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[[File:Mal Benning.jpg|thumb|upright|Benning warming up for [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] in 2022]]
On 28 June 2021, Benning agreed a one-year contract with [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], to begin on 1 July; he was signed to compete with fellow new arrival [[Dan Jones (footballer, born 1994)|Dan Jones]].<ref name="sirb"/> He started five of the "Valiants" first seven League Two games of the [[2021–22 Port Vale F.C. season|2021–22]] season, but admitted that "I think there is a lot more to come from me... I feel like I can do a lot more".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Mal Benning's message to Port Vale fans ahead of Harrogate game |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mala-benning-port-vale-mansfield-5933639 |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=17 September 2021}}</ref> He was dropped to the bench after [[James Gibbons (footballer)|James Gibbons]] returned from injury, but came on as a [[half-time]] substitute to score his first goal at [[Vale Park]] in a 3–1 win over [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] on 16 October.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Mal Benning's message about Port Vale competition and Mansfield return |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mal-benning-port-vale-mansfield-6076614 |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=18 October 2021}}</ref> He was limited to 17 league starts in the [[2021–22 Port Vale F.C. season|2021–22]] campaign, but would score the winning [[penalty kick]] in the [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] victory over [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in the [[2022 English Football League play-offs|play-off semi-finals]].<ref name="2021–22"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Port Vale heading to Wembley after dramatic shoot-out win over Swindon |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-heading-wembley-after-7105187 |access-date=20 May 2022 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=19 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He started in the [[2022 EFL League Two play-off final|play-off final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]] and scored Vale's final goal as they secured promotion with a 3–0 victory over former club Mansfield Town; Michael Baggaley of ''[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]'' wrote that Benning was "excellent" and he "set up [[Kian Harratt|Harratt]]
He enjoyed an excellent run of form at the start of the [[2022–23 Port Vale F.C. season|2022–23]] season, maintaining a first-team place despite competition for the left-wing-back position from [[Dan Jones (footballer, born 1994)|Dan Jones]], [[Liam McCarron]] and [[Thierry Small]], whilst [[Chris Hussey]] was allowed to leave the club.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Mal Benning thanks Port Vale fans as he enjoys regular run |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/it-tough-defender-thanks-port-7553868 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=6 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Speaking in December, manager [[Darrell Clarke]] said that Benning "has defended very, very well; it hasn't been one of his main strengths but he has been good going forward, he has added that to his game and been ultra-consistent".<ref>{{cite news |title=Darrell Clarke {{!}} "Stay level-headed and keep on improving" |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2022/december/darrell-clarke--stay-level-headed-and-keep-on-improving/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=9 December 2022 |language=en-gb}}</ref> He did though lose his first-team place to [[Sammy Robinson]] as the club's form tailed off in the second half of the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Mal Benning says Port Vale can learn plenty from this season |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-defender-sets-target-8339484 |access-date=11 April 2023 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=10 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> His stay with the club was automatically extended by a year after he triggered an appearance-based clause.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fielding |first1=Rob |title=Contract extension - Port Vale clarify defender's status |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2023/07/contract-extension-port-vale-clarify-defenders-status/ |access-date=28 July 2023 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=28 July 2023}}</ref> However, [[director of football]] David Flitcroft said that he "wouldn't get the regular game time that he would hope for and that a move away from Vale Park would be in his best interest".<ref>{{cite news |title=Mal Benning Leaves The Valiants |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2023/august/mal-benning-leaves-the-valiants/ |access-date=4 August 2023 |work = Port Vale F.C. |date=3 August 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref>
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