Substitute Ben Garrity scored an 84th-minute winner as Port Vale beat Northampton 1-0 in League One to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games.

Garrity had only been on the field nine minutes when he cracked a low right-footed shot from 20 yards for his third goal of the season.

Until his breakthrough, Andy Crosby’s in-form side had endured a frustrating afternoon against Jon Brady’s stubborn Cobblers.

Despite conceding the majority of possession to the home side and creating fewer shots, Town almost took the lead against the run of play.

Patrick Brough beat the offside trap and crossed for Sam Hoskins but Northampton’s usually reliable marksman fired over the crossbar from eight yards.

Vale, whose latest success moved them into the top two, started lively. Ethan Chislett had one effort turned away by Lee Burge though Kieron Bowie retaliated for Town with an effort stopped by Connor Ripley.

Boss Brady introduced three substitutes at half-time but it was Crosby’s shuffling of his own pack that paid dividends with Garrity’s matchwinner.