Marc Richards' last minute penalty gave Port Vale victory over Gillingham.

The visitors took the lead at the end of the first half with Chris Whelpdale heading in Gavin Tomlin's cross from the right.

Vale pushed for an equaliser after the break and drew level with nine minutes remaining when Doug Loft crossed for Sean Rigg to nod in.

Richards secured victory from the penalty spot after he had been bundled over in the area by Whelpdale.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Port Vale manager Micky Adams told BBC Radio Stoke:

"We were poor for 55 to 60 minutes. I thought we looked tired and had no enthusiasm for the game.

"We made a few changes, we changed our shape a little bit and it worked for us.

"I don't think it's any reflection on the lads we took off because they've been playing well in the run we've had.

"I just felt we needed to freshen it up, we needed a little bit of enthusiasm out there and Paul Marshall and Chris Shuker gave us that."

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent:

"As for the performance, absolutely outstanding. If they show that desire, commitment and way to play football from now til the end of the season, they're going to be OK.

"We've been asking ourselves whether they [youngsters Jack Evans and Connor Essam] are ready, after that I thought they are, along with everyone else.

"Most managers will tell you go into it and one day you get the sack. A lot of top managers in the world have been sacked, but I'm not looking at that, I'm looking at the next game.

"I got a text from the chairman, he's behind us, and he will be as long as we show that desire and effort."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

Port Vale

  • 12 Tomlinson
  • 05 McCombe
  • 25 McDonald (Owen - 59' )
  • 03 Taylor
  • 04 Griffith Booked
  • 07 Loft Booked
  • 17 Rigg
  • 18 Morsy (Marshall - 59' )
  • 08 Dodds
  • 09 Richards
  • 19 Williamson (Shuker - 59' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Martin
  • 06 Owen
  • 14 Marshall
  • 20 Shuker
  • 21 James

Gillingham

  • 28 Gazzaniga
  • 05 King
  • 18 Jackman
  • 22 Essam
  • 24 Evans
  • 07 Whelpdale
  • 08 Payne
  • 10 Weston
  • 09 Kedwell
  • 33 Kuffour (Martin - 77' )
  • 39 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 06 Richards
  • 12 Martin
  • 19 Montrose
  • 37 O Lee
  • 31 Miller
Ref: Drysdale
Att: 4,027

Match Stats

Shots

8 8

On target

5 6

Corners

8 3

Fouls

10 7

Live Text Commentary

80:56

Assist by Doug Loft.

80:56 Goal scored

Goal - Sean Rigg - Port Vale 1 - 1 Gillingham Sean Rigg finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Port Vale 1-1 Gillingham.

80:42

Doug Loft delivers the ball,

90:00 +5:50 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +4:17

Free kick taken by Danny Jackman.

90:00 +4:17 Booking

Booking The referee shows Doug Loft a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +4:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Doug Loft on Connor Essam.

90:00 +2:41

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

89:34 Goal scored

Goal - Marc Richards - Port Vale 2 - 1 Gillingham Marc Richards scores a power penalty. Port Vale 2-1 Gillingham.

88:26

Unfair challenge on Marc Richards by Jack Evans results in a Penalty.

86:47

Chris Shuker fouled by Jack Payne, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Paul Marshall, comfortable save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

84:44

Corner taken by Danny Jackman.

84:29

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Stuart Tomlinson makes a save.

80:56

Assist on the goal came from Doug Loft.

80:56 Goal scored

Goal - Louis Dodds - Port Vale 1 - 1 Gillingham Louis Dodds finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Port Vale 1-1 Gillingham.

80:42

The ball is crossed by Doug Loft,

79:04

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gavin Tomlin by Gareth Owen. Direct free kick taken by Gavin Tomlin.

77:44

Chris Shuker takes a corner.

76:19 Substitution

Substitution (Gillingham) makes a substitution, with Joe Martin coming on for Jo Kuffour.

74:00 +1:43

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Danny Jackman.

