Recent losses to Forth Wanderers and Wishaw had left Vale’s promotion hopes hanging by a thread before they welcomed Blantyre to Millburn Park at the weekend.

Vale took the game to their opponents from the off and made their advantage pay in 22 minutes.

A good run and cross from David McNaught set up Adam Brown to head home from inside the box to give the former Yoker man his 12th goal of the season.

However, the hosts’ lead was to last all of seven minutes when David Kirkwood converted from the spot to tie things up. A Kenny Wilson own goal made it 2-1 to Blantyre after 33 minutes before Brown grabbed his second following some good work from Scott Arthur to tee the striker up to fire past Burns from just outside the area.

Despite equalising on the stroke of half time Vale still went in one down when straight from kick-off Blantyre’s Andy Galt made it 3-2 to the visitors as they looked to continue their fine run of form that has moved them above Vale and into third position in recent weeks.

A Chris Smith effort in 50 minutes ended the tie as a contest as Blantyre looked calm and composed and despite James Crowhurst’s strike in 70 minutes, the visitors held on for an important win as Vale look to be spending another season in the Central District Second.

Vale: Smith, Wardle (Stillwell), Lacy (Martin), Wilson, Crowhurst, Cowan, Nugent, McGeachy (Monaghan), Brown, Arthur, McNaught. Unused substitute: McKenzie.