Injuries have stalked Vale's second team throughout the season and in the third minute of their Conference B fixture against top of the table Birkenhead Park the hoodoo struck again when lock Dan Rainford suffered a spinal injury and will miss the rest of the season, this hard working popular forward is certain to be missed in the coming weeks as the Vale battle to avoid the drop.

Vale had travelled to Birkenhead with only fifteen players and Rainford's departure put extra pressure on the team. Unfortunately events on the injury front did not improve for the Vale because with ten minutes remaining they were down to thirteen when prop Phil Jackson reluctantly was forced to leave the action.

Traffic hold ups en route delayed Vale's arrival causing the kick off to be moved to three o'clock, with the floodlights being switched on from the start. Following Rainford's departure the Vale had to reshuffle their resources with Jake Harrison moving initially from the centre into the second row.

Vale's defence was severely tested but their tackling was rock solid with Dominic Lane setting a high standard which was an inspiration to those around him. The Vale denied the home side until the twentieth minute when Park made their one player advantage proved crucial in the build up to their opening try.

Far from being disheartened the Vale took the game to Park and from a passage of driving rugby with Aaron Melville playing a pivotal role, hooker Simon Harrison was propelled over for a try converted by Melville to put the visitors into the lead.

In the final minute of the half Park scored a unconverted try, but the home side had to wait until the sixty second minute before they could breach the Vale's resolute defence when their right winger went over for his second try.

Following the loss of Jackson the scrums went uncontested for the closing ten minutes and it was during this period that Birkenhead completed the scoring with a converted try.

Not for the first time this season have the Vale been forced to dig deep and at times they faced overwhelming odds against Birkenhead but they refused to throw in the towel and kept going till the final whistle, it was by any standards an impressive performance.

Lane had an outstanding game with a man of the match performance, Melville used his vast reservoir of experience to good effect to keep his side in contention. Skipper Olly Cowey led from the front, and young Harry Bartle, on his debut, showed terrier like qualities in the number nine jersey, but it was game where the whole side walked tall.

Vale are still above the drop zone, on Saturday they take on second in the table, Sandbach 2 in what is certain to be another severe examination of the resources available.

Vale A: S Wilson; C Thomas, J Antcliffe, J Harrison, C Strachen; A Melville, H Bartle; P Jackson, S Harrison, O Cowey (Capt.); D Rainford, D Lyons; P McNeil, R Clarke, D Lane.

Man of the Match: D Lane.