Northampton moved within three points of the play-off places with a third successive victory in League Two.
Adebayo Akinfenwa put them ahead after just three minutes when he fired in from 20 yards despite a sea of players.
Vale levelled two minutes later as Doug Loft followed in after Jason Steele could only parry a shot from Sean Rigg.
But Abdul Osman poked in the loose ball after Vale keeper Joe Anyon's error and in first-half stoppage time Billy McKay turned and fired home from eight yards.
Northampton Town manager Ian Sampson tells BBC Radio Northampton:
"Very pleasing, and other results going our way will help us in our cause.
"Delighted with the first half performance. We rode our luck in the second half, but we defended well and there were two really good saves by the goalkeeper.
"All in all, a good day."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 6 March 2010
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Port Vale
1-3
Northampton
FT
(HT 1-3)
Loft 5
Akinfenwa 3
Osman 45
Mckay 45+2
Port Vale
01 Anyon
11 Yates
15 Collins
16 Owen
04 Griffith
07 Loft
17 Rigg
26 Taylor (Fraser 46 yellow card)
09 Richards
14 Dodds (Davies 46)
32 Haldane (McCombe 46)
Substitutes
12 Martin,
05 McCombe,
03 Taylor,
10 Fraser,
19 Richman,
29 Morsy,
25 Davies
Northampton
26 Steele
02 Rodgers (Herbert 81)
03 Johnson
05 Hinton
06 Beckwith
23 Gilbert
08 Osman yellow card
12 Gilligan
14 Davis (Guttridge 74)
10 Akinfenwa
17 Mckay (Harris 74)
Substitutes
13 Walker,
19 Curtis,
22 Herbert,
04 Guttridge,
15 Dyer,
30 Thornton,
24 Harris
Ref: WebbAtt: 4,861
PORT VALE
NORTHAMPTON
Possession
Port Vale48%
Northampton52%
Attempts on target
Port Vale5
Northampton6
Attempts off target
Port Vale4
Northampton4
Corners
Port Vale7
Northampton4
Fouls
Port Vale5
Northampton5
Final Result
90:00+3:35 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
Full Time
90:00+3:04 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
90:00+2:30 Defending throw-in by Lee Collins (Port Vale).
90:00+1:20 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Doug Loft (Port Vale) to near post, clearance by Craig Hinton (Northampton).
90:00+0:17 Defending throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
87:15 Booking Abdul Osman (Northampton) booked for unsporting behaviour.
87:01 Foul by Abdul Osman (Northampton) on Sean Rigg (Port Vale). Free kick taken left-footed by Joe Anyon (Port Vale) from right channel, resulting in open play.
86:10 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
85:55 Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton) on Anthony Griffith (Port Vale). Free kick taken left-footed by Joe Anyon (Port Vale) from left channel, resulting in open play.
Correction - 84:40 Inswinging corner taken by Tommy Fraser from the left by-line.
84:40 Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Tommy Fraser (Port Vale) to far post, resulting in open play.
83:56 Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton) caught offside. Free kick taken left-footed by Joe Anyon (Port Vale) from own half, resulting in open play.
83:01 Booking Tommy Fraser (Port Vale) booked for unsporting behaviour.
82:43 Foul by Tommy Fraser (Port Vale) on Ryan Gilligan (Northampton). Free kick taken left-footed by Peter Gilbert (Northampton) from left channel, resulting in open play.
80:24 Substitution Northampton substitution: Paul Rodgers replaced by Courtney Herbert (injury).
80:17 Attacking throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
78:54 Attacking throw-in by Doug Loft (Port Vale).
78:12 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
77:20 Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Tommy Fraser (Port Vale) to far post, clearance by Paul Rodgers (Northampton).
76:59 Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Joe Anyon (Port Vale) from own half, resulting in open play.
76:27 Attacking throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
75:29 Shot by Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton) drilled right-footed from right channel (12 yards), missed right.
74:13 Handball by Sean Rigg (Port Vale). Free kick taken right-footed by Jason Steele (Northampton) from right channel, resulting in open play.
73:22 Substitution Northampton substitution: Billy Mckay replaced by Seb Harris (tactical).
73:03 Substitution Northampton substitution: Liam Davis replaced by Luke Guttridge (tactical).
72:09 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Doug Loft (Port Vale) to near post, resulting in open play. Header by Marc Richards (Port Vale) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), clearance by Paul Rodgers (Northampton).
71:28 Goal kick taken long by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
70:53 Attacking throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
70:06 Attacking throw-in by Lee Collins (Port Vale).
69:57 Attacking throw-in by Lee Collins (Port Vale).
69:41 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
69:23 Shot by Craig Davies (Port Vale) right-footed from left channel (25 yards), over the bar.
67:54 Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton) on John McCombe (Port Vale). Free kick taken right-footed by Joe Anyon (Port Vale) from right channel, resulting in open play.
66:06 Attacking throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
65:36 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
64:53 Shot by Sean Rigg (Port Vale) left-footed from centre of penalty area (12 yards), missed right.
64:24 Attacking throw-in by Lee Collins (Port Vale).
64:02 Defending throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
63:46 Attacking throw-in by Craig Davies (Port Vale).
63:07 Foul by Craig Davies (Port Vale) on Craig Hinton (Northampton). Free kick taken right-footed by Craig Hinton (Northampton) from right channel, resulting in open play.
62:20 Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Liam Davis (Northampton) to near post, resulting in open play.
61:02 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
60:04 Attacking throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
58:58 Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Tommy Fraser (Port Vale) to far post, clearance by Paul Rodgers (Northampton).
