The Rovers showed up first by winning the first corner of the game but it was cleared at the near post although McIndoe claimed handball against the defender. At the other end, Constantine hit a cracker but Foster blocked it and cleared.
Minutes later, Mulligan, for Rovers, shot wide from 35 yards. The Vale won a corner but it was another corner for the Rovers that Foster, at the far post, was unable to get high enough, the ball skimming off his head and out for a goal kick. The Rovers were playing the ball around in good style now and Goodlad, the home keeper, only just beat Guy to a headed pass from Heffernan. After 18 minutes, a good link up on the right by Mulligan and Guy produced a couple of corners as the Rovers began to have the better of the play. On 27minutes, it produced the desired result when a cross from the right by Mulligan was met with a tremendous header by HEFFERNAN from 12 yards that bulleted into the top corner of the net to put the Rovers in the lead. Continuing to play good football the Rovers could have gone two up after 34 minutes when Guy put over the bar from 7 yards after McIndoe had stepped over a low cross from McDaid. The home team tried hard to get down to the Rovers end but found the back line in fine, determined form and doing a great job of protecting new boy, Blayney. Their best chance came after 43 minutes when James crossed from the left but Husbands headed well wide at the far post. Half time came, with the Rovers going in good value for their one goal lead.
The home team went on the attack from the off in the second half, having, no doubt, received some well chosen words of wisdom from their manager. Four minutes in, a free kick on the home right, taken by Innes, was dropped by Blayney under challenge. James shot over from ten yards. Two minutes later, the Rovers had a corner on their right but nothing came of it. The Valiants then stormed forward for Husbands to latch on to a deflected shot but Blayney was down to save at his feet. Back they came and on 55 minutes, claimed an equaliser after Blayney had blocked a shot, TOGWELL rattled the ball into the top of the net. The Vale were now giving the Rovers defence a torrid time and Blayney had to save from Cummins following a corner. On 67 minutes, James and Constantine linked up well giving Constantine the chance to stab at the final ball as he was challenged, the ball going over the bar. Three minutes later, Heffernan got in down the right, his shot being beaten out by Goodlad. Heffernan gain and then Ravenhill had shots blocked. Then, on 72 minutes, the home team took the lead when a cross from the right was rammed into the top of the net from the edge of the area by TOGWELL. The Rovers made changes to their personnel but Vale were now in the ascendancy and tried hard to increase their advantage. As the final five minutes countdown began the Rovers made strenuous efforts to get on level terms. The home defence were now under severe pressure but they managed to withstand everything the Rovers threw at them. Right at the death, Constantine got away down the right but his cross shot was deflected wide by Blayney sticking a leg out. The whistle went with Port Vale being the first club to get through to the 4th Round. This, with a terrific display in the second half that completely belied their first half form. For the Rovers, they go away empty handed but at least they had got back to form and can go on to gain the necessary points in the League needed to challenge for a play-off place.