Port Vale Strike Early to Edge Stockport in League One Clash

Port Vale FC claimed an important 2–1 away win over Stockport County FC on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, capitalising on a fast start in their League One encounter on matchday 43.

The visitors were in front inside four minutes. Martin Sherif struck early, finishing a move created by Ben Waine to give Port Vale a 1–0 lead. The quick opener put Stockport immediately on the back foot as the away side seized the initiative.

League One FINISHED

2026-04-28 18:45

Stockport County FC

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Port Vale FC

Matchday 43 REGULAR_SEASON

Port Vale doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute. Full-back Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel made it 2–0 after being set up by George Hall, putting the Valiants firmly in control before the half-hour mark. Stockport struggled to respond before the break and saw midfielder Che Gardner booked in the 36th minute.

Stockport manager turned to his bench at half-time, making three changes as Tayo Edun, Christy Grogan and Louie Barry were introduced. Further substitutions followed on 65 minutes, with Lewis Bate and Benoný Andrésson also coming on in search of a route back into the game.

The home side finally found a lifeline in the 86th minute. Odin Bailey pulled one back for Stockport, converting after good work from veteran midfielder Oliver Norwood to reduce the deficit to 2–1 and set up a tense finish.

Port Vale managed the closing stages despite a late yellow card for Jon Brady on 84 minutes, while Stockport’s Ben Osborn was cautioned in stoppage time. Late substitutions for Vale saw George Byers and Ryan Croasdale introduced in the 89th minute to help see out the result.

The match finished 2–1 to Port Vale, who took all three points from Edgeley Park. Aside from the recorded goals, bookings and substitutions, detailed minute-by-minute events and statistics for this fixture were not available.

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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