A hard fought game away at the Jonny-Rocks stadium against the Robins saw the Vale held to a goalless draw after having a first-half penalty overturned by the linesman.
The Vale started the game brightly, spreading the play well and working the ball into some decent attacking areas, but they couldn’t generate any clear cut chances as the Cheltenham back-line held firm.
The hosts began to grow into the game around the five minute mark, with Scott Brown coming out to slap the ball out the sky and end a dangerous opportunity for the Robins, with the Vale breaking down the other end but David Amoo couldn’t forge a chance on goal after some excellent footwork down the right.
The first strong chance of the game came in the ninth minute of the game as David Worrall floated an inviting ball into the box and Mark Cullen leapt highest to loop a header towards the Cheltenham goal that beat the keeper but he was denied by the crossbar.
The attempt sparked the Robins into action for a chance of their own where they had their first major oppotunity of the game when Alfie May lobbed the ball over an out-rushing Brown but his attempt was headed off the line by Leon Legge who would head clear a further two balls as the hosts refused to relent their attack.
Cheltenham had another good opportunity go missing in the 14th minute when Seàn Long sent a dangerous ball across the Vale six-yard box that was just missed by Brown and Legge before Alfie May was seconds from arriving in time to tap the ball into the empty net.
After a period of football where neither side were able to get a shot away at goal, the hosts kept trying to see joy down the flanks, with Long and Chris Hussey delivering a number of balls into the Vale area but they were all dealt with.
As the game passed the half-hour mark, Mitch Clark went in search of his first Vale goal of the season as he cut inside and let fly from 25-yards, but his attempt dropped just over Owen Evans’ bar.
It was Tom Conlon who was next to try his luck from distance for the Valiants, as he did brilliantly to win the ball with a sliding challenge, get back to his feet and drive into space before drilling an effort towards goal but was unable to find the mark.
The Vale kept their pressure alive as Conlon had another effort in the 41st minute as Mitch Clark did brilliant to win the ball and drive in field before pinging the ball over to Worrall who pulled it back to Amoo where he knocked it onto Conlon whose curling shot was saved.
One minute later Clark burst into the box and was brought to the ground by a sliding tackle and the referee instantly pointed to the penalty spot, but the decision was overturned after he spoke to the linesman, seeing the half end goalless.
The first clear chance of the second period went the way of the Vale, as Conlon curled a lovely ball out wide to Amoo who delivered a dangerous cross that was met by the head of Cullen whose low header was saved well by Evans.
As the game hit the hour mark Tom Conlon did excellently to win the ball and weave through five Cheltenham defenders before going down after it appeared he may have been tripped but the referee was having none of it and waved away the penalty shout.
Conlon then looked to be the provider as he curled the ball onto the boot of David Amoo out wide with a stunning outside the boot volley pass, and Amoo drove forward and drilled a low effort across goal that went inches past the far post.
The game was end to end as both sides looked to grab the first goal of the game, and Conlon again was nearly the man to get it, Worrall floated a ball into the area where it was headed down by Tom Pope, missed by Amoo but nearly poked home by an arriving Conlon but he was beaten to the ball by Evans.
With seven minutes of normal time remaining the Robins had a spell of pressure in the Vale area, but the defence was able to block and jockey the attack and send the ball out for a corner that was headed away from goal by Legge but the pressure remained with Cheltenham winning another corner.
The second corner saw the hosts see a glorious chance go begging, as the ball fell to Jonte Smith at the back post but he could only thigh the ball past the post from point blank range.
In the 87th minute Rhys Browne did well to steal the ball just outside the Cheltenham box before diving forward and crossing the ball towards the back post where it was met by Tom Pope but his diving header could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
The final chance of the game went the Vale’s way as Conlon drove forward and crossed the ball into the six-yard box, where it was cleared as far as Scott Burgess who hit a first time volley over the bar and out of play.
Cheltenham: Evans, Long, Hussey, Raglan, Thomas (59’ Doyle-Hayes), Reid (76’ Smith), Broom, Sheaf (59’ Ince), Boyle, Greaves, May.
Unused Subs: Clements, Debayo, Lovett, Nichols.
Yellow Cards: Raglan.
Port Vale: Brown, Gibbons, Joyce, Legge, Worrall, Smith, Burgess, Conlon, Cullen (69’ Pope), Amoo (78’ Browne), Clark.
Unused Subs:, Maddison, Oyeleke, Atkinson, Crookes, Bennett.
Yellow Cards: Leon Legge.