A goalkeeping blunder from Joe Anyon proved costly for play-off chasing Port Vale as they were held by Cheltenham.
The visitors took an eighth-minute lead when John McCombe glanced home a superbly flighted Tommy Fraser cross.
But the Robins, just four points off the drop zone, levelled from a yard out through Medy Elito after Anyon had spilled Michael Pook's cross.
Cheltenham's Matt Thornhill hit the bar while Vale's Lewis Haldane and Marc Richards also struck the woodwork.
Cheltenham boss Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"After the first 10 minutes when we gifted them a goal, I thought we were superb.
"We need competition for places we need people putting each other under pressure to keep the shirt.
[On loan deadline day] "The squad was small when I came here but you can't have too many loans otherwise people keep missing out."
Port Vale manager Micky Adams told BBC Radio Stoke:
"I can't keep denying that we're not involved the race [for the play-offs].
"If we're going to do anything, we've got to perform better than we did.
"It was a lethargic and tired second half."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 20 March 2010
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Cheltenham
1-1
Port Vale
FT
(HT 1-1)
Elito 40
McCombe 8
Cheltenham
01 Brown
04 Duff
05 Townsend
27 Andrew
02 Bird
07 Pook
19 Elito
28 Thornhill
36 Lescott
09 Richards
11 Almond (Alsop 65)
Substitutes
21 Puddy,
03 Ridley,
08 Gallinagh,
10 Hutton,
14 Watkins,
38 Hayles,
39 Alsop
Port Vale
01 Anyon
05 McCombe
15 Collins
16 Owen
03 Taylor (Dodds 60)
04 Griffith
10 Fraser (Loft 70)
26 Taylor
09 Richards
25 Davies yellow card
32 Haldane yellow card (Rigg 70)
Substitutes
12 Martin,
11 Yates,
07 Loft,
17 Rigg,
19 Richman,
29 Morsy,
14 Dodds
Ref: WardAtt: 3,503
CHELTENHAM
PORT VALE
Possession
Cheltenham46%
Port Vale54%
Attempts on target
Cheltenham2
Port Vale1
Attempts off target
Cheltenham8
Port Vale4
Corners
Cheltenham9
Port Vale4
Fouls
Cheltenham7
Port Vale15
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:58 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+3:30 Justin Richards is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Joe Anyon.
90:00+1:44 The official flags Justin Richards offside. Free kick taken by Joe Anyon.
90:00+0:33 The ball is sent over by Sean Rigg.
90:00+0:06 David Bird produces a cross, Anthony Griffith makes a clearance.
86:55 Medy Elito produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
86:29 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Scott P Brown.
85:58 Medy Elito takes a shot. Save made by Joe Anyon.
84:06 Doug Loft produces a left-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.
81:48 The referee blows for offside against Sean Rigg. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
81:12 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matt Thornhill.
80:54 Matt Thornhill produces a volleyed left-footed shot from 12 yards. Save by Joe Anyon.
80:18 Sean Rigg concedes a free kick for a foul on Matt Thornhill. Direct free kick taken by Danny Andrew.
Correction - 79:34 The ball is crossed by Lee Collins, Marc Richards takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown.
79:34 Centre by Lee Collins, Marc Richards takes a shot. Save by Scott P Brown.
79:09 The referee blows for offside against Julian Alsop. Joe Anyon takes the indirect free kick.
78:59 The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Scott P Brown.
78:46 The ball is crossed by Marc Richards, Scott P Brown makes a save.
76:57 John McCombe challenges Justin Richards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Danny Andrew.
75:49 Effort on goal by Medy Elito from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
73:39 Louis Dodds has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.
69:46 Substitution Doug Loft joins the action as a substitute, replacing Tommy Fraser.
69:46 Substitution Sean Rigg joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lewis Haldane.
69:46 Unfair challenge on Lewis Haldane by Danny Andrew results in a free kick. Kris Taylor takes the free kick. Craig Davies is ruled offside. Scott P Brown takes the indirect free kick.
66:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tommy Fraser on Matt Thornhill. Direct free kick taken by Danny Andrew.
66:08 Marc Richards challenges Shane Duff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott P Brown.
65:39 Foul by Julian Alsop on Gareth Owen, free kick awarded. Kris Taylor takes the direct free kick.
