Swindon 1 : 0 Port Vale - In-form Williams shoots down Vale

Posted Monday, December 29, 2014 by PA

Andy Williams scored his 15th goal of the season as Swindon secured a hard fought 1-0 victory over Port Vale to move back into the top two promotion places.

Williams' strike 10 minutes into the second half sealed a Christmas double for Swindon, who won 4-1 at Walsall two days earlier.

Swindon's Nathan Byrne and Port Vale's Louis Dodds had early shots saved for their respective sides, but the first half was low in quality.

The hosts found Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal in fine form - the Valiants' stopper foiling Byrne with a chest save when the energetic midfielder burst through to the edge of the box from a pass by Williams.

Three minutes after the break the visitors almost snatched the lead against the run of play.

Former Swindon midfielder Mark Marshall was instrumental in a raid which culminated in a near post shot by Adam Yates being superbly saved at point-blank range by Wes Foderingham.

Jon Obika eventually got the ball in the Port Vale net, only to have his close-range header ruled out for offside.

But promotion chasing Swindon were not to be denied - Byrne working his way in from the right-hand side and teeing up the opportunity for Williams to head home.