58:36 Shot by Craig Davies (Port Vale) curled left-footed from left channel (18 yards), save (caught) by Jason Steele (Northampton).
58:12 Defending throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
56:10 Foul by Lee Collins (Port Vale) on Liam Davis (Northampton). Free kick taken right-footed by Craig Hinton (Northampton) from right wing, resulting in open play.
54:39 Defending throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
53:44 Defending throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
51:32 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
50:12 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
49:50 Defending throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
49:34 Defending throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
49:18 Defending throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
48:51 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
47:38 Attacking throw-in by Tommy Fraser (Port Vale).
46:43 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
45:01 Shot by Marc Richards (Port Vale) right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), missed right. Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton). Shot by Doug Loft (Port Vale) right-footed from right channel (12 yards), save (caught) by Jason Steele (Northampton).
45:01 Substitution Port Vale substitution: Louis Dodds replaced by Craig Davies (tactical).
45:01 Substitution Port Vale substitution: Kris Taylor replaced by Tommy Fraser (tactical).
45:01 Substitution Port Vale substitution: Lewis Haldane replaced by John McCombe (tactical).
45:00+2:16 The first half comes to an end.
Half Time
45:00+1:21 GOAL - Billy Mckay:Port Vale 1 - 3 Northampton Goal by Billy Mckay (Northampton) drilled right-footed (bottom-right of goal) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards).Port Vale 1-3 Northampton.
44:42 GOAL - Abdul Osman:Port Vale 1 - 2 Northampton Goal by Abdul Osman (Northampton) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from left side of six-yard box (6 yards).Port Vale 1-2 Northampton.
43:32 Shot by Billy Mckay (Northampton) right-footed from centre of penalty area (12 yards), save (parried) by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
43:16 Attacking throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
41:39 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
40:53 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
39:19 Goal kick taken long by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
37:22 Defending throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
36:27 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
35:51 Attacking throw-in by Lewis Haldane (Port Vale).
35:15 Goal kick taken long by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
35:01 Shot by Liam Davis (Northampton) drilled right-footed from right channel (18 yards), over the bar.
34:47 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
34:17 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Doug Loft (Port Vale) to near post, resulting in open play.
33:58 Shot by Sean Rigg (Port Vale) left-footed from right channel (20 yards), save (caught) by Jason Steele (Northampton).
32:38 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
31:50 Goal kick taken long by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
31:28 Attacking throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
31:23 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
30:42 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
29:28 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
28:46 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
28:30 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
27:51 Attacking throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
27:41 Attacking throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
26:51 Shot by Billy Mckay (Northampton) curled left-footed from right channel (18 yards), save (caught) by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
26:28 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
25:42 Foul by Ryan Gilligan (Northampton) on Marc Richards (Port Vale). Free kick taken right-footed by Doug Loft (Port Vale) from left channel, resulting in open play.
24:58 Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Liam Davis (Northampton) to far post, resulting in open play.
24:23 Attacking throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
23:06 Attacking throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
21:56 Defending throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
20:52 Foul by Dean Beckwith (Northampton) on Marc Richards (Port Vale). Free kick taken right-footed by Adam Yates (Port Vale) from right channel, resulting in open play.
20:43 Goal kick taken long by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
20:20 Shot by Billy Mckay (Northampton) curled right-footed from right channel (20 yards), missed right.
19:40 Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Liam Davis (Northampton) to near post, clearance by Anthony Griffith (Port Vale).
18:12 Sean Rigg (Port Vale) caught offside. Free kick taken left-footed by Craig Hinton (Northampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
17:29 Defending throw-in by Kris Taylor (Port Vale).
16:23 Defending throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
15:48 Defending throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
15:16 Goal kick taken long by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
Correction - 14:13 Kris Taylor challenges Paul Rodgers unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Liam Davis.
14:13 Foul by Kris Taylor (Port Vale) on Paul Rodgers (Northampton). Free kick taken left-footed by Liam Davis (Northampton) from right channel, resulting in open play.
12:21 Attacking throw-in by Kris Taylor (Port Vale).
12:05 Defending throw-in by Kris Taylor (Port Vale).
11:30 Foul by Marc Richards (Port Vale) on Craig Hinton (Northampton). Free kick taken right-footed by Craig Hinton (Northampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
9:15 Shot by Abdul Osman (Northampton) drilled right-footed from left channel (25 yards), resulting in open play. Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Louis Dodds (Port Vale) to far post, save (punched) by Jason Steele (Northampton).
8:50 Attacking throw-in by Peter Gilbert (Northampton).
7:32 Shot by Billy Mckay (Northampton) left-footed from right channel (20 yards), save (caught) by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
4:40 GOAL - Doug Loft:Port Vale 1 - 1 Northampton Goal by Doug Loft (Port Vale) left-footed (bottom-left of goal) from left side of six-yard box (6 yards).Port Vale 1-1 Northampton.
4:15 Attacking throw-in by Adam Yates (Port Vale).
4:02 Goal kick taken long by Joe Anyon (Port Vale).
2:18 GOAL - Adebayo Akinfenwa:Port Vale 0 - 1 Northampton Goal by Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from left channel (25 yards).Port Vale 0-1 Northampton.
1:40 Defending throw-in by John Johnson (Northampton).
1:04 Goal kick taken long by Jason Steele (Northampton).
0:35 Shot by Louis Dodds (Port Vale) right-footed from right channel (20 yards), over the bar.
0:00 The game begins.
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