Harry Worley popped up with an unexpected winner to drag Oxford United back into the play-off picture at Vale Park.

His low angled shot in the 59th minute was his first goal of the season, indeed the first goal, in the right net, by any of the team’s defenders this campaign, and the big centre half showed how much it meant to him with an ecstatic celebration in front of the away fans.

Chris Wilder was expected to make several changes and in the end he made seven, just one fewer than for Torquay at the start of the year.

The only four players to keep their places following the defeat at bottom club Stockport were Ryan Clarke, Harry Worley, Jake Wright and Paul McLaren, though Tom Craddock was not fully fit.

The encounter was graced by a female referee’s assistant, Sasa Ihringova, from Shropshire.

The first half was notable for two great chances Jack Midson created for himself, and for two yellow cards.

From steve Kinniburgh’s deft chip over the top of 14 minutes, Midson muscled past centre back John McCombe to create space for a left-footed shot, which he struck low and hard, but just past the far post.

And an even better opportunity came two minutes later, Midson’s good first touch enabled him to go clear, and as his marker recovered, Midson lashed another lelft-footed shot wide again.

Paul McLaren was booked for a late tackle, and Kinniburgh followed when he tripped Gary Roberts as he ran through the middle.

Vale fans were screaming for that to be a red card because Kinniburgh was the last man, but it looked like an accidental trip to me so even a free-kick seemed harsh.

Ryan Clarke tipped Kris Taylor’s ensuing free-kick over the bar.

Vale went in front, controversially, on 27 minutes.

Ben Purkiss was adjudged to have pushed Tom Pope in the back, inside the area, and referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot.

Clarke had saved his previous two penalties, and he beat out this one, too, from Marc Richards. But it went straight back to the Vale striker, who fired in at the second attempt.

However, four minutes later the U’s were level.

Alfie Poter struck a superb 25-yard drive that goalkeeper Chris Martin could only juggle and then push against his own crossbar.

And when the ball came back down, Midson was on his own to head gleefully into an empty goal.

The Valiants did not look that impressive at the back, and on one occasion of glorious chaos, right back Adam Yates dribbled the ball around his own keeper before eventually clearing.

Josh Payne drove over, but as the half drew to a close, the home side were beginning to look menacing, Clarke twice diving to his knees to save.

Jim Gannon, the no-nonsense Port Vale boss, changed his goalkeeper at half-time, sending on Stuart Tomlinson for the second half.

His opposite number Clarke, got down well again for another low save when the action resumed.

Midson was giving the home defence a lot of problems, and when Simon Clist played the ball long for him to run onto, he almost turned that into another chance.

Lewis Haldane produced a scintillating run down the right, sprinting past Kinniburgh and Jake Wright, a reminder to United fans of what he sometimes did when at Oxford.

But just before the hour mark, it was United who were in front for the first time. McLaren’s cross dropped to Worley, and he lashed in a low angled shot.

As Vale pressed for an equaliser, the U’s had space when they countered, and Payne created an opening for Potter, who was just crowded out at the last minute.

Midson went off to a great ovation when James Constable replaced him with 19 minutes to go.

United defended well as a team, and Vale’s threat petered out.

Considering they were sixth in the table at start of play, and had lost only one of their previous eight, that was some achievement.

Oxford Utd: Clarke; Purkiss, Worley, Wright, Kinniburgh (Batt 80); Payne, McLaren, Clist; Potter, Midson (Constable 72), Hackney (MacLean 82). Subs not used: Sangare, Heslop. Hall, Eastwood.

Booked: McLaren, Kinniburgh.

Att: 5,661 (597 from Oxford).