Oldham 0-1 Port Vale: Tom Pope penalty secures Vale victory

Saturday 20 October 2018 20:34, UK

Port Vale ended their run of three straight Sky Bet League Two defeats with a battling 1-0 victory at Oldham.

After being hammered 6-2 at home by Lincoln last week, the Valiants produced a staunch defensive effort and took all three points through Tom Pope's first-half goal.

Both sides created early chances, with Callum Lang firing inches off target for Oldham and home goalkeeper Daniel Iversen making a brilliant point-blank save from Nathan Smith.

Vale's breakthrough came after 37 minutes when Latics defender Peter Clarke barged Luke Hannant to the ground as the pair chased a hopeful ball over the top. From the resulting penalty, Pope sent Iversen the wrong way.

Oldham felt they should have had a spot-kick for Smith's challenge on Lang, while Dan Gardner went close to equalising just after the restart.