Carlisle 2-1 Port Vale: Danny Grainger, Tom Parkes net for United

Port Vale were unable to break their away hoodoo as they went down 2-1 despite a late rally against Carlisle.

Danny Grainger gave Carlisle a half time lead with a penalty and Tom Parkes made it 2-0 with five minutes to go only for Luke Hannant's goal to spark a late surge by Vale whose last away win was in December 2017.

Carlisle forced a succession of early corners, but the closest they came to profiting was when Richie Bennett's header was tipped over by Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown.

The game went through a scrappy period, although Port Vale went close a couple of times through the pacy Hannant who sliced one effort wide of the left hand post, then sent a dangerous ball right across the face of the Carlisle goal with no-one on hand for the final touch.

Carlisle took the lead on the half hour when Tom Parkes was fouled in the box by Connell Rawlinson. Skipper Grainger gave Brown no chance with a firmly struck spot-kick.

Vale made a concerted bid to get back on terms after the break and substitute Cristian Montano and Ricky Miller had chances while Tom Pope was no more than inches away with a brave diving header.

Brown kept Vale in the game with a fine save from Jamie Devitt's rasping right footer then had to be fully alert to get a hand to a curling 20 yarder from Kelvin Etuhu. However there was nothing he could do about Parkes's header from Devitt's 85th minute corner as the central defender powered his effort through a crowded penalty area.

Hannant hit straight back for Vale with a 25 yard free-kick which tore into the net, but Carlisle held on for a second straight win.

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