Accrington Stanley celebrated a much-needed win in their battle against the drop with a 3-0 victory over Port Vale.
An own goal, a Harvey Rodgers strike and an Aaron Pressley penalty sealed the win for the Reds which was vital after four successive defeats.
Although the Reds remain in the relegation places, it was their biggest league win of the season and they will go into the Easter Monday trip to promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday high on confidence.
Liam Coyle and Ethan Hamilton returned after spells out with injury.
Stanley started well with a couple of goalmouth scrambles and Hamilton firing wide from distance.
There wasn’t a lot in it with Matty Taylor’s effort blocked for Port Vale and Aaron Donnelly’s overhead kick over the bar.
Stanley opened the scoring on 31 minutes when Liam Coyle’s ball into the area was dropped by keeper Jack Stevens and it bounced over the line for an own goal.
The Valiants pressed for an equaliser with James Wilson’s volley pushed out by Lukas Jensen.
The Reds celebrated a second on 40 minutes when, after a goalmouth scramble, Hamilton pulled the ball back from the by-line into the six-yard box and Harvey Rodgers was there to fire home his sixth goal of the campaign.
Stanley started the second half well with Shaun Whalley having a fierce effort blocked and Rodgers heading over.
Jensen was in action again to deny Taylor on 54 minutes and Vale did force a spell of pressure but Stanley held strong.
The Reds were awarded a penalty when Shaun Whalley was tripped by Funso Ojo and Aaron Pressley sent the keeper the wrong way, tucking the ball into the far right hand corner of the goal on 68 minutes.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji almost got a fourth but his strike was across the goal and just wide while sub Michael Nottingham’s close range bullet header was kept out by Stevens.
The game erupted in added time with Ojo sent off for Port Vale for violent conduct.
With with seven games to go, the three points were vital in keeping Stanley within touching distance of safety.
Stanley: Jensen, Rodgers, Tharme (Nottingham), Sangare, Clark, Hamilton, Coyle, McConville, Butler-Oyedeji, Whalley (Longelo), Pressley (Lowe)
Subs: Savin, Nolan, Adedoyin, Martin
Attendance: 3444 (1173 from Port Vale)