Port Vale moved back to within three points of League Two leaders Gillingham with a convincing 3-0 win over Oxford.

Micky Adams's men have not always fully fired at home this season but they were on course for victory once top scorer Tom Pope, who had already hit the bar, opened the scoring from close range.

Ashley Vincent added the second with a shot from the tightest of angles.

Midfielder Sam Morsy sealed victory with a superb curling 25-yarder to seal Oxford's fifth loss in six away games.

United's defeat leaves them 19th in the table, with 13 points from 12 games.

In contrast, Vale, riding high in second place, are full of confidence after a display that should have yielded further goals.

Jennison Myrie-Williams was denied what would have been a deserved goal to cap a fine individual performance when his shot slammed against the crossbar while Oxford defender John Mullins almost put through his own net, his glancing header striking the far post.

But Pope's first-half effort took his tally to 13 for the season - 12 of them in League Two, making him, along with Burnley's Charlie Austin, the joint top Football League scorer.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Port Vale top scorer Tom Pope told BBC Radio Stoke:

"Our home form hasn't been great this season, so it was nice to send the fans home with a smile on their face.

"The first 20 minutes we were a bit sluggish but, by half-time we could have got two or three and, in the second half, it was like The Alamo.

"Our fitness levels are gaining us an extra five or 10 per cent on the other sides. When we've got five or six on their game, we can destroy teams and, at the moment, it's more like 10 or 11."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Port Vale

  • 01 Neal
  • 05 McCombe
  • 14 McDonald
  • 24 Duffy (Yates - 75' )
  • 03 Taylor
  • 09 Myrie-Williams
  • 18 Morsy Booked
  • 23 Burge Booked (Shuker - 54' )
  • 08 Dodds (Williamson - 75' )
  • 10 Vincent
  • 11 Pope

Substitutes

  • 12 Johnson
  • 02 Yates
  • 17 Davis
  • 15 Shuker
  • 21 James
  • 22 Lloyd
  • 19 Williamson

Oxford Utd

  • 01 Clarke
  • 06 Wright Booked
  • 22 Worley
  • 23 O'Brien (Capaldi - 46' )
  • 25 Mullins
  • 07 Chapman
  • 08 Heslop (Potter - 54' )
  • 14 Rigg
  • 18 Forster-Caskey
  • 09 Constable
  • 29 Craddock (Whing - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 31 Crocombe
  • 16 Whing
  • 17 Capaldi
  • 19 Cox
  • 32 Lynn
  • 15 Potter
  • 28 Marsh
Ref: Stroud
Att: 4,596

Match Stats

Shots

16 10

On target

9 4

Corners

6 7

Fouls

18 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:06 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:05

Chris Shuker decides to take a short corner.

90:00 +1:14

Ben Williamson concedes a free kick for a foul on Alfie Potter. Direct free kick taken by Jake Forster-Caskey.

89:24

Strike on goal comes in from Jennison Myrie-Williams from the free kick.

89:24 Booking

Booking Jake Wright receives a yellow card.

89:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jennison Myrie-Williams by Jake Wright.

88:32

Sam Morsy concedes a free kick for a foul on James Constable. Tony Capaldi takes the direct free kick.

85:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Williamson by Jake Wright. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Chris Shuker.

84:16

James Constable concedes a free kick for a foul on John McCombe. John McCombe takes the free kick.

83:33

Jake Wright gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Pope. Direct free kick taken by Adam Yates.

82:09

Tom Pope gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tony Capaldi. Tony Capaldi restarts play with the free kick.

81:31 Substitution

Substitution Tom Craddock leaves the field to be replaced by Andrew Whing.

81:07

Jennison Myrie-Williams takes a shot.

77:26

The assistant referee flags for offside against Ashley Vincent. Free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

76:33

The assistant referee signals for offside against James Constable. Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

75:49

Outswinging corner taken by Jake Forster-Caskey, Clayton McDonald makes a clearance.

75:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by John McCombe on James Constable. Adam Chapman takes the direct free kick.

74:21 Substitution

Substitution Louis Dodds goes off and Ben Williamson comes on.

74:21 Substitution

Substitution Adam Yates replaces Richard Duffy.

73:46

Effort from close range by Ashley Vincent goes wide left of the target.

71:48

Sean Rigg has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.

69:54

Jennison Myrie-Williams takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

69:32

Outswinging corner taken by Jake Forster-Caskey, Clayton McDonald manages to make a clearance.

68:54

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Chapman from the right by-line, John McCombe manages to make a clearance.

68:18

Outswinging corner taken by Jake Forster-Caskey.

67:58

Tom Craddock fouled by John McCombe, the ref awards a free kick. Tony Capaldi restarts play with the free kick.

66:17

Corner taken by Chris Shuker from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Johnny Mullins.

65:07

Tom Craddock takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

62:20

The referee blows for offside against Tom Pope. Free kick taken by Jake Wright.

61:00

Assist by Jennison Myrie-Williams.

