Captain Smith to the rescue as Port Vale’s winless run comes to an end with a home triumph over Scunthorpe United

Credit: Harvey Todd

A solitary second half goal from Nathan Smith was enough to earn Darrell Clarke’s side three points in challenging and blustery conditions.

The win leaves Port Vale just three points outside the League Two play-off places with a game in hand on seventh-placed Swindon Town.

Smith captained the Vale in Tom Conlon’s absence through an Achilles injury and was awarded the official Man of the Match by the fixture sponsors.

His goal came from a pinpoint Chris Hussey corner, in which he snuck in at the back stick to direct the ball home in the 71st minute to break the Valiants’ winless run which has stretched since December 7th.

Vale should have come away with more goals as Kian Harratt headed over shortly before Smith’s goal, as well as Ben Garrity hitting the post which led to a chaotic goalmouth scramble in the first period.

James Wilson also had chances to hit the target but the handful of his efforts that were on goal were collected by Rory Watson’s gloves.

The attacking wing-backs play a crucial part in the Valiants’ threatening attacking unit, Hussey bombed up and down the left side to create openings and deservedly came away with an assist.

Second half substitutes Joel Cooper and Harry Charsley came on for their Vale debuts and impressed with their forward-thinking creativity and will hope their cameos put them in contention for a start on Tuesday against Forest Green Rovers.

Tomas Holy, who joined the Valiants on loan from Ipswich Town on Thursday, made his first start in goal and kept a clean sheet.

The giant shot-stopper claimed a series of Scunthorpe crosses as well as successfully everting pressure through powerful punches.

The 30-year-old was ecstatic post-match and said how delighted he was with Saturday’s victory.

“I could not have wished for anything else! Three points, a clean sheet, the boys were outstanding!

“It was incredible [to run out at Vale Park], I do not know how many people were here but it was a great atmosphere and I enjoyed it.

“It has been incredible since I joined, I have had a phone full of messages wishing me well and welcoming me and I am very grateful for it!

“I just hope I will be useful for this club and I will do my best that is all I will promise.”

Meanwhile, Vale manager Clarke said he was not satisfied with his side’s performance but the three points are all that matter.

“Three points in the bag, the performance wasn’t great, but we dug in. I thought we deserved to win the game with a clean sheet so I’m pleased with the three points.

“You have got to win games, that is the nature of the beast, the last eight to 10 weeks have been really testing with the long-term injuries, the changes we have been forced into and what we have had to do.

“So hopefully the clean sheet last week and the clean sheet this week is putting us in the right direction.”

Scunthorpe now sit bottom of League Two, seven points from safety with their relegation rivals all having at least one game in hand.

The league table makes bleak reading for Keith Hill and his men as they hope to kick start a great escape starting with the six-pointer against Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

For Vale, they now set sights on a tough test on Tuesday night as they welcome league leaders Forest Green to Burslem.

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