Football: Hail the men of Vale as Slaven steps up to claim glory for the Potteries

Port Vale. . . . . . 2

Stockport County. . .1

JOHN RUDGE used to paint the dressing rooms at Vale Park - he can build a bigger cabinet for the silverware now. Vale's first visit to Wembley in their 117-year history deservedly brought them the Autoglass Trophy yesterday. Next Sunday Rudge's men return in search of the Second Division play-off pot. 'Today has been a great dress-rehearsal,' Rudge said.

West Bromwich will provide a sterner test than Stockport, but the portents for Vale maintaining their unbeaten Wembley record look good. The thoughtful football Rudge demands from his players - precision passing allied to intelligent running off the ball - was fully in evidence as Vale went ahead through two marvellous goals from the outstanding pair of Paul Kerr and Bernie Slaven.

Stockport, facing their third defeat at Wembley in 12 months, raised their game after the break and managed to halve the deficit through Kevin Francis's towering header, which set up a frantic final half hour. 'We lost because we got punished for mistakes in the first half,' Danny Bergara, the County manager, said. True, but Vale were a class apart, particularly Slaven, who orchestrated the 14th-minute breakthrough.

The Republic of Ireland striker, who has helped lift Vale's spirits since joining on a free transfer from Middlesbrough in March, held play up beautifully before slipping the ball through County's back-pedalling defence. Kerr had also timed his move well and advanced down the inside-left channel into the box before flicking the ball with the outside of his right boot past Neil Edwards.

Kerr, and Vale's other wing-back, Kevin Kent, were pushing up so menacingly that Stockport were predominantly on the defensive, and Rudge's attacking tactics were rewarded with a second fine goal in the 38th minute. Dean Glover's cross from the left was knocked back by Martin Foyle for Slaven to run in, kill the ball's momentum on his thigh, and direct a low left-footed shot past Edwards. 'Both goals were magnificent finishes,' Rudge said, without exaggerating.

County, whose play-off hopes were ended by Vale this week, attempted a rescue operation by pushing David Miller into a more probing midfield position, with Jim Gannon taking responsibility for County's attacks.

Lifted by unending and deafening exhortations from the terraces, Stockport finally found their stride: the balls were still hoisted long and high to Francis, but Gannon was bringing a touch more commitment and subtlety to the midfield. A solitary strike was just reward when it came in the 66th minute, Francis heading in Peter Duffield's raking cross from the right for his 39th goal of the season.

Port Vale: P Musselwhite; N Aspin, K Kent, A Porter, P Swan, D Glover, B Slaven, R van der Laan (P Billing, 90 min), M Foyle, P Kerr, I Taylor. Sub not used: N Cross. Manager: J Rudge.

Stockport County: N Edwards; L Todd, M Wallace, A Finley, D Miller, B Williams, J Gannon, P Ward, K Francis, C Beaumont (A Preece, 55 min), P Duffield. Sub not used: D Frain. Manager: D Bergara.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow).

Goals: Kerr (1-0, 14 min); Slaven (2-0, 37 min); Francis (2-1, 66 min).