Stockport County move to the top of League One

Port Vale 0 - 3 Stockport County

Stockport County moved to the top of League One after a fourth straight victory, easing to a win away at Port Vale.

Author | Alan White

Stadium | Vale Park

Nathan Lowe, Kyle Wootton and Jack Diamond all struck within a devastating 16-minute spell in the first half, lifting County from fourth to the summit and establishing a two-point cushion at the top. For Vale, the result adds to their concerns. They now sit in the relegation zone, two points from safety.

A closer look at a sensational first-half performance

The opener arrived after 13 minutes when Stoke loan forward Lowe headed in Tyler Onyango's cross, his second goal in as many outings. Wootton soon followed, guiding a precise shot from the edge of the area to register his sixth league goal of the campaign.

Challinor’s side tightened their grip moments later as Diamond shrugged off Jesse Debrah in the box and finished confidently beyond Joe Gauci.

The home supporters had little to cheer, though Ruari Paton came close with a free-kick that clipped the crossbar just before the interval.

A quieter second-half

Ten seconds into the second half, and right in front of more than 2,200 travelling supporters, Lowe almost extended County’s advantage with a powerful header that Gauci pushed on to the post. From the corner that followed, Onyango climbed highest only to see his effort blocked by Vale captain Ben Garrity.

Twelve minutes later, a familiar short-corner routine between Odin Bailey and Ollie Norwood on the right, the same move that produced the decisive goal against Exeter, threatened to deliver once more. Pye met Norwood’s cross with a firm header, but it flashed narrowly wide of the far post.

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County’s substitutes, introduced shortly before the hour, quickly made an impact. Andrésson directed a header at goal from the left side of the area, comfortably gathered by Gauci, before Callum Camps unleashed a fierce first-time drive that deflected over the bar.

With three minutes of added time signalled, Wootton dragged a shot wide of the right post. In the final moments, Andrésson was again denied by Gauci after a swift County break. By then, the points were already assured.