Port Vale failed to return to the top of League Two after being comfortably beaten by Fleetwood.

After Gillingham regained top spot with a 1-0 win at Southend in an early kick-off, Vale fell behind when David Ball turned in Junior Brown's free-kick.

And on their first ever trip to Vale Park, the Cod Army made it 2-0 through Alan Goodall's close-range header.

Vale's Jennison Myrie-Williams was then felled by Dean Howell in the box but saw his penalty saved by Scott Davies.

The hosts looked bereft of any confidence and ideas, with both Louis Dodds and Myrie-Williams spurning other good opportunities.

Defeat for Vale means they now lie two points behind the Gills, while Fleetwood are now just three points off the League Two automatic promotion places in sixth after a run of five matches unbeaten.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Fleetwood manager Graham Alexander told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It's a very pleasing feeling. We did exceptionally well against a very good team. To keep a clean sheet and score two goals - I couldn't ask for more.

"You've got to give Port Vale respect - they're top of the league for a reason.

"Some of the football we played was exceptional and the boys at the back had to do their jobs as well because Vale put us under pressure as well."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Port Vale

  • 01 Neal
  • 02 Yates
  • 05 McCombe (McDonald - 17' Booked )
  • 24 Duffy Booked (Taylor - 57' )
  • 25 Chilvers
  • 09 Myrie-Williams
  • 18 Morsy
  • 23 Burge
  • 08 Dodds
  • 11 Pope
  • 16 Andrew (Vincent - 57' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Johnson
  • 14 McDonald
  • 03 Taylor
  • 15 Shuker
  • 21 James
  • 10 Vincent
  • 19 Williamson

Fleetwood Town

  • 01 Davies
  • 02 Beeley
  • 03 Howell Booked
  • 12 Brown
  • 13 Goodall Booked
  • 25 Atkinson
  • 18 McGuire
  • 20 Johnson
  • 27 Marrow
  • 17 Titchiner (Gillespie - 83' )
  • 26 Ball

Substitutes

  • 16 Maxwell
  • 05 McNulty
  • 15 McLaughlin
  • 04 Barry
  • 08 Milligan
  • 21 Jamie Allen
  • 19 Gillespie
Ref: Tierney
Att: 6,082

Match Stats

Shots

7 7

On target

2 2

Corners

4 6

Fouls

11 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:53 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +0:55

Dean Howell fouled by Liam Chilvers, the ref awards a free kick. Dean Howell takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:24

Ryan Burge takes a shot. Save by Scott Davies.

82:24 Substitution

Substitution Alex Titchiner goes off and Steven Gillespie comes on.

81:37

Adam Yates gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Howell. David Ball takes the indirect free kick.

74:57

Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

74:57 Booking

Booking Alan Goodall shown a yellow card.

74:43

Unfair challenge on Sam Morsy by Alan Goodall results in a free kick.

73:45

Foul by Robert Taylor on Shaun Beeley, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Junior Brown.

71:31

The referee blows for offside against Alex Titchiner. Direct free kick taken by Chris Neal.

70:40

Junior Brown takes a corner.

70:16

Corner taken by Junior Brown, clearance by Robert Taylor.

68:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Goodall by Tom Pope. Alan Goodall takes the free kick.

67:16 Penalty

Penalty taken by Jennison Myrie-Williams saved by Scott Davies. Port Vale 0-2 Fleetwood Town.

66:15

Foul by Dean Howell on Jennison Myrie-Williams, Penalty awarded.

64:21

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

62:05 Booking

Booking Dean Howell is shown a yellow card.

58:17

Rob Atkinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Pope. Clayton McDonald takes the indirect free kick.

56:22 Substitution

Substitution Robert Taylor joins the action as a substitute, replacing Richard Duffy.

56:22 Substitution

Substitution (Port Vale) makes a substitution, with Ashley Vincent coming on for Calvin Andrew.

52:51

Strike by Louis Dodds from inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

51:55

Shot from inside the area by Junior Brown clears the bar.

47:59

Rob Atkinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Pope. Ryan Burge takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +2:01 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +0:10

Ryan Burge takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Scott Davies makes a save.

42:59

Tom Pope has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

40:46

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Damien Johnson played to the near post, clearance made by Adam Yates.

39:37

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ryan Burge, Alan Goodall makes a clearance.

38:57

Assist on the goal came from Damien Johnson.

38:57 Goal scored

Goal - Alan Goodall - Port Vale 0 - 2 Fleetwood Alan Goodall scores a headed goal from close range. Port Vale 0-2 Fleetwood Town.

37:53

The ball is swung over by Damien Johnson,

37:53 Booking

Booking Booking for Clayton McDonald for unsporting behaviour.

37:40

Foul by Clayton McDonald on Alex Titchiner, free kick awarded.

35:03

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Junior Brown from the right by-line to the near post, Shot from deep inside the area by Damien Johnson clears the bar.

33:35

Louis Dodds concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Beeley. Free kick taken by Scott Davies.

32:14

Alex Marrow challenges Ryan Burge unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Morsy takes the indirect free kick.

31:41

Junior Brown has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

30:44

Clayton McDonald challenges Alex Titchiner unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Davies takes the indirect free kick.

29:11

Effort on goal by Alex Titchiner from just inside the area clears the bar.

28:06

Inswinging corner taken by Junior Brown from the left by-line, save by Chris Neal.

25:55

Assist by Rob Atkinson.

25:55 Goal scored

Goal - David Ball - Port Vale 0 - 1 Fleetwood David Ball finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Port Vale 0-1 Fleetwood Town.

25:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alex Titchiner by Clayton McDonald. Junior Brown restarts play with the free kick.

24:12

The ball is delivered by Sam Morsy.

21:43

Effort from deep inside the area by Jennison Myrie-Williams misses to the left of the goal.

19:52

Clayton McDonald challenges Alex Titchiner unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dean Howell restarts play with the free kick.

18:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Pope by Alex Marrow. Sam Morsy restarts play with the free kick.

16:32 Substitution

Substitution John McCombe leaves the field to be replaced by Clayton McDonald.

13:30

The assistant referee signals for offside against David Ball. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

12:27

The ball is delivered by Adam Yates, save made by Scott Davies.

8:28

The offside flag is raised against David Ball. Chris Neal takes the indirect free kick.

7:33

Inswinging corner taken by Junior Brown from the right by-line, John McCombe manages to make a clearance.

7:03

David Ball takes a shot. Save made by Chris Neal.

6:02 Booking

Booking Richard Duffy goes into the referee's book.

5:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Ball by Richard Duffy. Dean Howell restarts play with the free kick.

5:04

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Burge, clearance by Alan Goodall.

4:40

Inswinging corner taken by Sam Morsy from the left by-line.

4:20

Effort from close in by Tom Pope goes wide left of the target.

3:41

Foul by Sam Morsy on Alex Marrow, free kick awarded. Alex Marrow takes the free kick.

3:14

Tom Pope takes a shot. Scott Davies makes a save.

1:32

Alex Titchiner is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Chris Neal takes the free kick.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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