Jayden Clarke’s second half goal ends Vale’s ten-match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two.
The first shot of the game finally came in the 40th minute when Jacob Wakeling chanced his arm from thirty yards, but it was blocked by Connor Hall. Before that, both sides had worked openings but neither really broke the lines of defence.
Prior to this, a low cross flashed across the face of goal, but Armani Little couldn’t stretch far enough to get a toe to the ball in the 9th minute.
Three minutes later, Vale came forward for the first time in the game as Ronan Curtis found Jayden Stockley but as he got to the byline his cross came to nothing.
A minute before the break, Vale had strong shouts for a penalty when Ronan Curtis latched into a slip at the back and was brought down by the keeper, but the referee waved play on and thought the keeper got the slightest of touches on the ball.
Thankfully, the second half began at a frantic pace. The hosts won a free-kick 25 yards out. Max Clark stepped up and whipped his freekick over the wall but couldn’t quite get it down quick enough as it rippled the top of the net.
In the 54th minute, Vale had their first shot of the game when Connor Grant picked up the ball on the left side and arrowed an effort towards the far post, but it was blocked well by a Gills defender.
Four minutes later, Vale should have gone ahead. Ronan Curtis’ flick set Ryan Croasdale on his way down the right. The midfielder sent in a low cross towards an unmarked Jayden Stockley who put his effort wide from six yards out.
The first goal of the game came in the 79th minute when second-half sub Jayden Clarke headed home a cross from the right to put his side into a deserved lead.
Vale almost replied immediately when a cross from the right wasn’t cleared and it fell kindly to Jack Sharrock who tried to acrobatic effort, but it was wide of the goal. The better option was probably to leave it for Croasdale who had a better angle to shoot from.
TEAM NEWS
Gillingham: Jake Turner, Remeao Hutton, Max Ehmer, Connor Masterson, Shadrach Ogie, Max Clark, Timothee Dieng (Josh Andrews 74’), Armani Little (Ethan Coleman 28’), Euan Williams (Jonny Williams 69’), Jacob Wakeling (Jack Nolan 74’), Marcus Wyllie (Jayden Clarke 69’)
Subs not used: Glenn Morris, Joseph Gbode.
Port Vale: Connor Ripley, Jesse Debrah (Ruari Paton 84’), Connor Hall, Ben Heneghan, Brandon Cover, Ryan Croasdale, Tom Sang, Conor Grant (Lorent Tolaj 84’), Rico Richards (Ethan Chislett 45’), Jayden Stockley (Antwoine Hackford 68’), Ronan Curtis (Jack Shorrock 68’).
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Jason Lowe.
