SUPER-SUB Steve Thompson came to Vale's rescue with a dramatic last-minute goal to help them claim the spoils against promotion contenders Rochdale.

The win ends a run of three successive defeats and is only their fourth win of the campaign.

Young striker Danny Glover handed Vale the lead in the second-half before he was sent off for a second bookable offence.

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Substitute Adam Le Fondre grabbed Rochdale's leveller from the penalty spot, but Thompson came up trumps at the end to score his first ever senior goal.

Glover made a couple of changes from the side beaten 1-0 at Rotherham on Boxing Day, as the Vale boss reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, from 4-5-1.

Six-goal attacker Louis Dodds was missing because of personal reasons, handing Damien McCrory a recall on the left of midfield. The Irish teenager was making his last appearance before his loan spell from Championship side Plymouth runs out on December 31.

Fellow loanee Dave Brammer and Dave Howland took their place in the heart of midfield. Meanwhile, midfielder Scott Brown, also playing his last game of a month's loan from Cheltenham Town, was deployed on the right.

Central midfielder Ross Davidson was taken out of the start-up, allowing Glover to unleash his son, Danny, up front with Kyle Perry.

Loan defender Gareth Owen missed the Boxing Day trip to Rotherham due to illness. The 26-year-old failed to recover, meaning Glover kept faith with Luke Prosser and John McCombe as his centre-half partnership.

Midfielder Paul Dixon was added to the bench, with the youth-team player hoping to make his first start for the club.

Top goalscorer Marc Richards served the second game of a three-match ban. Injured midfield duo Paul Edwards (ankle) and Neil MacKenzie (ribs) failed to recover from their respective ailments.

Rochdale enjoyed the first sight on goal after only two minutes when central midfielder Keiran Toner broke free before slipping the ball through to striker Chris Dagnall.

However, the striker's 16-yard angled curler flew wide of keeper Joe Anyon's left-hand post.

Two minutes later, imposing striker Lee McEvilly flashed his 16-yard effort wide.

The game's early stages took on an open, fast and frenetic feel. Vale threatened in the fourth minute as Glover flicked on for Perry. The former Chasetown striker shrugged off the attention of his marker to break clear, only to drag his 18-yard side-footer wide of the far right-hand post.

In the sixth minute, winger Adam Rundle drove down the right flank before crossing to the near post where Dagnall's flick-shot was well palmed away by Anyon. McCombe was on hand to mop up the loose ball.

After the initial flurry of early chances, the game settled down somewhat. However, the visitors were starting to gain the upper hand in midfield, while the Valiants' rearguard looked nervy, on occasions, confronted with powerful attacks from Rochdale's midfield.

On 17 minutes, Toner rode two challenges, carrying the ball 15 yards towards Vale's box, before playing the ball to Rundle in the left channel.

The lively winger ran on to the ball, but his stinging drive was deflected into the side-netting.

There was panic in Vale's box when Rochdale swung over a 22nd-minute corner. Prosser and left-back Lee Collins failed to clear, with the ball falling to the edge of the box where Toner blasted over.

Vale were still creating chances though, and on 26 minutes, Brown's 20-yarder flew over.

Moments later, Brown almost went clear on goal from a threaded ball. However, Rory McArdle's excellent covering challenge came to Rochdale's rescue.

Just after the half-hour mark, Brown almost connected with Glover's excellent whipped-in ball from the right at the far post.

Winger Kallum Higginbotham collected the ball and delivered a deep cross from the right in the 34th minute. Rundle knocked the ball back to McEvilly who skewed over from 16 yards.

Collins was turned on Vale's left flank by Rundle soon after. The winger delivered an excellent far-post cross, and with Rochdale players lining up to nod home, right-back Anthony Griffith cleared the danger with a decisive header.

Vale enjoyed their best chance of the half on 40 minutes when Perry's 10-yard header clipped the top of the bar, meeting Griffith's header.

Three minutes later, Anyon did well to tip over midfielder Clark Keltie's 30-yard chip.

Glover's men started the second period well with Brown driving over from 25 yards on 47 minutes.

Higginbotham responded for the visitors in the 50th minute with a decent delivery from the right. Anyon's commending punch was met on the edge of the box by Toner's header which faded wide.

Soon after, Toner missed the target from long-range, under pressure from Brammer's tackle.

However, Vale were beginning to match their rivals in midfield, with Howland and Brown showing much industry.

In the 58th minute, Glover showed Simon Ramsden a clean pair of heels, although the full-back stuck to his task to block the young striker's angled shot.

A corner eventually resulted, from which McCombe headed towards goal, but the ball was cleared a yard from Rochdale's line.

On the hour-mark, Prosser was well positioned to clear from a Rochdale cross with Dagnall lurking with intent.

Vale continued to drive forward though. In the 62nd minute, Collins's under-hit cut-back to Howland meant the Irishman was unable to fire off a clean shot from 16 yards. Perry headed over in the 65th meeting, following good work from McCrory down the left, before the striker misfired beyond the near post soon after.

Perry received a rapturous reception from the Vale Park faithful seconds later when he was replaced by Steve Thompson.

Dean Glover's decision not to substitute his son paid dividends in the 74th minute when the youngster broke the deadlock, scoring his first goal of the campaign and only the second of his fledgling career.

Griffith raced down the right and his pinpoint low-right cross was met by a sliding Glover who slid his shot into the far right-hand corner from close range.

Glover was booked for taking his shirt off during his jubilant celebrations.

And on 79 minutes, his afternoon turned sour when he was given a second booking, and his marching orders, for a lunging tackle on defender Tom Kennedy.

Two minutes later, Rochdale hit the equaliser from the penalty spot after substitute Le Fondre was hauled down in Vale's box.

Le Fondre dusted himself down to drive the spot-kick into the centre of the net.

The atmosphere was heading for fever pitch with both sets of fans playing their part. Vale continued to press, looking for the winner. In the 88th minute, Prosser headed over from Brown's corner.

Collins then did likewise from another Brown corner, but should have done better, unchallenged from eight yards.

But in the final minute, Thompson claimed all three points for the Valiants with a poacher's finish. Brammer crossed low from the right into the box, where Brown struck a 12-yard shot onto the right-hand post.

Thompson showed a predator's instinct to slide in and fire his close-range effort into the net to complete a rare home win.

Match Stats

PORT VALE 2

ROCHDALE 1

Port Vale: Anyon, Griffith, Prosser, McCombe, Collins, Brown, Howland Brammer, McCrory, Perry (Thompson, 65), Glover.

Not used: Martin, Lawrie, Davidson, Dixon.

Rochdale: Russell, Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Kennedy, Higginbotham, Toner, Keltie (Jones, 76), Rundle (Thompson, 65), Dagnall (Le Fondre, 65), McEvilly.

Not used: Wiseman, Spencer.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)

Attendance: 5,720 (including 814 visitors)