The Millburn Park side triumphed 3-2 in what was a crucial result given their poor start to the season.

Their run looked like continuing when goalkeeper Alan Methven was sent off after just six minutes — conceding a penalty in the process.

Centre back Kenny Wilson would play the rest of the game in goals and his stint between the sticks started well as he saved the spot kick. Royal Albert would be awarded another penalty later in the half which they converted.

Vale fought back to claim an unlikely victory, scoring twice in the last six minutes and Hamill was delighted with the win.

He said: “We played really well and had lots of chances but none were going in, their goalkeeper had a couple of good saves. Thankfully in the second half we managed to get back in and eventutally get the deserved winner.

“It was one of those games where if we had got a defeat it would’ve been pretty demoralising , the last couple of games the performances have been okay but we’ve been on the wrong end of the result.

Hamill was in no doubt as to the standard of the referee’s performance and feels his team were harshly treated, particularly in the sending off of his goalkeeper.

He said: “It was ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous. The first one might have been a penalty but it wasn’t a sending off. If he gives the penalty fine but to send him off was wrong, the second one just wasn’t a penalty.”