Drawing 2-2 with only minutes left to play, Gareth Aldridge popped up to seal a massive win over the MSSML Premier League leaders.

And Joint boss Rob Butler afterwards revealed he was sure his boys would take all three points, even when Vale drew the scores level with only five minutes to go.

"Even when they equalised I had no worries about us going on to win it," he said.

"Going forward we are just so strong - we are always going to score goals."

The victory was marred by injuries to Vale's Kyle Kilmartin and ex-Berko man Mark Longman in the first half after a clash of heads, which saw both players taken to hospital and resulted in a 40 minute delay in proceedings.

Up until then Berko had looked the bette side, with young Greg Walsh, starting his first game of the season in place of the ill Ashley Addison, getting in five efforts on goal including a volley over the bar and a shot screwed wide.

Tony Fields twice went close in the opening stages - hitting the crossbar and heading wide - while Alex McCarthy and Gareth Aldridge also only millimetres away from putting Berko ahead.

After a reshuffle, the severely weakened Vale side surprisingly took the lead with virtually the last kick of the first half, when Martin Kynsey, who had earlier gone close, got between two Berko defenders and ran into the penalty area to fire home.

The Lilywhites were quick out of the blocks in the second half, and were ahead within six minutes of play.

Wayne Barber netted his first for the club - needing two attempts to convert a Walsh cross - before Ben Butler found himself unmarked to head home an Aldridge cross barely a minute later.

Eddie Farmer had to be alert in the Vale goal to keep out Fields and Aldridge, while Berko stopper Sam Styles was caught out of position for Vale's equaliser.

Carrying an ankle injury he could only palm the ball towards the goal as he backpeddled to keep out a difficult bouncing ball. Neil Roberts took full advantage to make it 2-2.

But Berko came right back at the home side, and a minute later were celebrating taking the lead.

Ben Butler put in an inch-perfect cross for Aldridge, who put away his second headed goal of the season to secure a vital win for the Lilywhites.

Rob Butler took time afterwards to praise his midfield, and new-boy 19-year-old Craig MacKay who started at centre back.

"We were at our best again," he said. " All three of our goals came from midfield so credit to them really.

"I've brought in Craig who has been been with me before, and after losing Matt Gunnary through injury we had to bring on Jack Denham. Both those guys were superb."

Butler also revealed that he is looking to bring in another player - a full back in his mid 20s - to tighten up the back line.

Berko were playing Brimsdown Rovers in the Challenge Trophy as the Gazette went to press.

On Saturday they are at home to St Margaretsbury in the MSSML Premier Division. They entertain Colney Heath next Tuesday in the Premier Division Cup.