Martin Smith ended the goal drought but Huddersfield Town still could not find a win to pull them out of the relegation zone.
Smith scored Huddersfield's first goal in 567 minutes early in the first half. But despite having enough chances to seal victory by half-time the home side failed to capitalise and allowed the visitors to draw level.
Town started the day in danger of sinking to the foot of the Second Division and that prospect looked more likely after former Huddersfield defender Sam Collins scored his third goal of the season, pouncing on a loose ball from a corner to fire past Scott Bevan and into the roof of the net after just five minutes.
But after Jon Stead had narrowly missed with a glancing header Smith hit back with a simple tap-in after Vale goalkeeper Marc Goodlad had pushed Stead's shot into his path.
The goal sparked the Terriers into life and only a goal line clearance from Collins prevented Simon Baldry from putting them ahead on 14 minutes.
Seconds later Smith's curling free-kick was helped over the crossbar by Goodlad but Baldry made amends three minutes later collecting Steve Jenkins' through ball and firing past the goalkeeper from inside the box.
Midfielder Chris Holland should then have stretched the lead but instead blasted over from the edge of the box with just the goalkeeper to beat.
With his side under the cosh teenage striker Billy Paynter completed the scoring after 29 minutes, with his third goal in four matches.
Paynter was first to react to Matt Carragher's tempting cross and planted his header past the exposed Bevan.
Injury-hit Port Vale then almost snatched a half-time lead in injury time but Bevan reacted superbly to claw Brett Angell's header off his line and away to safety.
Both sides tightened up after the break with neither able to conjure up a goal in the second half.
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