CITY signed off an unforgettable 2025 in fitting fashion – with a cracker to seal another three points at Valley Parade.
Victory over bottom club Port Vale rounded off a memorable 12 months which saw them clock up 87 points from 46 games.
This was their 25th win in that time and certainly not the most emphatic – but the clinching goal certainly was.
Jenson Metcalfe has been getting closer to that elusive first and broke his duck with a second-half sizzler.
City head into the new year in third spot with all to play for.
Graham Alexander made two changes from Boxing Day – with Curtis Tilt handed his first start since tearing his hamstring against Doncaster nearly four months ago.
Tilt had originally been pencilled in to replace Ciaran Kelly. But Aden Baldwin pulled up injured in the warm-up, forcing a late reshuffle as the Irishman retained his place.
The other difference from the Wigan win saw Tyreik Wright recalled for the injured Bobby Pointon.
Once again, there was no Andy Cook in the squad nor Alex Pattison. Former City defender Paul Huntington revealed in a radio interview earlier in the day that the out-of-favour midfielder has been made available in the January window with a clutch of League Two clubs declaring an interest.
Basement dwellers Vale had sacked Darren Moore on the eve of the contest after a run of 11 winless games. They had only scored twice in the last nine.
First-team coach Jamie Smith took temporary charge of a side whose last success three months ago was also in Yorkshire against Barnsley.
Vale had not scored in eight of their previous nine outings but Tilt was quickly into the action against the physical front duo of Jayden Stockley and one-time Bantam Devante Cole.
Jenson Metcalfe curled the night’s first shot wide before an awful touch from Kelly almost sent Cole clear – not the only careless City pass in the early stages.
Vale were showing the expected reaction to their Huddersfield hammering with their energy. But City felt they were denied a penalty on 27 minutes.
City had a big penalty shout for a challenge on Curtis Tilt (Image: Thomas Gadd)
Keeper Ben Amos failed to hold Ibou Touray’s hanging cross and after two grabs at it, he fell into Tilt trying to recover the loose ball. The centre half went down but referee Scott Oldham ignored the noise – much to the annoyance of Alexander who was straight into the ear of fourth official Dale Baines.
There was more anger targeted at the officials when Joe Wright was left in a heap from a City corner. He appeared to get caught in the face by Stockley and needed treatment for several minutes.
Vale almost caught City’s 10 men napping from a long ball but Jordan Shipley snatched at the half-chance before Wright was allowed to return.
Ryan Croasdale saw a long-range effort deflected over. City broke from the Vale corner through Tyreik Wright but Stephen Humphrys dragged his shot past the near post.
City forced a flurry of corners at the end of the half – which ended with home boos for the referee.
Stockley was throwing himself about and earned Vale’s third booking after catching Kelly with a flailing arm. There was another sizeable delay for the defender to be checked over before he could carry on.
City were close to the breakthrough on 56 minutes. Brad Halliday’s quick throw to Antoni Sarcevic caught out Vale, the ball was played in to Humphrys whose ferocious close-range strike was superbly flicked over his bar by defender Ben Heneghan.
It was hard to tell if it was going in or not but the centre half took no chances – and he needed bandaging up as the game was halted once more.
It was becoming a frustrating night and that was evident when Max Power and Humphrys were on the wrong wavelength from a hurried free-kick.
But that all disappeared midway through the second half with a rocket from Metcalfe.
Tyreik Wright played a corner to Power, he moved it on to his midfield partner who bent a right-foot rocket beyond the diving Amos from the edge of the box.
It felt a different place as the noise returned and Humphrys went close to a quickfire second with a header.
The long injury breaks meant 10 added minutes for City to negotiate. The bandaged Heneghan headed over and each clearance and block was greeted with a roar by the Kop.