A Marco Gabbiadini brace and a Jamie Forrester strike saw Northampton record a third successive league win.

Kevan Broadhurst side's have turned things round recently after a run of poor results mainly thanks to the forward pairing.

The Cobblers created several good chances early on and Gabbiadini could have had a hat-trick, being denied by Vale goalkeeper Mark Goodlad on one occasion and firing two other good efforts wide.

Paul Harsley threatened twice before the veteran striker broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark, lobbing Goodlad with a neat chip from 20 yards.

Gabbiadini increased Northampton's advantage after the break, racing on to Forrester's inch-perfect pass for his 12th goal of a prolific season.

Vale never looked like finding the net and with a time running out Gabbiadini's strike-partner Forrester rounded off the scoring with another deft lob.

Northampton: Harper, Gill, Burgess, Sampson, Carruthers, Asamoah, Trollope, Harsley, Hargreaves, Gabbiadini, Forrester.
Subs: Hope, McGregor, Stamp, Abbey, Lincoln.

Port Vale: Goodlad, Burns, Brightwell, Collins, Cummins, Boyd, Durnin, Armstrong, Charnock, Paynter, McPhee.
Subs: McClare, Brooker, Delaney, Byrne, Birchall.

Referee: G Cain (Merseyside)