Port Vale vs Cheltenham Town. Sky Bet League Two.
Vale ParkAttendance4,277.
Port Vale 3
- T Pope (26th minute, 80th minute)
- B Whitfield (61st minute)
Cheltenham Town 1
- K Dawson (91st minute)
Port Vale 3-1 Cheltenham: Pope pops up for Vale
Saturday 14 October 2017 19:14, UK
A brace from Tom Pope helped end Port Vale's run of 11 games without a win as they comfortably beat Cheltenham 3-1 at Vale Park.
The veteran striker's goals, which sandwiched Ben Whitfield's strike, earned the hosts their first win since the opening day.
Kevin Dawson's late goal was merely a consolation as the visitors suffered a first defeat in five.
The home side took the lead after 26 minutes when James Gibbons' cross from the right found an unmarked Pope who powered a header past Scott Flinders.
Vale, who were the league's lowest scorers ahead of kick-off, doubled their lead on the hour as Whitfield drilled a 20-yard volley into the bottom corner after Tyrone Barnett's shot was blocked.
Trending
- Usyk denies Fury in intense world championship rematch
- Highlights: Usyk overcomes Fury in epic heavyweight rematch
- Fury rages: I was robbed... Usyk got a Christmas gift!
- Papers: Arsenal, Man City and Bayern in three-way battle for Olmo
- 'He got a Christmas gift!' | Fury left fuming in post-fight press conference
- Big fight reaction: What next for Fury and Usyk after contentious call?
- 'Uncle Frank is blind!' | Usyk responds to Fury complaints
- Littler survives scare to threaten nine-darter and win Worlds opener
- 'I want my revenge!' Dubois storms ring to demand Usyk rematch
- Dubois storms ring to demand undisputed Usyk 'revenge' fight
Pope then added his second 10 minutes from time, blocking a clearance and rounding Flinders to finish from a tight angle.
But Cheltenham continued to threaten and rounded off the scoring a minute into added time when Dawson fired into the roof of the net following a goalmouth scramble.
