Elissa Dockerty, Liv Grocott and Macy Isherwood all found the net as the Valiants began their campaign in emphatic style.

New signing Elissa Dockerty started her Vale career in scoring fashion after 13 minutes of play, when strike partner Liv Grocott played her through one-on-one with the Leek Town goalkeeper where she slotted home. 

Ten minutes later Grocott would open her account for the afternoon, latching onto Amelia Whitehouse’s through ball and dispatching the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

The Valiants also displayed control and discipline as they managed to keep a clean sheet, with goalkeeper Connie Watts rarely being called into action.

Captain Naomi Sale-Hancock led from the back and almost had her name on the scoresheet in the first half after a short corner to Sophie Garratt was crossed into the box which found the defender but her header went just wide of the post. 

Substitute Macy Isherwood then joined the party, in the 63rd minute, as she poked the ball home from Lucy Moss’ low-driven cross from the right-hand side. 

Isherwood got her brace five minutes later after a miss-kicked clearance from the Leek Town goalkeeper fell to her where she managed to squeeze the ball past the keeper and defenders tracking back into the goal.

Another opportunity that went begging was in the second half when Paige Taylor found the ball at her feet just outside the centre of the opposition box and her shot shortly afterwards cannoned off the post.

The pressure was eased due to Vale’s back three and midfield pairing who showed composure on the ball as they looked to play out from the back and build up attacks through their wingbacks.

Grocott then got a brace of her own in the 90th minute after intricate pass and move play with Isherwood saw her on the edge of the box where she fired her effort into the far right-hand corner, sealing all three points for the Valiants on the opening day.