Port Vale returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon after beating MK Dons 2-0 at Vale Park as Lorent Tolaj, Jayden Stockley and Ben Garrity made an appearance on the scoresheet.
The Valiants controlled the game’s early period and took a first-half lead through Tolaj before Stockley and Garrity added second-half goals to secure a vital three points.
Ahead of the game, Vale boss Darren Moore made three changes to the side that lost midweek at Colchester as Ben Heneghan, George Byers and Stockley returned to the starting eleven in place of Nathan Smith, Ryan Croasdale and Ethan Chislett, with club captain, Ben Garrity, back in the matchday squad after recently returning to training following injury.
For the visitors, interim manager Ben Gladwin – who won his first match since taking over from Scott Lindsey last Saturday against Morecambe – was forced to alter the team that started in that victory with Callum Tripp coming in for the injured Aaron Evans Nemane.
It was Vale who started brightly as Mitch Clark threatened the away side’s defence with two crosses from the right-hand side inside the opening seven minutes. Both deliveries were met in the air by Stockley, but the striker couldn’t connect with either attempt.
Despite MK steadying the pace of the contest, the Vale found the breakthrough in the 28th minute when Tolaj through on goal and he finished low into Connal Trueman’s bottom right-hand corner.
Now in the ascendancy, the Valiants hunted for a second goal, creating two chances in the space of a minute on the half-hour mark. First, Tolaj forced a save from Trueman with a low strike from the left-hand side of the box and then Ronan Curtis flashed a teasing ball from the right across the face of the goal which no-one was able to turn home.
Just eight minutes later, Vale came close again as Clark’s long throw from the right was flicked into the path of Curtis, who nodded downwards into the hands of Trueman.
The final action of the first half came one minute before the break and was the first clear opportunity for the visitors as captain Alex Gilbey crashed his aerial attempt off the crossbar and over.
After the restart, both teams showed signs of attacking intent as Dons’ Danilo Orsi and Vale’s Tolaj saw their curling efforts collected comfortably by the respective opposition’s goalkeeper.
But it was the Valiants who carved out the better chances, and managed to double their advantage in front of the Hamil End in the 52nd minute. Stockley flicked Curtis’ near-post cross beyond the reach of Trueman to the roar of the home support behind the goal.
It continued to be all Vale and five minutes later, Connor Hall almost put the contest beyond doubt as his header towards the back post was somehow clawed away by MK’s number one.
The Valiants momentum was halted on 62 minutes due to an uncharacteristic yet lengthy stoppage as referee Mike Barlow needed to be replaced by his fourth official through injury.
With the Vale having a two-goal cushion, the visitors experienced difficulty to find any rhythm but nearly pulled a goal back fourteen minutes from time as Gilbey blazed over from close-range after connecting with Scott Hogan’s bouncing cross.
After receiving a warm reception when he entered the pitch on 82 minutes, Ben Garrity celebrated his return to action by scoring an audacious chip after being slipped through by Curtis with virtually the final kick of the game.
It secured a comfortable three points for the Valiants in the first of three consecutive home games. Next up is Morecambe next Saturday at 3pm.
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Mitch Clark, Ben Heneghan, Connor Hall, George Byers ©, Jayden Stockley (Jemiah Umolu 71’), Ronan Curtis, Lorent Tolaj (Ben Garrity 82’), Jesse Debrah, Kyle John, Rhys Walters (Ryan Croasdale 71’)
Subs not used: Nathan Broome, Jack Shorrock, Rico Richards, Antwoine Hackford
Booked: N/A
MK Dons: Connal Trueman, Alex Gilbey ©, Dan Crowley, Joe Tomlinson, Luke Offord, Danilo Orsi (Kane Thompson-Sommers 65’), Laurence Maguire, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Nico Lawrence (Scott Hogan 65’), Joe White, Callum Tripp (Tommi O’Reilly 53’)
Subs not used: Craig MacGillivray, Liam Kelly, Jack Sanders, Charlie Waller
Booked: Tommi O’Reilly, Dan Crowley
