Goals in each half from Marc Richards and Simon Richman earned Port Vale a 2-1 win at Chester.

Richards and Richman secure away win

Goals in each half from Marc Richards and Simon Richman earned Port Vale a 2-1 win at Chester. Richards opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a 50-50 challenge between Paul Linwood and Paul Edwards saw the ball break to Ross Davidson. Davidson slid a pass to the striker who had time to pick his spot and give his side the lead. Chester had chances to level matters, notably within 30 seconds of the restart when a Ryan Lowe shot from 20 yards struck the post and the rebound fell to debutant Eddie Johnson, who ballooned his attempt well over. But Vale doubled their lead when substitute Richman bundled the ball home in the 78th minute after Richards and Louis Dodds had both seen efforts cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble. Chester ensured an anxious last few minutes following a brilliant run by Paul Taylor, who waltzed past several defenders before setting up Lowe to side-foot home a consolation.