Tom Pope scored twice to help end Port Vale's run of 11 games without a win as they comfortably beat Cheltenham 3-1 at Vale Park.
The veteran striker's brace, which sandwiched Ben Whitfield's strike, earned the hosts their first win since the opening day - and the first since new boss Neil Aspin took charge.
Kevin Dawson's late goal was merely a consolation as the visitors suffered a first defeat in five.
The home side took the lead after 26 minutes when James Gibbons' cross from the right found the unmarked Pope who powered a header past Scott Flinders.
Vale, the league's lowest scorers ahead of kick-off, then doubled their lead on the hour when Whitfield drilled a 20-yard volley into the bottom corner after Tyrone Barnett's shot was blocked.
Pope added his second 10 minutes from time, blocking a clearance and rounding Flinders to finish from a tight angle, for his fourth in five games.
But Cheltenham continued to threaten, scoring a minute into added time when Dawson fired into the roof of the net following a goalmouth scramble.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Vale have had next month's away game at Newport brought forward to Friday, 10 November (19:45 BST). The switch is to avoid a clash with the following day's Wales-Australia rugby international nearby at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
