A first half turnaround from Ian Evatt's Bolton Wanderers saw the Greater Manchester side collect all three points against the Valiants at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday Afternoon.
Goals from Victor Adeboyejo, and Josh Sheehan, just nine minutes apart, cancelled out Ellis Harrison’s ninth goal of the season, despite a strong display from Darrell Clarke’s side.
After a bright start, the Valiants took a deserved early lead when Harrison got on the end of Ben Garrity’s low cross to prod home from close range.
10 minutes later, Bolton were level through Adeboyejo, after he latched onto the end of a well-constructed corner routine to head the ball past Aidan Stone.
The Whites' first-half comeback was complete in the 27th minute when Sheehan curled an effort from the edge of the box into the left-hand corner of the net.
Harrison returned to the starting line-up for the first time since New Year’s Day as one of two changes from Tuesday’s match with Morecambe.
Vale hit the woodwork within three minutes when Ben Garrity’s header from a corner clipped the top of the crossbar.
Moments before the opening goal, Harrison was denied by James Trafford from inside the area, after he was sent through on goal by strike partner Matty Taylor.
The young goalkeeper then prevented Vale from finding an equaliser just before the break with a fabulous save to deny Garrity’s powerful strike from just inside the box.
Chances were hard to come by in the second period, but one did fall to Matty Taylor 12 minutes from time, however, Trafford was there once again to turn his effort around the post.
From the resulting corner substitute, Jamie Proctor couldn’t keep his header on target after he found himself free in the area.
Five minutes later, our number 13 unleashed a piledriver from outside the area, but unfortunately, the strike flashed inches over the bar.
Deep into injury time, Trafford produced yet another stop to deny Vale an equaliser, tipping a deflected Taylor effort over the bar.
Bolton Wanderers | Trafford, Santos, Sheehan (69’ Lee), Morley, Shoretire (46’ Charles), Toal, Bradley, Dempsey (90+2’ Kachunga), Williams, Mbete (46’ Jones), Adeboyejo (63’ Nlundulu)
Unused Subs | John, Isgrove
Port Vale | Stone, Donnelly, Smith, Worrall (73’ Politic), Garrity, Ojo, Forrester, Massey (28’ Benning), Taylor, Harrison (63’ Proctor), Pett (73’ Butterworth)
Unused Subs | Stevens, Conlon, Agyakwa
Attendance | 19,857 (1,879 Valiants)