Match ends, Port Vale 2, Exeter City 4.
Port Vale remain in the League One relegation zone after surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 against in-form Exeter.
Goals from Ethan Chislett and Baylee Dipepa put the Valiants firmly in charge at half-time, but two goals for Millenic Alli and one each for Zak Jules and Luke Harris earned the visitors - now unbeaten in eight matches - victory and leaves their opponents three points from safety.
Vale came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when Ben Garrity was denied by Viljami Sinisalo from close range after bringing down Chislett's measured pass over the top.
And the hosts went in front just after the half-hour mark as a cleared corner was volleyed home brilliantly by Chislett from outside the area.
Their advantage was doubled in the 40th minute, with 17-year-old Dipepa cutting in from the right and guiding a left-footed shot past Sinisalo.
Alli nearly pulled a goal back for Exeter within moments of the restart, but his attempt from Yanic Wildschut's delivery was saved by Connor Ripley.
The striker did find the net, though, in the 57th minute, with his deflected effort looping over Ripley.
Substitute Jules brought the Grecians level 10 minutes later, firing the ball in from Ryan Woods' corner, and the comeback was complete in the 79th minute as Harris smashed a volley beyond Ripley from Pedro Borges' lovely flicked pass.
Alli tapped in from Ilmari Niskanen's cross late on to add extra gloss to the scoreline.
Match report supplied by PA Media
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Ripley
- 27DebrahSubstituted forShorrockat 81'minutes
- 6Smith
- 17IacovittiSubstituted forPlantat 81'minutes
- 4SangBooked at 28mins
- 8Garrity
- 14OjoSubstituted forMasseyat 87'minutes
- 15Grant
- 10Chislett
- 12IkpeazuSubstituted forWeirat 63'minutes
- 25Dipepa
Substitutes
- 9Loft
- 13Leutwiler
- 19Massey
- 20Weir
- 21Plant
- 23Shorrock
- 24Walters
Exeter
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Sinisalo
- 4Aimson
- 39Diabate
- 2PurringtonBooked at 41minsSubstituted forJulesat 45'minutes
- 14Niskanen
- 8Woods
- 47RichardsSubstituted forKiteat 68'minutes
- 13WildschutSubstituted forHarperat 52'minutesSubstituted forBorgesat 74'minutes
- 17WattsBooked at 35minsSubstituted forRankineat 45'minutes
- 20HarrisBooked at 47mins
- 25AlliBooked at 7mins
Substitutes
- 3Jules
- 16Kite
- 21Rankine
- 24Fitzwater
- 30MacDonald
- 31Harper
- 41Borges
- Referee:
- Marc Edwards
- Attendance:
- 6,686
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away13
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Port Vale 2, Exeter City 4.
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Millenic Alli (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nathan Smith (Port Vale).
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Foul by Millenic Alli (Exeter City).
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Nathan Smith (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Pedro Borges (Exeter City).
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Ethan Chislett (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Will Aimson (Exeter City).
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Baylee Dipepa (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Harry Kite (Exeter City) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Ilmari Niskanen.
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Attempt missed. Dion Rankine (Exeter City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Will Aimson.
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 2, Exeter City 4. Millenic Alli (Exeter City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ilmari Niskanen.
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Attempt missed. Millenic Alli (Exeter City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Gavin Massey replaces Funso Ojo.
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Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Nathan Smith.
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Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by James Plant.
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Pedro Borges (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Funso Ojo (Port Vale).
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Will Aimson (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Back from 2 goals down twice in a week away & managed to win this one & draw the other!
Got to feel for the Port Vale fans.
Really disappointing to give up our L1 place without a fight. I suspect it maybe a few years before we’re back. Good luck to Exeter as they are a similar club to ourselves without the resources of many.
Unfortunately from a Vale perspective that was a truly depressing afternoon. Exeter are classic mid table and just had to up it one gear to slaughter us 2nd half.
Carol has been incredibly naiieve and Flitcroft needs throttling for his lazy incompetence. L2 next season.