VALE Park punters were queuing at the payout counter following this rare victory. (Feb 5)

Cherries' arrival in the Potteries had coincided with the start of a special offer at the local bookies, with new account holders receiving a fiver for every goal scored by the Valiants in February.

Maybe the governor of the Bank of England was in on the plot as Mervyn King had addressed a gathering of local businesses during a breakfast meeting at the venue in the week.

As publicity stunts go, ValeSpreadBet.com must have thought they would be on to a nice little earner as the Vale Park faithful had witnessed no goals during January.

But their new customers were left to cash in thanks to first-half strikes from Billy Paynter and Chris Birchall as Vale halted a run of three successive home defeats.

Vale boss Martin Foyle said: "It was a much-needed win. The lads put on a gutsy performance and it was nice to see us score a couple of goals.

"Credit to the players because their response was magnificent. It would have been easy for the crowd to turn on them after we had gone a goal behind, but they stuck with us. It could have gone the other way but we scored almost straight away and then again just before half time."

With six defeats in their last seven games, Foyle also revealed that his players had been receiving "letters through the post" from irate supporters which, he said, had "rattled their cages".

Foyle, among the crowd for Cherries' last two league games at Huddersfield and Stockport, had certainly done his homework on Sean O'Driscoll's side.

"They play decent football and are one of the best sides in the league, but if you can get in their faces then you've got a chance to turn them over," he said. "We pressed high up the pitch and stopped them playing.

"They started with a back three after half time and tried to stamp their authority on it.

"They are very clever through the middle of the park. I like Spicer, he gave us a lot of problems, as did Stock. Give them credit for dictating the play, but we camped in, didn't sell ourselves and made ourselves hard to beat.

"I know it looks frustrating but it's nervy when you are at the bottom."

Cherries, like a careless dog walker, again paid for failing to hold on to a lead after Garreth O'Connor's stunning individual effort had put them ahead in the 13th minute.

And with just one win in their last seven league games, some pessimists among the Cherries faithful are concerned they could start melting into mid-table mediocrity.

Valiants midfielder Robin Hulbert was booked after just 50 seconds following two quick fouls on Brian Stock before Jeff Smith tried his luck from distance, his long range effort failing to trouble Neil Moss.

Smith then wasted a good chance when he fired high over the crossbar from the edge of the box after Vale had been awarded a free kick following Steve Fletcher's foul on Michael Walsh.

Michael Cummins went close to opening the scoring when his 20-yarder just cleared the crossbar after Nathan Lowndes had laid off George Abbey's pass.

But O'Connor showed Vale the way to goal when he finished a superb weaving run, which took him past three challenges, by drilling a low right-footer past Jonny Brain from just inside the box in the 13th minute. It was his third goal in five games and his seventh of the season.

"It was probably the best goal I have scored for Bournemouth, but it's gone out of the window," lamented O'Connor.

"We want to be winning games and we want to stay in the play-off positions, so it was disappointing. If I look back at the game, it was a good goal to score, but I would rather have the three points."

Cherries' lead lasted just four minutes as Vale's leading marksman Billy Paynter ended a run of seven games without a goal when he turned in Steve Rowland's high cross to level.

Wade Elliott, sent galloping clear down the right by Stock's through ball, almost capitalised on Brain's hesitancy, but saw his delightful chip come back off the crossbar.

Referee Darren Drysdale incurred the wrath of the Vale Park faithful when he turned down strong claims for a penalty after Lowndes had taken a tumble under a challenge from Eddie Howe.

James Hayter saw his right-foot volley from Elliott's centre fizz over the top before Vale took the lead following a magnificent sweeping move.

Smith's excellent through ball from the halfway line caught the Cherries defence flat footed and found Hulbert running into space on the left flank. And when his deep cross was hoisted over to the far post, Birchall was on hand to nod it past Moss.

Warren Cummings, who claimed he had been nudged by Birchall, received a booking for his protest.

At the start of the second half, Lowndes's snapshot flew over the crossbar before referee Drysdale required treatment following an accidental collision with Cummins.

George Pilkington's block denied Hayter after O'Connor had looked to slip him through before Cummins sent a rasping drive over the crossbar after he had been given the freedom of Vale Park.

As Cherries went in search of an equaliser, Abbey threw himself into the path of Stock's thunderous drive and Brain scooped up Hayter first-time shot before O'Connor's curling effort was easily saved by the Vale goalkeeper.

Cherries were thankful to Moss for denying Vale a third when he dived to keep out Paynter's low shot after the striker had muscled Broadhurst off the ball and cut in from the right to shoot.

Although Cherries dominated possession for long periods in the second half, Elliott's dipping effort, which flashed wide late on, was their only real chance of note after the break.