Croasdale Strike Earns Port Vale Narrow Win Over Rotherham

Port Vale claimed a valuable 1–0 home victory over Rotherham United in League One on 7 April 2026, with an early goal from Ryan Croasdale settling a tight contest on matchday 42.

The breakthrough arrived in just the 6th minute. Croasdale found the net for Port Vale to put the hosts 1–0 ahead, a strike that ultimately stood as the only goal of the game. No assist information was provided in the official data.

League One FINISHED

2026-04-07 18:45

Port Vale FC

1 - 0

Rotherham United FC

Matchday 42 REGULAR_SEASON

Rotherham pushed for a response but were unable to find a way past the home side, leaving Port Vale to protect their slender lead for the remainder of the match. Detailed statistics such as shots, possession, and goalkeeper performances were not available, so the balance of play across the 90 minutes cannot be fully assessed.

Croasdale remained at the centre of the action after his goal, picking up a yellow card in the 57th minute. Port Vale then made a triple substitution on 61 minutes, withdrawing Martin Sherif, Croasdale and Ethon Archer and introducing Ben Waine, Jayden Stockley and Andre Gray to add fresh legs for the closing stages.

Rotherham turned to their bench shortly after. Ar’jany Martha was replaced by Gabriele Biancheri in the 63rd minute, followed by Joe Rafferty making way for Denzel Hall on 72 minutes and Duncan Watmore being substituted for Jack Holmes on 77 minutes, as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

Late on, Port Vale further shored things up, with Liam Gordon replaced by Connor Hall in the 87th minute and George Hall making way for Elijah Campbell a minute later. No additional goals were recorded, and there were no further cards listed.

With only limited match-event data available beyond the goal, bookings and substitutions, the finer tactical details remain unclear. However, Croasdale’s early strike was enough to secure all three points for Port Vale in this League One encounter.

For more on League One and full season context, visit the League One page on Ballaxy or the team hubs for Port Vale and Rotherham United.

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League One Standings

Season: 2025/26

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Form
1	Lincoln City FC	46	31	10	5	89	41	48	103	W W W D W
2	Cardiff City FC	46	27	10	9	90	50	40	91	L W W W D
3	Stockport County FC	46	22	11	13	71	58	13	77	W L W L D
4	Bradford City AFC	46	22	11	13	58	51	7	77	W D D D L
5	Bolton Wanderers FC	46	19	18	9	70	52	18	75	L D D W L
6	Stevenage FC	46	21	12	13	49	46	3	75	W D W D L
7	Luton Town FC	46	21	11	14	68	56	12	74	W W W D W
8	Plymouth Argyle FC	46	22	7	17	75	63	12	73	W W D W D
9	Huddersfield Town AFC	46	18	13	15	74	64	10	67	W L D D D
10	Mansfield Town FC	46	16	17	13	62	50	12	65	W D W W D
11	Wycombe Wanderers FC	46	17	12	17	69	58	11	63	W L L D L
12	Reading FC	46	16	15	15	64	60	4	63	L D L L L
13	Blackpool FC	46	17	9	20	54	65	-11	60	W W W W L
14	Doncaster Rovers FC	46	17	9	20	50	69	-19	60	W D L W W
15	Barnsley FC	46	15	14	17	68	73	-5	59	L W L L D
16	Wigan Athletic FC	46	14	14	18	49	58	-9	56	L L D W W
17	Burton Albion FC	46	13	15	18	50	60	-10	54	D D D W D
18	Peterborough United FC	46	15	8	23	64	68	-4	53	L D L D L
19	AFC Wimbledon	46	15	8	23	51	72	-21	53	L W L L L
20	Leyton Orient FC	46	14	10	22	59	71	-12	52	D L L D L
21	Exeter City FC	46	12	13	21	52	61	-9	49	L D D D W
22	Port Vale FC	46	10	12	24	36	61	-25	42	L W L L D
23	Rotherham United FC	46	10	11	25	41	71	-30	41	L D L W L
24	Northampton Town FC	46	9	8	29	39	74	-35	35	L L L L L