Cheltenham 0-1 Port Vale

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A Marc Bridge-Wilkinson penalty secured three points for Port Vale in a gritty win over Cheltenham at Whaddon Road.

The former Derby midfielder slammed the ball home from the spot after 32 minutes after Michael Cummins had been pushed over by defender Jamie Victory.

The home side had claims for a penalty turned down on the stroke of half-time when Grant McCann's inswinging corner appeared to strike Vale defender Steve Rowland on the hand but the referee waved play on.

Heavy Cheltenham pressure towards the end of the half had seen Paul Brayson twice go close, while a Victory shot at the start of the second half was palmed away by visiting goalkeeper Mark Goodlad.

The closing stages saw Cheltenham indebted to goalkeeper Steve Book for keeping them in the game.

After 70 minutes he saved a fierce drive from teenage striker Billy Paynter before tipping away a powerful Brett Angell header seven minutes later.

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Cheltenham: Book, Howarth, Mike Duff, Walker, Victory, Devaney, Forsyth, Finnigan, McCann, Alsop, Brayson. Subs: Brough, Yates, Naylor, Higgs, Spencer.

Port Vale: Goodlad, Carragher, Collins, Burns, Brightwell, Durnin, Rowland, Cummins, Bridge-Wilkinson, Angell, Paynter. Subs: Delaney, McClare, Boyd, Armstrong, Birchill.

Referee: F Stretton (Nottinghamshire)