Dobbie on spot to end wait

A Stephen Dobbie penalty decided matters as Fleetwood ended their month-long wait for a win with a 1-0 victory against Port Vale.

It was the visitors who went closest in an attritional first half. Mark Marshall's 20-yard shot proved too hot to handle for Fleetwood goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, who almost spilled the ball over the line. Vale striker Tom Pope could have ended his eight-game goal drought when he headed narrowly over from skipper Carl Dickinson's cross after Gareth Evans had all too easily surrendered possession. Dobbie's sliced shot was the best the home side could muster, the on-loan Crystal Palace man sending the ball well over Chris Neal's goal. But just before the break the balance changed. Jordan Slew's raised arm in the face of Stephen Jordan seemed innocuous enough, but referee Kevin Johnson showed the Blackburn loanee a straight red. Far from demoralised, Vale continued to press after the break and hit the woodwork when Michael O'Connor's cross found the head of Pope. Fleetwood made a double change, David Ball and development squad player Nick Haughton thrown into the mix. And Haughton nearly made an immediate impact, teeing up Dobbie whose shot was deflected over. The forward went even closer when he was denied twice within seconds by Neal, who palmed away a header before denying Dobbie at his feet. But Fleetwood had momentum with them and with 10 minutes remaning Ball was brought down under a heavy challenge from Ryan McGivern. Dobbie converted from the spot, a no-nonsense effort ending the home side's winless run.