Cheltenham Town grabbed an important point from Vale Park today but thoroughly deserved all three with a high tempo performance in the second half. The Robins struggled against a dominant Vale side in the first but Schofield will be pleased with the attitude of his players after a difficult week for the club.

Michael Pook scored his first goal for the club in sensational style and there were some top performances from all areas of the field today including Josh Low and Theo Lewis.

TEAM NEWS: Caretaker manager John Schofield rang the changes by handing teenger Theo Lewis his first Coca-Cola League start in midfield. Josh Low replaced the injured Lee Ridley at left-back with Julian Alsop restored to the forward line. Justin Richards and Andy Gallinagh moved to the substitutes' bench.

Cheltenham lined up in a 4-3-3 formation designed to combat Port Vale's three man central midfield. Elvis Hammond and Frankie Artus filled the wide positions in attack with Alsop through the middle and a midfield quartet of Lewis, David Bird and Michael Pook.

First minute: A blocked shot by Dave Bird results in a brace of corners which eventually leads to an Eyjolfsson volley floating over the bar.

3: Haldane smashes the ball against the outside of the post in an early warning to the Robins.

9 GOAL: Vale take an early lead after Prosser's long ball fell to Vale's captain Marc Richards in Cheltenham's area. Richards turned in the box and fired a well placed shot past Scott Brown at his far post.

12: Vale concede a free kick just outside of the area. Bird steps up and fires a superb shot in towards goal but the goalkeeper is equal to it. Eyjolfsson's follow up flies wide.

15: Lewis Haldane is proving a real threat on the left hand side. His high tempo run into the box led to a cross which only needed a touch to put the Valiants two up.

20: Kris Taylor's cross from the left found John McCombe on the far post but his last ditch effort struck the side netting.

25: Eyjolfsson's throw was flicked on courtesy of Dave Bird's head and Theo Lewis took a strike from outside the area. However a deflection from Prosser took the sting out of the shot and it fell to the hands of Martin.

29: Taylor is having an impressive game on the left. Another looping cross from the deep left doesn't quite meet the feet of Richards but its another warning once again for the Robins.

36: A shot by Prosser was saved by Brown and following a scramble Dodd's shot was blocked. Taylor kept up the pressure by crossing a long ball into the box but it was cleared over the bar by Drissa Diallo.

38: It's Cheltenham's turn to put the presure on now. Pook's powerful shot was headed off the line by Stockley. A corner followed but Theo Lewis headered over the bar.

45 BOOKING: Griffiths is shown a yellow card after diving into a challenge which left Diallo in agony on the floor.

HALF TIME: 1-0

50: Shot by Richards was parried by Scott Brown resulting in a corner. The corner flew in and Josh Low's faltered header flew through the box but fortunately missed everyone.

56: Cheltenham's first attack of the second half ends up with a high and wide shot from Michael Pook despite some clever assist play from Elvis Hammond.

61: Pook's attempt at goal stuns the hands of Martin and the ball slips away to safety despite an attempted rebound by Theo Lewis.

65 GOAL: Long throw from Bird. Alsop challenged for the ball and won the header. The ball fell to Pook who looped the ball from outside the area over Martin to equalise for the Robins. A deserved goal for the hard working Pook.

66: Vale immediately go on the attack with a Stockley cross but the header from Haldane is wasted and it drifts wide.

70 SUB: Schofield withdraws Julian Alsop and replaces him with Justin Richards.

73 SUB: Vale's Griffiths leaves the pitch to be replaced by Tommy Fraser. Lewis Haldane was also substituted to the bench in favour of Rob Taylor.

74: Scott Brown had to clear for a corner using his head after a long header from McCombe almost let Marc Richards through on goal.

76: Josh Low shows some excellent dribbling ability by waltzing through the Vale midfield and laying it off to Hammond. Elvis set up Dave Bird but his shot dragged wide of the far post.

78 SUB: The impressive Theo Lewis is replaced by the experienced Barry Hayles.

79 BOOKING: Eyjolfsson is booked for pulling Robert Taylor back.

80: Hammond is threatening the Vale defence and a pass through to the box proved dangerous but no one was there to take the opportunity. The ball was cleared out to Hammond again but he was off balance and a horrendous shot towards the sidelines followed.

82: Hayles threaded the ball through to Elvis Hammond but his shot flew well wide of the goal.

84 SUB: Jamie Guy makes his way onto the pitch replacing Louis Dodds.

86: Elvis Hammond had the opportunity of a one on one with the Vale keeper but a last ditch challenge from McCombe denied Cheltenham a possible winner.

87: It's all Cheltenham Town now. A cross from Barry Hayles was met by the diving head of Justin Richards but the outstretched fingers of Martin sent the ball wide for a corner.

90 BOOKING: Stockley booked for a deliberate block on the rampaging Barry Hayles.

90 +2 BOOKING: Josh Low given a yellow card for wrestling a Vale player to the floor.

FULL TIME: 1-1

Port Vale (3-4-3): Martin (GK); Prosser, McCombe, Owen; Stockley, Griffith (Fraser 73), Jarrett, Taylor; Haldane (Taylor 73), Richards (C), Dodds (Guy 84) Subs not used: Anyon (GK), Howland, Yates, McCrory

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-3-3): Brown (GK); Eyjolfsson, Diallo, Townsend, Low ; Bird (c), Pook, Lewis (Hayles 78); Artus, Alsop (Richards 70), Hammond. Subs not used: Richardson (GK), Gallinagh, Haynes, Hutton, Watkins.

REFEREE: S. D. Cook

ATTENDANCE: 4,979 (182 from Cheltenham)