The Glovers looked to be heading back to Somerset with all three points thanks to Francois Zoko’s 10th goal of the season, but referee David Webb awarded a late penalty for a foul by Omar Sowunmi on David Worrall.
Vale striker Tom Pope converted from 12 yards to steal a point for the home side.
Way revealed his players were ‘a little bit deflated’ because of the 87th-minute equaliser but urged them to feel pleased with their performance.
“I’ve said to them ‘keep your heads up’,” he told iFollow Glovers.
“I want the players to be proud because to come away from home and pick up a point is good.
“We knew they wanted to get one over on us and beat us but they couldn’t do that. My players had to stand up to the physical battle and they did.
“We played some fantastic football and it should have been five or six. The first half was probably the best away that I’ve witnessed.”
Way continued: “I’ve watch the decision back and it’s never a penalty. I was speaking to the fourth official throughout the game and said ‘don’t let the crowd dictate your decision making’ and I felt they did on that situation.
“He gets a touch of the ball – you can see he gets there ahead of Worrall and the direction of the ball changes.
“The crowd were booing and everything was going for us but unfortunately we didn’t get the three points.”