The Whites suffered their first defeat in 14 games as a George Hall goal in the first-half separated the sides.
Wanderers had the first opportunity of the game on seven minutes as Sam Dalby won a free-kick high up the pitch challenging against Eli Campbell. Kyle Dempsey looked to curl a free-kick up and over the wall from 30-yards out, but the effort had too much on it as it went just over the bar.
But League One’s bottom club took the lead on 35 minutes through George Hall. The Valiants cleared a Wanderers corner away to Jaheim Headley. The full back launched a long ball forward for George Hall to run onto against Jordi Osei-Tutu. The attacker ran through on goal and struck the ball into the bottom left corner on the edge of the area to give the hosts the lead.
The game became cagey on a pitch that didn’t allow free flowing football. Xavier Simons tried his luck from range as half time drew near but the strike from around 30-yards but it flew wide of goal.
Few chances to speak of in the first half, but the hosts created the first opening in the second on 53 minutes. A good ball into the area from Funso Ojo found Ben Garrity who cut in onto his right foot but blasted the shot over Jack Bonham’s bar.
Dalby got on the end of a long ball after the hour mark and looked to shoot but was brought down on the edge of the area. Referee Tom Reeves said nothing doing.
Wanderers had nine minutes of added time to try and claw back equaliser but failed to create anything of note as the afternoon ended in defeat.
Wanderers | Bonham, Osei-Tutu (73’ Burstow), Toal (73’ Christie), Forino, Johnston, Simons (61’ McAtee), Erhahon (61’ Sheehan), Dempsey, Apter (46’ Conway), Kenny, Dalby
Substitutes | Harrington, Gale
Port Vale | Gauci, Headley (83’ Magloire), C. Hall, Gabriel, Garrity (70’ Waine), Walters, Ojo, Gordon, Sherif (78’ Shipley), Campbell, G. Hall (84’ Archer)
Substitutes | Amos, Gray, Hernandez.