Vale finished part one of their season on a high note with their third victory of the campaign. This might not to be a remarkable achievement but after such a disastrous start, failing to taste victory in their first eight games, they have now registered three wins from their last five games. Most certainly their recent performances have injected a fresh level of confidence as they prepare for their Conference B fixtures.

For their visit to Moorgate Avenue the Vale travelled with the squad that had been selected earlier in the week; something of a first. Scott Manning was making his first appearance since his shoulder operation and he made an instant impact when he cam on as a replacement with his direct running.

Neil Walker opened the scoring with an early penalty goal bit it took a while for the visitors to set their compass on the correct bearings. In the twentieth minute Jamie Antcliffe came roaring into the line from full back to set up a try for Tom Crookall which Neil Walker converted.

Three minutes later the Vale increased their lead when Joe Wallbank went over for an unconverted try after all the necessary groundwork had been done by his fellow forwards. With the Vale firmly in control their power and speed plus their ability to whip the ball around were important components in the build up to their third try in a move that ended with Jordan Fearns scoring an unconverted try in the twenty ninth minute.

Ten minutes later, following another passage of quality rugby, man of the match Elliot Hatton, who had an imperious game, touched down for a deserved try converted by Neil Walker.

Eight minutes into the second half reminded the Vale that the outcome was not quite settled when they poached an unconverted try. Vale quickly regained their authority with an unconverted try from Jamie Antcliffe following was could be classed as a "team try" after the ball had been passed through a multitude of hands.

Vale continued to play expansive, sensible rugby, sticking admirably to their game plan. Precision passing opened up Rochdale's defence for the hard grafting Sam V Hoare to score, his try being converted by Richard Hodgson in the sixty seventh minute.

Tom Crookall, who had roamed far and wide, was the beneficiary of a thundering run from Scott Manning, crossed for an unconverted try in the seventy fifth minute. An untidy passage of rugby ended with Rochdale's scrum half taking full advantage of the confusion to score for an unconverted try.

Vale just failed to clock up the half century after popular prop Joe Stevens scored his first ever second team try, unfortunately the conversion was missed.