Robins too good for Vale

Cheltenham withstood a spirited Port Vale revival to secure a 2-1 win and extend their unbeaten run to nine games in League Two.

Vale striker Marc Richards headed over with the only real chance of a hard fought and uneventful first-half and the home side were on top before the game turned on the hour. Robins' striker Darryl Duffy served notice of what was to come when he forced a smart save from Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson. And the visitors took a 63rd-minute lead when Kaid Mohamed swung over a free-kick from the right flank for big defender Alan Bennett to head inside Tomlinson's right-hand post from eight yards. Cheltenham continued to pile forward and Mohamed crashed a shot against the outside of a post before substitute Brian Smikle added a second goal in the 73rd minute. Vale's overrun defence was all over the place as Jeff Goulding teed up Smikle to fire a 14-yard shot, which flicked Tomlinson's fingers on its way into the net. It looked like game over, but Vale rallied and the fightback looked on when substitute Sean Rigg reduced the arrears 12 minutes from time. Tom Pope's original effort was blocked by visiting keeper Scott Brown and Rigg rammed in a low shot from eight yards. But it proved mere consolation as Cheltenham's defence held firm under late pressure to secure their seventh away win of the season.