Report: Bantamus returned to Portvale after a poor night

City has shown that it cannot do that on a chilly Tuesday night in Stoke as the promotional races are open wide.

Bantam had the opportunity to expose valuable sunlight between them in their battle at the top of League 2. Instead, Portbert's victory means that only differences in goals separate them.

Last week's 5-point cushion disappeared. That glorious afternoon against Colchester suddenly appears long ago.

The city can almost have complaints after the first half of the pottery. They were second best and played a little more purpose, but they didn't really suggest anything about the comeback.

Another incredibly far removed exit of over 2,300 people roamed at the bantam but fired another blank on the road.

How again needed to have that “Claret and Amber” fortress on Saturday.

Portvale entered the contest on Tuesday night with an enviable record of failing to win his previous 14 league outings.

George Lapsley was on the Mansfield side for his final victory in March 2022, but at the end of that season he was again The Fall Man at Wembley.

Thus, the midfielder was not a lack of incentives as he maintained his place after Ashington, despite being one of four players early in the second half.

But both Brandon Kera and Romony Criklaud were deemed ready to start again after the recent absences, as Alex Pattison and Ciaran Kelly were deemed ready to start again.

In the third change of starting 11, Paul Huntington came for Neilburn. Jack Shepherd also returned, but had to settle in the bench.

The game starts like crazy as expected, with the city enjoying a lot of early ownership.

But it was Bale who took the first hit in 11 minutes on an epic strike from Laurent Toraj. Ryan Clausdale cut the Swiss striker inside over his left foot and put an effort into it.

The place was lifted up as expected, and the home side moved forward again. Ben Garity tested Sam Walker from 20 yards.

Mitch Clark then traded passes with Krathdale to cut back on Toraj, but this time his jab efforts robbed the city of the city wide.

Blood Halliday, playing his 150th game at the club, was booked for a foul as visitors struggled to get past half.

Tayo Adalamora illegally blocked Mitch Clark. Mitch Clark's free kick was nodded past a close post by Garity.

City registered the attack on the first memo in the 25th minute, as Halliday flew from long range. It helped to remove the stab wounds on the home side and was forced by Tylake Wright's efforts on the turn, except for restrictions from Ben Amos.

But it was one shot on target than they managed with Accrington.

City seemed to have regained footing in things just to be taken at the goal of the second veil in 30 minutes.

Clausdale was once again involved as the ball was worked out to Jack Shawlock and the 17-year-old left-wing cross was nodded by Clark from close range.

Suddenly halftime couldn't come soon.

The whistle echoed into some boos from a large number of remote ends after half the city was second best in all sectors.

Alexander looked for a response with two changes during the break. Bobby Pointe came to Tayo Adalamora and Shepherd replaced Huntington. Right dropped to left field back.

The away end did their best to liven up the city when they attacked like that. There was more urgency about the team – undoubtedly given to rocking during the break – and Calum Kavanagh curled the effort straight with Amos.

Vale fans were singing the name Darren Moore loudly as the visitors hunted for some kind of reaction.

Pattison's shot took a deflection on the bar before City made their closest opportunity as Halliday's cross shot messed up the width of the nearby post by Aden Baldwin.

Lapsley gave way to Michael Mellon as Cabana switched to the right of Front 3.

Kelly nodded with a stretch header from Richie Smallwood's free kick.

The Irishman needed treatment after it went down, but the city's defense was not facing the same pressure from the first half. It's not that they themselves were much under the Cosh.

A low drive from Tolaj was choking on the Walker, but Vale had already done enough.

The city's dark day was finished when Clark put the cabanas in a box and bundled them together. And the Smallwood penalty was pushed away by a diving amos.