Rob Taylor is in line for goal-of-the-season with his 25 minute half-volley from 25 years.
That goal should have been enough to win the game for Vale, but they did little else to justify the points, apart from to hold firm for the rest of the game.
3 points would have left them in 9th place anyway, but they were denied the points by a calm finish by Luke Prosser in the last minute.
The ball slipped under a complacent Lee Collins' foot to reach former Vale man Prosser to smash home.
This could be the end of Vale's promotion dream, with 5 games left and only 2 at home.