Latics claim Vale scalp

BRILLIANT FREE-KICK: Mike Jones scored the only goal of the game for Athletic.

UPDATED: Matthew Chambers' updated report with pictures.

PORT VALE 0 ATHLETIC 1

A SUPERB free-kick by Mike Jones earned Dean Holden his first three points as Athletic's caretaker manager.

The midfield man stepped up to strike the match-winner home from 30 yards out three minutes before half-time.

And though Athletic goalkeeper Jake Kean had to be at his best to brilliantly deny Tom Pope as in-form Port Vale pressed for a leveller after the break, Athletic hung on for a first victory in four outings.

Athletic, who had Adam Lockwood, Carl Winchester and Jonathan Forte in their line-up, passed the first milestone successfully by failing to concede in the opening three minutes for the first time in four fixtures.

It got better from there for Holden. Controlling possession and frustrating the home fans, Athletic were the better side from the off and really should have opened the scoring after 13 minutes. Dominic Poleon whipped in a superb cross from the right and Forte, alone eight yards out, blazed over and wastefully wide on the half-volley.

Pope wasted Vale's best first-half chance when failing to realise he had time to chest down and take a shot when unmarked on the penalty spot, but Athletic went in front three minutes from half-time.

Forte was felled by Michael Brown and Jones stepped up to hammer a vicious dipping shot which left goalkeeper Chris Neal without a prayer of stopping it.

Vale started the second half on the front foot and after Connor Brown saw his terrific strike tipped over, could well have equalised after an hour. Kean brilliantly clawed out Pope's point-blank header and from the resultant corner, Brown was forced to head clear off his own goal-line.

Conor Wilkinson got a run-out late on as Athletic attempted to see out time and almost set up a goal on the break for Danny Philliskirk, whose shot was saved by the legs of Neal.

Wilkinson could have added a second in the final few seconds, only to be hustled off the ball. But three points were all that really mattered.