Chesterfield boost survival hopes with victory over Port Vale
Chesterfield staged a stunning fight-back to boost their hopes of staying up, with a 4-2 victory that all-but ended Port Vale's slender play-off hopes.
Vale ran the first half with AJ Leitch-Smith opening the scoring, but Chesterfield turned the game around through goals from Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Sam Hird, Gboly Ariyibi and Jay O'Shea, with JJ Hooper replying for the visitors.
Vale almost scored in the third minute when Louis Dodds' shot was blocked on the line by Drew Talbot and they went close in the 26th minute when Sam Foley fired just wide from 15 yards.
Vale deservedly went ahead in the 36th minute when poor defending allowed Leitch-Smith to turn in Byron Moore's pull-back.
Chesterfield made two changes at half-time and they were level in the 47th minute when Ariyibi's cross was drilled past Jak Alnwick by Campbell-Ryce from 15 yards.
The home side were transformed from the first half and they went ahead on the hour when O'Shea's free-kick was headed in at the back post by Hird.
Vale levelled through Hooper's curling shot in the 70th minute but Chesterfield regained the lead three minutes later when Ariyibi turned in a corner and O'Shea sealed victory with a 20-yard shot in the 83rd minute.
Source: PA
