Sam Bangoura wasted a late chance as City's reserves were forced to settle for a share the derby honours at Vale Park.

The Guinea international striker, returning from a leg injury sustained 11-days earlier during the first-team's clash against Burnley, sliced horribly wide with the goal at his mercy.

Both sides created chances during a free-flowing first-half, but Rob Duggan in the City goal was arguably the busier of the two 'keepers.

The young Irishman was on hand to keep out early efforts from Nathan Lowndes and Jake Moult, while at the other end, Bangoura headed over Matt Hazley's teasing cross from 5-yards.

Duggan's quick reactions then kept Louis Briscoe at bay on the half-hour, before both Bangoura and strike-parter Adam Rooney failed to capitalise on another when a superb Hazley delivery flashed across the face of goal.

Briscoe shaved the post with a header as the home side applied the early pressure in the second-half.

City's response saw a Rooney header comfortably saved by Joe Anyon before Bangoura's mazy run into the area was halted by last-ditch challenge from Colin Miles.

The balance of play continued to tilt from end-to-end but both defences held firm.

Vale's best chance arrived with fifteen minutes left to play when Christian Smith sent a powerful header narrowly wide with Duggan stranded.

But the Potters should have wrapped up the points at the death when Bangoura failed to test Anyon from six-yards.

Port Vale (4-4-2): Anyon; Abbey, Prosser, Miles, O'Grady; Moult (Davidson, 60), Soboljew, C Smith, Cardle; Briscoe, Lowndes (Glover, 60). Subs (Not Used): Ransome, Shaw, Bown.

City (4-4-2): Duggan; Whitley, Wilkinson, Shotton, Dickinson; Baidek (Thomas, 53), Pulis, Eustace, Hazley (Garrett, 73); Rooney, Bangoura. Subs (Not Used): St Louis-Hamilton, Grocott, Robinson.