73:26

Danny Jackman fouled by Doug Loft, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Jackman restarts play with the free kick.

72:35

Shot from 20 yards from Danny Kedwell. Stuart Tomlinson makes a fantastic save.

70:51

Shot by Marc Richards from just outside the area goes over the net.

70:09

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Shuker.

69:48

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Shuker, save made by Paulo Gazzaniga.

69:34

Sean Rigg takes a shot. Danny Jackman gets a block in.

68:34

Doug Loft has a drilled shot. Paulo Gazzaniga makes a brilliant save.

67:54

Effort from 20 yards by Danny Kedwell. Save made by Stuart Tomlinson.

66:11

Marc Richards is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

64:32

Paul Marshall takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Simon King.

63:40

Foul by Danny Jackman on Chris Shuker, free kick awarded. Strike comes in from Paul Marshall from the free kick, save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

58:51 Substitution

Substitution Ben Williamson goes off and Chris Shuker comes on.

58:39 Substitution

Substitution Clayton McDonald leaves the field to be replaced by Gareth Owen.

58:13 Substitution

Substitution Paul Marshall is brought on as a substitute for Sam Morsy.

56:39

Simon King challenges Marc Richards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Morsy takes the direct free kick.

52:49

Corner taken by Sam Morsy, save made by Paulo Gazzaniga.

52:33

Shot from 20 yards from Doug Loft. Brilliant save by Paulo Gazzaniga.

51:15

Inswinging corner taken by Sam Morsy from the left by-line, Paulo Gazzaniga makes a brilliant save.

46:27

Jack Payne concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Griffith. Free kick taken by John McCombe.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:37 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:53

A cross is delivered by Gavin Tomlin,

45:00 +1:33

The assist for the goal came from Gavin Tomlin.

45:00 +1:33 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Whelpdale - Port Vale 0 - 1 Gillingham Chris Whelpdale scores a headed goal from close in. Port Vale 0-1 Gillingham.

45:00 +0:31

Inswinging corner taken by Danny Jackman, John McCombe makes a clearance.

44:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon King on Ben Williamson. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Doug Loft from right wing, Simon King makes a clearance.

43:12

Gavin Tomlin fouled by Sam Morsy, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Danny Jackman from right channel, clearance by Marc Richards.

39:03

Gavin Tomlin has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

38:25

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Doug Loft from the right by-line to the near post, Paulo Gazzaniga makes a comfortable save.

34:26

Direct free kick taken by Chris Whelpdale.

34:26 Booking

Booking Anthony Griffith is cautioned.

34:16

Foul by Anthony Griffith on Chris Whelpdale, free kick awarded.

33:05

The referee gives a free kick against Marc Richards for handball. Paulo Gazzaniga restarts play with the free kick.

32:43

Chris Whelpdale takes a shot from 25 yards. Save by Stuart Tomlinson.

31:37

Foul by Sam Morsy on Gavin Tomlin, free kick awarded. Jo Kuffour takes the direct free kick.

29:27

Unfair challenge on Simon King by Marc Richards results in a free kick. Paulo Gazzaniga takes the direct free kick.

27:32

Foul by Clayton McDonald on Jo Kuffour, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Jo Kuffour from left channel, save by Stuart Tomlinson.

27:04

Shot from 25 yards by Connor Essam. Save made by Stuart Tomlinson.

24:43

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sam Morsy from the left by-line, clearance by Simon King. Unfair challenge on Gavin Tomlin by Louis Dodds results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paulo Gazzaniga.

22:55

The ball is crossed by Robert Taylor, Marc Richards concedes a free kick for a foul on Simon King. Paulo Gazzaniga restarts play with the free kick.

19:28

Effort from inside the area by Louis Dodds misses to the left of the target.

14:07

Effort from inside the area by Chris Whelpdale misses to the right of the goal.

11:14

Jack Payne concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean Rigg. Marc Richards restarts play with the free kick.

10:22

Shot from just outside the box by Doug Loft goes over the target.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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