Port Vale vs Crewe Alexandra. Sky Bet League Two.
Vale ParkAttendance6,823.
Saturday 6 April 2019 20:05, UK
Substitute Tom Pope earned Port Vale a second straight League Two victory as they beat Crewe 1-0 in a fiery local derby at Vale Park.
Pope struck in the 78th minute to move Vale 10 points clear of the relegation zone with five games to play.
Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garratt twice came to his side's rescue in the first half, making smart saves to thwart a Tom Conlon drive and Antony Kay's header from David Worrall's corner.
David Artell's side later went close themselves after Chris Porter flicked on a free-kick for forward Jordan Bowery, who saw his close-range effort blocked on the line by defender Nathan Smith.
After the break, Vale forward Cristian Montano found space and bent a strike from the edge of the box, but Garratt flew to his right to tip the ball away for a corner.
John Askey's hosts clinched the winner after Montano's drilled pass in to the area from the left found forward Pope, who swivelled on the turn to thump left-footed into Garratt's top left-corner.
