As Newport County gear up for a trip to Vale Park on Saturday afternoon, we recall four memorable wins at the Valiants’ home in years gone by.
PORT VALE 1-2 NEWPORT COUNTY (MARCH 12, 1949)
Newport County's first ever victory over Port Vale came on March 12, 1949, in a thrilling Division Three (South) clash.
A brace from Eddie Carr, one of the club’s most prolific scorers during the 1948-49 campaign, secured the Exiles a famous win at Vale Park.
The match, which attracted 9,487 spectators, marked a standout moment for County, who were in the midst of a challenging period following their relegation from the Second Division at the end of the 1946–47 season.
This victory was part of a solid season where County finished 15th in the Third Division South, in what was their 20th season in the third tier of English football.
In addition to league success, County made waves in cup competitions, reaching the Fifth Round of both the FA Cup and the Welsh Cup that season.
PORT VALE 0-1 NEWPORT COUNTY (APRIL 6, 1968)
April 6, 1968, saw Newport County achieve a memorable and gritty 1-0 victory at Vale Park.
In front of 3,607 supporters, it was Tony Buck who proved to be the match-winner. Buck, who had joined County from Oxford United in 1967, was fast becoming one of the club’s key players, and his goal in this fixture was a testament to his growing importance.
At the time, Buck was developing into one of Newport’s most reliable attacking threats, finishing as the club's top scorer at the end of the following season with 16 goals in 49 appearances. His decisive strike in this game helped County clinch all three points, in what would ultimately be a comfortable 1967-68 season.
Buck’s goal, coupled with the solid defensive display that followed, ensured that County secured a vital away win against a tough Vale side, further establishing County’s reputation as a formidable force in the Third Division.
PORT VALE 1-2 NEWPORT COUNTY (SEPTEMBER 1, 2018)
In more recent years, one of the most significant victories came on September 1, 2018, when County secured a hard-fought 2-1 win at Vale Park, a result that took them to second place in the League Two standings.
The match saw the Exiles take an early lead through the industrious Scot Bennett, who latched onto a loose ball and struck home past Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown.
Port Vale responded in the second half with an equaliser from Tom Pope, who scored his 56th goal at Vale Park, a header from a corner that would go down as a record for the striker at his home ground.
However, Newport refused to be outdone and regained the lead in the 67th minute. After Mark Harris' cross was missed by Padraig Amond (who was later forced off with a head injury), left-back Dan Butler was in the perfect position to sweep the ball home, finding the bottom corner with a inch-perfect strike.
PORT VALE 1-2 NEWPORT COUNTY (MAY 2, 2022)
The most recent victory at Vale Park came on May 2, 2022, a thrilling win on Stoke-on-Trent.
On the penultimate day of the regular league campaign, Port Vale’s hopes of securing automatic promotion were dashed by a resilient Newport side who earned a 2-1 victory.
The match started brightly for County, with Ryan Haynes putting the Exiles 1-0 up in just the third minute. Haynes expertly finished first-time from a low cross by Finn Azaz.
Vale responded quickly, equalising through Ben Garrity early in the second half, but Newport regained the lead in the 72nd minute when Azaz fired in a stunning volley after the Vale defence failed to clear a Newport corner.
The strike was a testament to Azaz's ability and composure, securing all three points for County and putting a major dent in Vale’s promotion ambitions.
