Vale put Bulls into bottom two

Marc Richards nodded home his 15th goal of the season four minutes from time to secure Port Vale a 1-0 home win over Hereford on Tuesday.

The visitors, who slipped into the League Two relegation zone following the result, were the better side in the second half at Vale Park but Richards buried a decisive header from six yards after meeting a right-wing cross by substitute Tom Pope to earn the hosts all three points. Joe Colbeck squandered an early chance for Hereford before John McCombe fired into the side-netting for Vale during a lively opening spell. Meanwhile, the home side almost took the lead when Chris Shuker's shot was saved by David Cornell before Louis Dodds' follow-up was headed off the line by Ryan Green. Hereford showed more ambition at the start of the second period and forced several corners before a slip by Doug Loft led to Colbeck warming Stuart Tomlinson's fingers with a stinging shot. The home fans got behind Vale and should have been rewarded in the 73rd minute when Richards sliced a gilt-edged chance wide from Pope's downward header. Hereford were almost celebrating four minutes later as Sam Clucas' close-range shot from Colbeck's cross was brilliantly saved by Tomlinson. But it was Richards who had the final say to put Vale in the comfort zone despite the blow of a 10-point penalty for entering administration.