Joe Powell’s second-half strike is enough to separate the sides as Salford City take all three points at the AIG Stadium.
Jon Brady makes six changes following our midweek defeat at Swindon Town. Ben Garrity returned to the starting eleven alongside Malaece Asamoah following his deadline day arrival on loan from Wigan Athletic.
After a slow start, the game's first opening fell to the Valiants. Jaheim Headley played the ball down the line for Ben Garrity, who sent in a cross that narrowly evaded both Oli Lynch and Jordan Gabriel before the hosts could clear.
In the 23rd minute, Salford had their first effort when the dangerous Luke Molyneux cut inside onto his favoured left foot before striking an effort straight at Jackson Smith.
Two minutes later Vale struck the woodwork when Kyle Dempsey’s cross was met at the back post by Connor Hall, who headed towards the far post, but his effort crashed off the crossbar. George Hall was quickest to the rebound and was bundled over in the box, but the referee gave a foul against him.
On the half-hour mark, Vale came close again when George Hall did well to get to work space for a cross that was met by a venomous first-time strike by Jordan Gabriel that was palmed away to safety by Will Norris in the Salford goal.
Norris was forced into action again five minutes later when Oli Lynch was allowed space to drive forward before striking a low effort towards the bottom corner where Norris made the save. George Hall looked to get onto the rebound, but he was offside.
After good work from George Hall to win a free-kick high up the pitch, Kyle Dempsey’s delivery was cleared as far as Ben Garrity, who mistimed his first effort, before retaining possession and striking an effort that was blocked well by a Salford defender.
In the second half, Vale continued to push for an opener and came inches away within two minutes of the restart. On debut, Malaece Asamoah looked bright and when he cut inside onto his right foot and struck a low effort towards goal, Will Norris looked troubled, but the effort flashed the wrong side of the upright.
The hosts' first shot on goal came in the 50th minute. After good play down the right, the ball was played inside to Joe Powell, who saw his long-range effort palmed away by Jackson Smith.
In the 53rd minute, the hosts took the lead when Joe Powell’s low strike from twenty-five yards out found its way into the back of the net.
After taking the lead, the hosts came close to a second when they caught Vale on the counter and broke with pace. Kelly Nmai cut inside onto his right foot before his deflected effort crashed off the crossbar before it was cleared by Headley.
Twenty minutes from time, George Hall won the ball back on halfway and started a Vale counter-attack. As he broke forward, he spotted the run of Oli Lynch, who struck an effort wide from the right side of the area
Vale pressed but never really looked like getting a goal back and despite five minutes of added time, they were unable to create a chance of note and were condemned to defeat at the AIG Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Salford City: Will Norris, Will Aimson, Joe Powel (Jorge Grant 80’), Macauley Langstaff (Nathan Asiimwe 70”), Abraham Odoh (Kelly Nmai 60’), Elliot Bonds, Ryan Graydon (Brendan Wiredu 60’), Kallum Cesay, Ade Oluwu (C), Taylor Allen, Luke Molenyeux (Dan Udoh 70’)
Subs not used: Sam Long, Dan Scarr.
Port Vale: Jackson Smith, Kyle John (Keyrol Figueroa 68’), Jaheim Headley (Liam Gordon 79’), Connor Hall, Jordan Gabriel, Ben Garrity (C), Kyle Dempsey, Oli Lynch (Ben Waine 79’), Lewis Montsma, Malaece Asamoah (Onel Hernandez 53’), George Hall.
Subs not used: Marko Marosi, Cam Humphreys, Rhys Walters