Fleetwood Town finish with a flourish by beating Port Vale

Fleetwood Town ended their League One season with a 2-1 victory over Port Vale this afternoon which consolidated their top-half spot.

First-half goals from Josh Morris and Mark Roberts earned the Cod Army three points which secured them a 10th-placed finish in their first season in the third tier.

Michael O'Connor sent an early free kick wide for the hosts before Morris met a David Ball cross to thump past Chris Neal on 17 minutes.

Vale threatened from a dead-ball situation again as Tom Pope headed over, and Fleetwood soon went up the other end to increase their lead from a set piece of their own.

Morris swung in a corner and defender Roberts climbed high to head home his third of the season.

Vale manager Rob Page made a double change at half time as Ben Williamson and Michael Brown made way for Tommy O'Sullivan and Achille Campion.

Each of the substitutes had chances to establish the hosts a foothold in the game as Campion headed narrowly over before O'Sullivan had a shot deflected wide.

Fleetwood stalled some of Vale's momentum, although the replacements still looked lively as O'Sullivan blazed over following good build-up play and Campion failed to steer Freddie Veseli's cross through a crowded box.

Although a late O'Connor strike which wrong-footed Chris Maxwell on its way into the net threatened to set up a grand finale, the points were safe when Town reached stoppage time with their two-goal lead intact, and Vale finish 18th after a first defeat in four.