Port Vale see off Wimbledon to strengthen position at top of League Two table

Port Vale extended their lead at the top of League Two as they made it five consecutive wins with a 3-2 victory over AFC Wimbledon.

Brandon Cover and Rico Richards put the Valiants 2-0 ahead and Jayden Stockley scored the decisive third, either side of goals from the Dons’ Josh Neufville and Myles Hippolyte.

The win for Vale, who are now unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions, moved them on to 30 points from 14 games, four clear of nearest challengers Walsall.

The hosts went in front in the ninth minute when Leicester loanee Cover slotted the ball home after playing a neat one-two with Stockley.

They doubled their advantage two minutes later as Richards, on loan from Aston Villa, tapped in the rebound after Ethan Chislett’s free-kick came back off the right-hand post.

The Dons threatened to halve the deficit before the break, but Omar Bugiel’s well-struck shot was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Connor Ripley and leading marksman Matty Stevens’ curling effort hit the inside of a post.

They did eventually manage to pull one back through Neufville’s cool finish just after the hour mark, but the home side immediately went down the other and restored their two-goal lead thanks to Stockley’s header from Richards’ cross.

Hippolyte’s free-kick from the right somehow found its way into the net to double the visitors’ tally in the 78th minute and the same player struck the crossbar with a shot in stoppage time, but Vale held on for a precious win.