The Valiants stretched their unbeaten run to five games, as the spoils were shared in a scrappy affair against Northampton at Vale Park.
The visitors were looking to make it three wins on the bounce and almost got off to the perfect start inside the opening five minutes, when John Guthrie dribbled his way into the box, but his low drive could only find the side netting.
The Cobblers had another chance in the 16th minute when Paul Lewis forced a strong save down to Thomas Holy’s right.
It was Vale’s turn to come close five minutes later, when Brad Walker whipped a cross into the box, but David Worrall couldn’t manage to get on the end of the loose ball.
Worrall was again involved in a Vale chance not long after, skipping past a defender on the right-wing before curling in a cross. Unfortunately, Ben Garrity was unable to direct his header goalward and the ball was easily gathered by Liam Roberts.
Vale’s number seven was again involved just before half-time, teeing up James Wilson on the edge of the box, but his deflected effort looped up and into the hands of Roberts.
After months on the side-line with injury, Jamie Proctor was greeted by a roar from the Valiants faithful when he made his return and first appearance since November. The striker came on in the 56th minute to replace Ryan Edmondson.
It was Northampton who had the first big chance to break the deadlock in the second half. Danny Rose found space down the right flank, running into the box and rolling it across goal, but none of the incoming Cobblers’ attacker could get on the end of it.
It was then the Valiants’ time to come close in the 68th minute, when some good work by Wilson saw him cut into the box and lay-off Ben Garrity on the edge, Vale’s number eight was unable to keep his shot on target and dragged the effort wide.
Northampton were lucky to not go down to 10 men in the 82nd minute, when Kian Harratt was clean through on the counterattack before being hauled down by Bez Lubala. The substitute only received a yellow card from referee Alan Young, despite being the last defender back for the Cobblers.
Despite some late pressure from Vale, the game ended 0-0.
Port Vale | Holy, Hall, Martin, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Walker (60’ Charsley), Pett, Hussey, Edmondson (56’ Proctor), Wilson (78’ Harratt)
Subs not used | Stone, Jones, Amoo, Cooper
Northampton | Roberts Magloire, Horsfall, Guthrie, Hoskins, Lewis, McWilliams, Koiki (83’ Mills), Pinnock, Appere (61’ Lubala), Rose (86’ Harriman)
Subs: Maxted, Pollock, Ashley-Seal, Abimbola