The decisive goal came in the 79th minute when Rubin Colwill scored his eighth goal of the season, securing a 1-0 win for Cardiff City and confirming Port Vale's demotion to League Two. Despite Port Vale manager Jon Brady's vow to continue fighting after a goalless draw against Wigan, his team's inability to score in 90 minutes ultimately led to their downfall.
Port Vale's trip to Cardiff City Stadium was a must-win, with the team needing to claim victory in all their remaining four matches and relying on Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon to drop points in order to avoid relegation. The first half was uneventful, with Joel Colwill's attempt on goal being the only notable action, forcing Joe Gauchi to make a save. After the break, Nathan Trott made a crucial save to deny Ben Garrity's header from a corner.
Later, Yosef Salech and Joel Colwill had opportunities to score, but it was Chris Willock's cross that set up Rubin Colwill's winning header.