The Good Friday feeling was in full swing at the WHAM, as Accrington Stanley brushed aside an abject Port Vale to move to within a point of safety.

After an abhorrent run which red two wins in fourteen outings before the game, Darrell Clarke made several changes to his Port Vale side in search of an ellusive three points.

It sparked a mild reaction as some balls swung in were dangerous, but a head was begging in the area, and another Vale effort just inside the area was just fired wide.

Accrington injected impetus into their game and they soon made the breakthrough, but in bizarre circumstances.

A cross hauled in from the right flank by Liam Coyle required scooping by Jack Stevens, and although it looked as if he did with relative ease, it agonisingly slipped through his grasps and trickled over the line.

James Wilson looked for an instant response for Port Vale and he struck with venom, but Stanley keeper Lukas Jensen managed to avert the danger with a routine save.

The hosts never had to wait long after their first to add a second, and they looked firmly in their stride.

A ball that seemingly looked to be heading out of play was cut back to the advancing Harvey Rodgers, who made no mistake to calmly finish.

HT: Accrington Stanley 2-0 Port Vale

Accrington upped their tempo and took full control of the game, with Harry Pressley looking a ceaseless threat up front.

After blazing one over the bar, he made one of his chances count as after winning a penalty, he converted with ease to hand Stanley a three-goal lead.

The heads of the Port Vale players had seemed to go, and a completely unnecessary reaction by Funso Ojo granted him a red card late on as the day seemed to be going from bad to worse for Vale.

FT: Accrington Stanley 3-0 Port Vale.