Cheltenham 1-1 Port Vale
Cheltenham 1-1 Port Vale: Louis Dodds ended his fifteen game goal drought to score his fifth of the season as Vale picked up an away point against Cheltenham Town.
Micky Adams initially made three changes to the starting eleven with James, Andrew and the suspended Myrie-Williams replaced by Taylor, Morsy and Dodds. But there was a further late change to the Vale line-up with Chilvers replacing McDonald who pulled up during the warm-up.
In a busy first-half, both sides had chances to open the scoring.
The home side had the best chance of the half through striker Zebroski on the half-hour mark. But Vale also created chances for Dodds and Pope, while defender John McCombe also went close from a corner.
Despite an open and entertaining first 45 minutes, it was goalless at the break.
In the second period, Cheltenham went even closer as Jones hit the post in the opening exchanges. And as the home side continued to push, Doug Loft was forced to clear off the line as Town forced another chance.
Then Vale were indebted to Chris Neal who pulled off a good save from Taylor. But minutes later, Cheltenham did take a deserved lead as, on the hour mark, Darren Carter finally found a way past Neal.
However, despite being under cosh for much of the game, Vale managed to find an equaliser. On 67 minutes, Rob Taylor did well on the left and from his cross Tom Pope’s header was saved. But Louis Dodds was on hand to score his fifth of the season and his first goal since September.
The home side nearly re-took the lead when Marlon Pack’s long-range effort almost beat Chris Neal but the shot just cleared the crossbar. And Vale countered as Taylor’s shot forced a save from the Town keeper.
The home side then went agonisingly close to re-taking the lead in the closing minutes, but Duffy’s shot was cleared off the line in dramatic fashion by John McCombe.
Vale clung on to pick up a valuable away point and end their run of three defeats in a row.
Full-time: Cheltenham 1-1 Port Vale
Vale: Neal, Duffy, McCombe, Chilvers, Loft, Vincent (Williamson), Morsy, Burge, Taylor (Shuker), Pope, Dodds (Andrew)
Subs: Johnson, Yates, James