Ellis Harrison’s first goal for the club wasn’t enough to prevent Darrell Clarke’s Valiants falling to defeat on the road to MK Dons in Sky Bet League One.
A pair of long-range efforts in both halves from MK Dons’ summer signing Johnson did the damage for the hosts in a game that saw a return to action for Chris Hussey at left wing-back.
The hosts took the lead against the run of play after 33 minutes, through Bradley Johnson, after Matthew Smith calmly laid it off to the Dons midfielder to guide it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Johnson grabbed his second of the match with just five minutes left on the clock, smashing a free kick low into the bottom right-hand corner from just outside the area, a goal that just proved much for Vale to turn around.
Harrison grabbed one back in additional time for the visitors, flicking home from a free kick at close range to give the away support some hope, but sadly it wasn't enough.
After a slow first 20 minutes, the game kicked into gear, and it was Vale who knocked on the door when Sammy Robinson showed his skill set twisting and turning in the box before his shot was deflected wide.
Moments later the Valiants put pressure on the host's goal once again, this time it was some neat work on the right from Rory Holden to slide through Hussey, but his effort under pressure didn’t manage to stay on target.
After the home side’s opener Hussey once again found himself in a shooting position for Vale after the ball evaded several bodies to fall at his feet, however, his effort was well blocked.
Vale cranked up the pressure in the second half and somehow didn’t take the lead in the 56th minute, having one cleared off the line after the ball bounced off of Harrison from close range.
Only seconds after the goal line clearance, Holden tried his luck to test Jamie Cumming, but the Dons keeper was equal to it.
Robinson’s time to come close came in the 62nd minute when a well-delivered Hussey free kick found the wing-back, but somehow, he wasn’t able to direct the ball home from close range.
Our number 16 found himself involved once again, after some good work on the right Robinson switched the ball to Hussey who set himself, but his half volley just flashed wide.
With just under 15 minutes remaining, Jack Stevens who wasn’t forced into action much in the 90 minutes, was called upon to produce a fine save from a long-range Dan Kemp shot.
After the late goal for Vale, they continued to push for an equaliser, but sadly for the Valiants they just fell short in Buckinghamshire and will be hoping to put it right at Burton Albion on Saturday.
MK Dons | Cumming, Lawrence, O'Hora, Tucker, Lewington, Johnson, Robson, Barry (45’ Oyegoke), Smith (72’ Grant), Kemp (87’ Devoy), Dennis
Unused Subs | Burns, Ravizzoli, Ilunga, Jules
Port Vale | Stevens, Forrester (81’ Charsley), Smith, Hall, Robinson (82’ Jones), Ojo (81’ Walker), Conlon, Hussey (68’ Small), Garrity, Harrison, Holden (63’ Proctor)
Unused Subs | Stone, Pett