61:00 Goal scored

Goal - Sam Morsy - Port Vale 3 - 0 Oxford Sam Morsy grabs a goal from outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Port Vale 3-0 Oxford Utd.

60:11

Jake Wright concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Pope. Richard Duffy restarts play with the free kick.

57:14

Effort from outside the box by Alfie Potter goes wide right of the target.

56:31

Harry Worley restarts play with the free kick.

56:31 Booking

Booking Sam Morsy shown a yellow card.

56:22

Unfair challenge on Jake Forster-Caskey by Sam Morsy results in a free kick.

55:48

The referee gives a free kick against Sean Rigg for handball. Richard Duffy takes the direct free kick.

54:33

Louis Dodds takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

53:46 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Burge goes off and Chris Shuker comes on.

53:05 Substitution

Substitution Alfie Potter joins the action as a substitute, replacing Simon Heslop.

50:31

The assist for the goal came from Sam Morsy.

50:31 Goal scored

Goal - Ashley Vincent - Port Vale 2 - 0 Oxford Ashley Vincent finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Port Vale 2-0 Oxford Utd.

50:21

Centre by Robert Taylor, Harry Worley makes a clearance.

48:57

Unfair challenge on James Constable by Robert Taylor results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Jake Forster-Caskey from right wing, John McCombe makes a clearance.

48:20

John McCombe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Craddock. Tom Craddock restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Tony Capaldi comes on in place of Luke O'Brien.

45:00 +1:11 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:08

Corner taken by Ryan Burge from the right by-line to the near post, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

44:11

Tom Pope takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

41:42

Effort from the edge of the area by Jennison Myrie-Williams goes wide of the left-hand upright.

41:19

Short corner taken by Jake Forster-Caskey.

41:06

Tom Craddock takes a shot. Blocked by John McCombe.

39:36

Tom Craddock gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Duffy. Chris Neal takes the direct free kick.

38:52

Louis Dodds is ruled offside. Luke O'Brien takes the free kick.

37:43

Tom Pope challenges Harry Worley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

36:47

Tom Pope produces a header from deep inside the area and hits the post.

35:58

Simon Heslop challenges Ryan Burge unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Morsy restarts play with the free kick.

35:11

Effort on goal by Ashley Vincent from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

29:22

Louis Dodds provided the assist for the goal.

29:18

Louis Dodds takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

31:26

Jake Forster-Caskey shoots direct from the free kick.

31:26 Booking

Booking Ryan Burge goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

31:10

James Constable fouled by Ryan Burge, the ref awards a free kick.

29:22

Assist by Ryan Burge.

29:22 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Pope - Port Vale 1 - 0 Oxford Tom Pope grabs a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Port Vale 1-0 Oxford Utd.

29:18

Ryan Burge takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

28:15

Unfair challenge on Tom Pope by Jake Wright results in a free kick. John McCombe takes the direct free kick.

27:36

The ball is crossed by Simon Heslop, save by Chris Neal.

26:46

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sean Rigg by Robert Taylor. Direct free kick taken by Sean Rigg.

26:22

Sam Morsy concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Forster-Caskey. Free kick taken by Adam Chapman.

25:21

Luke O'Brien crosses the ball, brilliant save by Chris Neal.

24:37

Sam Morsy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Chapman. Adam Chapman takes the free kick.

23:11

Simon Heslop produces a cross, save by Chris Neal.

21:45

Tom Pope is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Harry Worley takes the free kick.

20:29

Corner taken by Jake Forster-Caskey from the right by-line played to the near post, John McCombe manages to make a clearance.

19:02

Effort on goal by Simon Heslop from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

18:29

The assistant referee flags for offside against John McCombe. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

17:48

Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Burge to the near post, clearance made by Jake Wright.

15:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke O'Brien by Jennison Myrie-Williams. Luke O'Brien takes the direct free kick.

14:52

James Constable has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

14:28

Tom Craddock takes a shot. Blocked by Clayton McDonald.

13:06

Jennison Myrie-Williams produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

12:41

Ryan Burge decides to take the corner short.

12:09

Foul by Jake Forster-Caskey on Louis Dodds, free kick awarded. Ryan Burge takes the free kick.

10:51

James Constable fouled by Clayton McDonald, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Chapman restarts play with the free kick.

9:18

John McCombe concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean Rigg. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Jake Forster-Caskey from left wing, clearance by John McCombe.

8:39

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ryan Burge, Tom Pope takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

8:16

Tom Pope takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

7:50

The official flags Tom Craddock offside. Clayton McDonald takes the indirect free kick.

4:50

Simon Heslop gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ashley Vincent. Free kick taken by Robert Taylor.

3:47

Jennison Myrie-Williams concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean Rigg. Ryan Clarke takes the direct free kick.

2:01

Corner taken left-footed by Jake Forster-Caskey to the near post, Johnny Mullins has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

1:44

Sean Rigg takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

0:59

Unfair challenge on Jake Forster-Caskey by Tom Pope results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Luke O'Brien.

0:00

The match begins.

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