Relegation battlers Vale pushed league leaders Charlton every inch of the way in a pulsating encounter.

Desperate Vale refused to let the Addicks settle from the off and Dean Kiely only just denied Ville Viljanen from a Richard Rufus back pass.

Brian Horton's fighters continued to contest every ball and Viljanen threatened again after a neat exchange with strike partner David Healy.

Charlton were being made to look anything but table toppers, but they should have taken a 19th-minute lead.

Paul Kitson's weak finish let Vale off the hook as Kevin Pilkington blocked his first effort and scrambled a second attempt off the line.

Vale continued to look a much different proposition from the side which went 10 games without a win before Saturday's victory over Portsmouth.

And the home die-hards were dancing with joy after Viljanen fired a spectacular opener six minutes before the interval.

The Finnish striker left Rufus flat on his back before belting a 25-yard shot past a groping Kiely.

The pace in the second half was breathtaking at times with Vale contesting every ball and Charlton forced to dig very deep.

Charlton got their first equaliser against the run of play in the 67th minute - moments after Viljanen had missed a great chance to put Vale two up.

Mark Kinsella floated over a left wing corner and Rufus bundled home with the ball looping over Pilkington's dive.

Valiant Vale were back in front just a minute later with man of the match Sagi Burton rising highest to nod in at the far post from Allen Tankard's free-kick.

But Charlton hit back, with another Kinsella corner undoing Vale again 16 minutes from time. Andy Hunt escaped his marker to head home from six yards and push the visitors closer to the First Division title.

Teams

Port Vale: Pilkington, Carragher, Burton, Snijders, Tankard, Rougier, Widdrington, Cummins, O'Callaghan, Healy, Viljanen.

Subs Not Used: Goodlad, Naylor, Eyre, Burns, Talbot.

Booked: Snijders, Burton.

Goals: Viljanen 39, Burton 68.

Charlton: Kiely, Barness (Tiler 62), Rufus, Brown, Powell, Newton, Kinsella, Stuart, Robinson (Parker 62),Kitson (Svensson 82), Hunt.

Subs Not Used: Pringle, Royce.

Booked: Brown, Barness.

Goals: Rufus 63, Hunt 74.

Att: 4,513.

Ref: B Jordan (Tring).