curled effort was tipped over the bar well from Marko Marosi.
An unchanged Vale side was defending solidly but were struggling to piece together an attack for the most part due to the visitors’ compact back line.
Just minutes before half time, Onel Hernandez found himself on the left side of the box, flicking the ball past a sleepy Chesterfield defence and poking past Ryan Boot to put Vale ahead and earn his first league goal for the club.
The beginning of the second half followed the trend of the first; chances were sparse and both teams were able to shut out the other’s attack. Jaheim Headley joined the referee’s book in the second half after Cam Humphreys and Jordan Gabriel received yellows in the first 45.
A bizarre incident saw Keyrol Figueroa’s substitution halted by the officials, seeing Vale with 10 men for a period of the game. Jon Brady was booked as a result of his frustrations with the sub.
Vale Park was riled up from that moment, injecting an intensity and pace into the game that had not been seen until that moment.
Figueroa, who was now partnered with Lynch up front, struck a low, curled effort from the edge that troubled Boot who palmed away.
Vale hung on well to secure all three points once again before two away games next week.
Port Vale: Marko Marosi, Jaheim Headley (Kyle John 73’), Jasper Moon, Connor Hall, Jordan Gabriel, Ben Garrity ©, Kyle Dempsey (Rhys Walters 78’), Onel Hernandez (Keyrol Figueroa 68’), Cam Humphreys, George Hall (George Byers 73’), Max Watters (Oli Lynch 65’).
Subs not used: Jackson Smith, Maleace Asamoah.
Chesterfield: Ryan Boot, Kyle McFadzean ©, Jack Simpson, Ryan Stirk (Kiano Dyer 79’), Lee Bonis, Louie Marsh (Liam Mandeville 79’), Lewis Gordon (Tom Pearce 79’), George McEachran, Dilan Markanday (Will Grigg 84’), Joel Randall (Josh Koroma 33’), Rameau Hutton.
Subs not used: Tom Naylor, Junior Eccleston.