Port Vale 3 Cheltenham Town 2
Cheltenham Town's top three hopes suffered a hammer blow as the most deadly marksman in League Two put Port Vale on course for automatic promotion this afternoon.
Tom Pope showed why he was voted the division's player of the year last Sunday, ending a run of 11 games without a goal with a superb hat-trick at Vale Park.
The Robins hit back from a goal down at half-time to lead 2-1 through Kaid Mohamed and Paul Benson's strikes early in the second half, but they could not contain Pope and he took his tally for the season to 30.
Lee Hughes had the ball in the net for the Vale in the 12th minute, but he was in an offside position.
That was to be the experienced striker's final contribution as he hobbled off with a hamstring injury, Ben Williamson going on.
Micky Adams' side took the lead in the 19th minute when Pope nodded Daniel Jones' cross from the left past Scott Brown.
It had been an even opening, but Vale controlled proceedings after taking the lead and only a string of fine saves from Brown kept Cheltenham in the match at half-time.
He blocked well from Williamson in the 23rd minute after some skilful wing play from ex-Robins loan man Jennison Myrie-Williams.
Cutting in from the right onto his favoured left foot, Cheltenham could not cope with Myrie-Williams and left-back Billy Jones was given as torrid a half as he has suffered all season.
Brown made an outstanding stop to keep out Rob Taylor's shot and then recover instantly to smother at the near post with Daniel Jones waiting to pounce.
It was almost one-way traffic, although Mohamed shot straight at Neal in the 35th minute after Paul Benson flicked on a cross from Billy Jones.
Myrie-Williams skipped through again in the 40th minute drawing another terrific block from Brown.
Having performed heroics between the posts, Brown played Cheltenham's best pass of the half to find Benson three minutes before half-time and his header bounced back off the bar with Chris Neal beaten.
The main surprise of the half was that it took until the 45th minute for Billy Jones to pick up a yellow card for unceremoniously hauling down Myrie-Williams.
He was taken off at the break along with Jason Taylor, who had been preferred to Sam Deering in the starting line-up.
Former Vale man Keith Lowe went on at right-back, with Sido Jombati moving to left-back and Byron Harrison joined the isolated Benson up front.
The switch paid almost immediate dividends as Michael Hector released Harrison two minutes into the second half.
The January signing saw his shot parried by Neal, but Mohamed had the simple task of blasting into an empty net for his seventh goal of the campaign.
Lowe charged down the right flank and won a corner in the 54th minute and Mohamed's delivery was met by Lowe, drawing a fine save from Neal, but Benson forced the ball in from close range.
He celebrated by diving into the mound of snow behind the goal in front of the jubilant travelling fans, but their glee was short-lived.
Myrie-Williams' corner was slammed into the net by Pope for minutes later to make it 2-2 as a breathless start to the second period continued.
Harrison raced through again on the hour, rounding Neal before stumbling as he shot, but he still managed to direct his shot towards goal, but it was hacked off the line by John McCombe.
It was end-to-end stuff and a winner for either side looked possible, but it was Pope who completed his treble in the 74th minute.
He was played in by Louis Dodds and kept his cool to lift the ball over the advancing Brown, who could do nothing about the accurate finish.
The play-offs for a second year in succession now look likely for Cheltenham who must lick their wounds ready to face Northampton Town at home on Monday.
PORT VALE: C Neal; A Yates, J McCombe, L Chilvers, D Jones; J Myrie-Williams, L Dodds, A Griffith, R Taylor (C Andrew 82); L Hughes (B Williamson 13), T Pope. Subs not used: S Johnson, C Shuker, R Lloyd, R Duffy, D Purse.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; S Jombati, M Hector, S Elliott, B Jones (K Lowe 46); J McGlashan, R Penn, M Pack, J Taylor (B Harrison 46), K Mohamed (S Deering 83); P Benson. Subs not used: D Carter, D Duffy, C Roberts, S Harrad.
REFEREE: S Mathieson.
ATTENDANCE: 5,867 (344 away).
STAR MAN: Scott Brown.
To relive the action as it unfolded, click below:
