DOUG Loft's first goal for Port Vale and a thunderbolt from Rob Taylor papered over the cracks of an unconvincing 2-2 draw with lowly Torquay last night.

On paper, this looked like a nailed-on victory for mid-table Vale against a Torquay side that rested third from bottom of League Two before kick-off.

But in a game bursting with chances, Vale stretched their winless league run to five matches without being able to claim all three points.

Loft hit his first goal in 16 appearances with a well-struck effort, but Torquay hit back with an equally well executed long-range goal from midfielder Nicky Wroe during a frenetic first period.

The Gulls were flying high in the second half when striker Scott Rendall headed them in front before Taylor salvaged a point for the Valiants with another excellent strike.

Vale completed the loan signing of Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg in the hours leading up to last night's clash, but the 21-year-old had to settle for a place on the bench.

With skipper Tommy Fraser starting a three-game suspension in the wake of his late dismissal at Barnet on Saturday, striker Marc Richards was thrown the captain's armband. Fraser was replaced in midfield by Jason Jarrett.

The only other change from Saturday's starting line-up saw loan forward Lewis Haldane replace Rob Taylor.

The visitors made the brighter start and could have taken the lead within two minutes.

Left midfielder Chris Zebroski tested his sights from 25 yards, but his grass-cutter was easily collected by Vale keeper Chris Martin,

Moments later, Wroe sliced open Vale's defence with an excellent through ball into the right channel, where the unmarked Elliot Benyon dragged his shot wide of the far left-hand post from 12 yards.

Vale had their first shot on target in the third minute when Kris Taylor's 20-yard set-piece flew high and wide of Michael Poke's goal.

The chances kept on coming, and on five minutes Haldane made space on the left before his precise cut-back found Dodds.

His careful 10-yard effort was blocked by Poke's legs, before John McCombe's follow-up strike was cleared off the line by Gulls defender Mark Ellis.

Wroe misfired with a long-range effort before a Torquay corner fell to an unchallenged Wayne Carlisle, but his eight-yard volley cleared the bar.

Carlisle's wasteful finishing was punished by Vale in the 11th minute when Anthony Griffith delivered from the right.

Richards used his chest to cushion the ball into the path of Loft, who angled a deadly volley into the left-hand corner from 16 yards.

Richards picked up the ball in a central position on 14 minutes before Poke brilliantly finger-tipped the striker's 20-yard drive on to his right-hand post.

The blood pressure of both Vale boss Micky Adams and his counterpart Paul Buckle must have been going through the roof as the action continued relentlessly.

But Buckle could afford to relax a little more after his side levelled with a beautifully struck 17th-minute equaliser.

The ball was passed to the edge of Vale's box where defender Chris Robertson feigned to shoot, but touched it to Wroe who stroked his effort into the top right-hand corner from 20 yards.

While Martin was left powerless to save Wroe's strike, he kept his side on level terms with a superb tip-over to deny Rendell soon after.

Carlisle headed over the resulting corner before Vale defender Lee Collins conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the area.

But the former Wolves man needn't have worried as Wroe missed the target with his poor set-piece.

Rigg was given a warm reception from the home faithful when he arrived from the bench to make his debut by replacing Dodds on 35 minutes.

He slotted in on the left of Adams's three-man attack, while Haldane, who is also on loan from Bristol Rovers, switched flanks to the right.

Martin turned from villain to hero in the 41st minute when his tentative save, keeping out Carlisle's tame 20-yarder, laid the ball on a plate for Benyon.

But the 19-year-old raced out to palm away Benyon's floated shot.

Seconds later an unsighted Martin got lucky when Zebroski's 20-yard shot trickled against the post and back into his grateful arms.

Just before the break, Vale defender Gareth Owen, who was once again wearing a face mask to protect a fractured cheek bone, was forced to retreat from the action and was replaced by Rob Taylor.

Not for the first time Kris Taylor switched to centre-half while his namesake filled the void at wing-back.

As the rain continued to lash down in Burslem, Haldane started the second period by lashing over from distance.

The powerful Haldane continued to threaten, but soon missed the target again with another stinging drive.

As Vale began to take control, Richards was guilty of missing an excellent chance when he connected with Loft's in-swinging set-piece only to watch Poke beat away his close-range stab.

And just before the hour-mark the dynamic Loft saw his 25-yarder beaten away by Poke before Lee Mansell responded by blazing over.

But Vale always looked vulnerable at the back, and were hit by a sucker punch in the 67th minute when Torquay grabbed the lead.

Carlisle collected on the right before his sweeping cross was nodded into the left-hand corner from eight yards out by Rendell.

It took Vale eight minutes to equalise when Rob Taylor played a one-two with Rigg before thundering an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner of the Torquay net.

Both sides continued to press forward, but were unable to land the killer blow.

Kris Taylor's injury-time set-piece almost handed Vale a dramatic winner, but the ball whistled past the right-hand post.

VALE'S reserves are in action tonight at totesport.com league rivals Burton Albion (7pm).