The more chaotic it becomes behind the scenes, the more determined Vale seem to play.
With the Gannon-Horsfield affair droning on, Vale players decided to put Macclesfield to the sword, and they should have won by 3 or 4. With Marc Richards leading the forward line Tom Pope, Vale had added muscle up front.
Vale broke the deadlock on the half hour with Lee Collins sneaking in at the far post to head home Kris Taylor's corner.
The Vale goal celebration raised many a laugh in the crowd & the player's tunnel as they re-enacted the argument on the coach.
Vale dominated most of the game, with Taylor hitting the post from a deft free kick, and Adam Yates's strike pinging the crossbar.
But Vale had to wait till the 87th minute before sub Louis Dodds curled a superb shot into the top corner from outside the box.
Those who left early also missed a late unearned consolation from Tyrone Barnett from a cross from Izak Reid.
Vale stay 6th, but are only 2 points off second place. It's tight at the top.