Vics survived a late onslaught to take a precious point in their fight against Championship relegation.
Jordan Craig and Lewis Warnock both made vital goal-line clearances as promotion chasing Vale threw everything at the Westenders in the final 10 minutes.
Goalkeeper Martin McDonald pulled off a tremendous save too to keep out a net-bound header as Vics clung on.
But a draw was no more than the home side deserved after producing arguably their best defensive display of the season.
The first half was a cat and mouse affair until Vale striker Andy Johnston came within inches of getting on the end of a Gary Giffen cross in 24 minutes.
An accidental clash of heads a few minutes later forced Vics defender Jamie Donnelly and Vale’s Gary McMenamin to leave the park for treatment.
And when play restarted, Warnock found plenty of space for a shot from 18 yards only to see his effort lack the power to trouble Vale keeper Jamie Donnelly.
Left back Ross Gilmour then set his sights on the Vale goal, his superb bending effort from 30 yards rising just beyond the upright.
The visitors had the bulk of possession but found clear cut chances in front of goal extremely hard to come by as Vics shut down space all over the park.
The hosts actually looked the more threatening side on the counter attack and in first half injury time, Vics striker Hamish McKinlay found himself in behind the Vale backline only for Donnelly to rush from his line and make a save.
Just two minutes into the second half, McDonald made a fine save to turn Giffen’s shot on the turn wide for a corner.
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But the visitors failed to build any momentum from the chance and the next clear sight of goal came at the other end in 66 minutes when McKinlay teed up McKenzie for a shot from 18 yards that Donnelly batted away.
Rossvale went route one in an desperate attempt to break the deadlock in the final 15 minutes and it almost paid off.
A long throw-in into the box was spilled by McDonald into the path of Jamie Hunter who scuffed his shot into the ground allowing Craig just enough time to get back and clear off the line.
Warnock then came to the rescue to hoof clear a Gary McGrath effort that beat McDonald. The keeper then played his part by acrobatically tipping Matt Niven’s header away from the top corner.
The pressure was piling up and another long-throw led to an almighty goalmouth scramble with several Vale players passing up the chance to prod the ball home from close range.
Vics had created very little for most of the half but with one minute to go a lightening quick counter attack sent McKenzie clear of the last defender.
The young frontman steaded himself but his shot from 18 yards was a tired one that lacked direction, allowing Donnelly to make a relatively easy stop.
