Harry Charsley's second half strike hands us our first ever win in Salford

The Valiants came into the game looking for a third straight win and we started the game brightly. A quick counter-attack started by Jamie Proctor who headed the ball to David Worrall on the right. He sprinted down field before switching the play over to Mal Benning who crossed the ball to the back post for James Wilson but his volley went over the bar.

The Ammies were in fine form having won their last four but it was Vale who were pushing for the opener. Shortly after his first chance, Wilson was in again and fired a shot from a tight angle at the keeper who parried the ball onto the post. The rebound fell to Harry Charsley but his effort was saved by Tom King before it was cleared away.

The hosts hads not threatened up until the tenth minute where Ryan Watson fancied his chances from distance. From around 25-yards the midfielder let fly but his strike went way over Aidan Stone’s post. On 26 minutes Salford had another opportunity, this time Ash Hunter tried his look from inside the area but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Five minutes later Brad Walker came close to giving us the lead in emphatic style on the half volley. King in goal was beaten but the ball just dropped wide of the goal before the tempo of the game slowed for the rest of the first period.

The Valiants remained the dominant side at the start of the second half. On 56 minutes Worrall did extremely well on the right-hand side beating his man and putting in a ball to the back post but Proctor’s header just went wide.

Three minutes later we took a deserved lead through Charsley, his first for the club. A ball in following a throw-in found Nathan Smith in the area who headed it to Ben Garrity who had an attempt at goal which was blocked as far as Charsley who struck the ball into the top left corner.

The hosts responded and came close to an equaliser through Matt Smith on 84 minutes. A late corner was swung in and Matt Smith rose highest to head the ball towards goal but he was denied by the fingertips of Stone.

Salford huffed and puffed through the six minutes of stoppage time but could not mount any real chances as Vale hung on for all three points.

Salford City | King, Love, Lowe, Ndaba (78’ Touray), Watson (84’ Henderson), Lund, Hunter (77’ Bolton), Turnbull, M. Smith, Thomas-Asante, VassellunteerHHdsgsrgefasgvdbfdgnbfredwfedvsbfv

Subs not used | Torrance, Burgess, Kelly, Shepard

Port Vale | Stone, Walker, Hall, N. Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Wilson (80’ Amoo), Benning, Proctor, Martin, Charsley

Subs not used | Holy, Jones, Taylor, Robinson, Harratt, Edmondson