Onel Hernández struck the vital goal in Port Vale’s 1-0 win at home to Chesterfield. The forward pounced on a defensive error just before half-time to secure a third consecutive victory for the Valiants, moving them up to 21st in the League Two standings with 11 points from nine games. This recent form of three straight wins, including victories over Grimsby and Mansfield, has been built on a solid defence, with the team now having kept three consecutive clean sheets and conceding only nine goals in the league this season. They have scored five goals this season, giving them a goal difference of minus four. The win leaves them 11 points behind league leaders Salford City. They face a trip to Gillingham next on Saturday 17 October, a team currently sitting 6th in the table.
Hernández capitalised on a mix-up between Chesterfield goalkeeper Ryan Boot and defender Jack Simpson in the 45th minute, slotting the loose ball into an open net. This was his decisive contribution in the 1-0 win last Saturday. “Onel Hernandez struck the vital goal in Port Vale’s 1-0 win at home to Chesterfield,” the scorer said.
A tight affair
Chesterfield, who had most of the ball, created the first clear chance when Lee Bonis forced a save from Marko Marosi. The Vale keeper was called into action again to tip a long-range Ryan Stirk effort over the bar. Port Vale offered little in attack during a cagey first half, but Hernández’s opportunistic finish changed the game.
The second half saw few clear openings. Hernández sent a weak effort at Boot before being substituted, while Louie Marsh and Josh Koroma tested Marosi with routine stops. Chesterfield pushed late, with Marsh firing one effort wide and another just past the post, but Vale held firm.
Discipline and changes
Port Vale’s Cameron Humphreys and Jordan Gabriel were booked in the first half, with Headley also seeing yellow after the break. Manager Jon Brady was cautioned for dissent. Brady made five changes, introducing Oli Lynch and Keyrol Figueroa, who forced a late save from Boot. Chesterfield lost Joel Randall to injury in the first half and threw on attackers Will Grigg and Liam Mandeville late on, but could not find an equaliser.
The result extends Port Vale's winning run in all competitions to three matches. They have now kept three clean sheets in that sequence, conceding just nine goals all season. Their recent form over the last five games reads three wins, one draw, and one loss, a strong run that started with a 1-0 win over Exeter City on 12 September, followed by a 2-0 loss to Walsall, a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield, and wins over Mansfield Town and Grimsby before this latest victory.
