Jules with vital winner at Vale

By chelt_mad
March 22 2003

A close range header from Julian Alsop earned Cheltenham all of the points.Grant McCann had put them ahead from from a free kick just before half time only to see Stephen McPhee score with a volley on 70 minutes.Defeat would have ended many hopes but this win gives Cheltenham a chance of staying up

This match started off brightly with Cheltenham having a John Brough volley going wide and Port Vale having a Matthew Carragher shot going just wide of Book's left hand post.A few minutes later McCann had an effort with a 30 yard free kick that went just wide.Jamie Victory then had a volley punched away as Cheltenham upped the pressure.Cheltenham's dominence was rewarded just before half time with a McCann free kick from the edge of the area

Half Time Port Vale 0 Cheltenham 1

The first real chance of the 2nd half came with an Ian Brightwell shot going just wide for Vale.Cheltenham's first real chance came when a Julian Alsop volley just went wide of the right hand side of the goal.However Port Vale were level on 71 minutes after Ian Armstrong crossed the ball across the 6 yard box and Stephen McPhee volleyed it in.It was left to Julian Alsop to power in a close range header after a cross from McCann.Vale's best chance of getting a point came when Stephen McPhee's volley was easily caught by Book

Full Time Port Vale 1 Cheltenham 2

Port Vale
Delaney , Clarke , Walsh , Carragher , Collins , Brightwell , McPhee , Bridge-Wilkinson , Brisco , Littlejohn , Brooker
Subs: Goodlad , Armstrong , Paynter , Burns , Durnin

Cheltenham Town
Book , Bird , Howarth , Duff , Victory , Devaney , Finnigan , Yates , McCann , Brough , Brown
Subs: Griffin , Naylor , Milton , Higgs , Alsop

Ref: A Leake (Lancashire)