Port Vale captain Carl Dickinson strikes early to secure win over Swindon

An early goal from Carl Dickinson lifted Port Vale to within a point of the play-off places in Sky Bet League One as they secured a 1-0 victory over Swindon.Vale got off to a flying start with skipper Dickinson netting his first goal of the season in the sixth minute.Louis Dodds dug out a far-post cross from the right byline and Dickinson rose to plant a header low inside Lawrence Vigouroux's right-hand post from eight yards.Dodds also whipped a swerving 25-yard shot against Vigouroux's right-hand post, with the Swindon keeper motionless, in the 19th minute.But the visitors were very much in the game and Jon Obika fired his shot too close to Vale keeper Jak Alnwick when well placed.Much of the play was competitive but uninspiring and Vale failed to make the most of several promising situations in the early part of the second period.Swindon applied late pressure but failed to place a serious dent in a solid home rearguard that was superbly led by Richard Duffy.