64:50 Substitution Louis Almond goes off and Julian Alsop comes on.
64:09 Shot from just outside the area by David Bird misses to the left of the target.
61:11 Anthony Griffith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Pook. Matt Thornhill restarts play with the free kick.
59:58 Substitution Louis Dodds is brought on as a substitute for Robert Taylor.
59:39 David Bird has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
59:06 The official flags Justin Richards offside. Joe Anyon takes the indirect free kick.
58:00 Booking Booking for Craig Davies for unsporting behaviour.
57:10 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kris Taylor.
57:01 The ball is delivered by Craig Davies, clearance made by Michael Townsend.
51:21 Outswinging corner taken by Tommy Fraser from the right by-line, David Bird makes a clearance.
50:12 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Matt Thornhill.
49:34 John McCombe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Louis Almond. Direct free kick taken by Matt Thornhill.
49:23 Foul by Craig Davies on Aaron Lescott, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Lescott.
48:45 Matt Thornhill takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
47:57 Lee Collins sends in a cross.
46:35 Matt Thornhill takes a shot. Save by Joe Anyon.
46:06 Craig Davies challenges Shane Duff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael Townsend takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:32 The ref blows to end the first period.
44:49 David Bird delivers the ball, clearance made by Marc Richards.
42:47 Louis Almond fouled by John McCombe, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Danny Andrew.
41:43 Centre by Medy Elito, Louis Almond produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
Correction - 39:39 Assist by Michael Pook.
39:39 Assist by David Bird.
39:39 GOAL - Medy Elito:Cheltenham 1 - 1 Port Vale Medy Elito finds the net with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Cheltenham 1-1 Port Vale.
39:39 David Bird produces a cross,
38:44 Gareth Owen crosses the ball, Scott P Brown makes a save.
37:57 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tommy Fraser from the left by-line to the near post, David Bird manages to make a clearance.
37:23 Cross/shot by Lewis Haldane,
35:22 Michael Townsend challenges Marc Richards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tommy Fraser takes the direct free kick.
33:34 Corner from the left by-line taken by Matt Thornhill, clearance by Marc Richards.
32:54 Corner taken right-footed by Matt Thornhill from the left by-line, Gareth Owen manages to make a clearance.
32:06 Foul by Matt Thornhill on Tommy Fraser, free kick awarded. Tommy Fraser takes the direct free kick.
31:07 Craig Davies is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Danny Andrew takes the free kick.
30:13 Unfair challenge on Shane Duff by Marc Richards results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Lescott.
28:29 Booking Lewis Haldane booked.
28:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Medy Elito by Lewis Haldane. Matt Thornhill takes the direct free kick.
26:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Justin Richards by John McCombe. Direct free kick taken by David Bird.
24:55 Craig Davies gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Townsend. Free kick taken by Danny Andrew.
23:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Marc Richards on Danny Andrew. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
22:49 The ball is sent over by Lewis Haldane, Matt Thornhill manages to make a clearance.
20:52 Matt Thornhill takes a shot.
18:48 The referee blows for offside against Marc Richards. Indirect free kick taken by Danny Andrew.
17:16 Corner taken by Matt Thornhill from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Gareth Owen.
16:49 The referee blows for offside against Marc Richards. Michael Townsend restarts play with the free kick.
16:17 Marc Richards crosses the ball, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.
13:50 Tommy Fraser takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Justin Richards.
11:37 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Medy Elito from the right by-line.
11:00 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Medy Elito played to the near post.
9:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Pook by Lewis Haldane. Free kick taken by David Bird.
8:00 Tommy Fraser provided the assist for the goal.
8:00 GOAL - John McCombe:Cheltenham 0 - 1 Port Vale John McCombe scores a headed goal from close range. Cheltenham 0-1 Port Vale.
8:00 The ball is sent over by Tommy Fraser,
7:34 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc Richards by Michael Townsend. Tommy Fraser takes the free kick.
7:06 A cross is delivered by David Bird.
5:43 Lewis Haldane crosses the ball, Robert Taylor has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
4:16 Matt Thornhill challenges Tommy Fraser unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Anyon takes the direct free kick.
3:04 Medy Elito takes a corner.
2:24 Medy Elito takes a inswinging corner.
1:12 Anthony Griffith fouled by Michael Pook, the ref awards a free kick. John McCombe takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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