Vale move up to 13th in the League One table after goalless draw at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.

• Match Report | Cheltenham Town 0 – 0 Port Vale
• Rory Holden hit the crossbar for the Vale, who had the better chances in Gloucestershire
• Nottingham Forest loanee Aaron Donnelly made his Vale debut as Darrell Clarke’s side move up one place to 13^th in League One

CHELTENHAM TOWN 0

PORT VALE 0

Attendance: 3,929 (684 away)

The Vale added another point to their League One tally as Darrell Clarke’s side played out a 0-0 draw at Cheltenham Town on Saturday afternoon.

Rory Holden hit the crossbar in the second half after Dennis Politic had forced good saves from the hosts’ goalkeeper Luke Southwood in the first-half, though the Vale couldn’t get the goal to go home with all three points.

Clarke named one change from Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat against Derby County as Aaron Donnelly made his Vale debut after joining on loan from Nottingham Forest earlier this week, with the Northern Ireland youth international replacing Dan Jones.

Dave Worrall made his 200^th league appearance for the Vale, while Lewis Cass made his 50^th appearance for the Vale.

Clarke’s side were forced to defend a couple of early Cheltenham corners but settled into the game well to create some good first half openings.

First, Dennis Politic forced an excellent save from Luke Southwood in the Cheltenham goal after cutting in from the left and curling an effort towards the keeper’s top left-hand corner.

On 25 minutes, debutant Donnelly almost scored a Goal of the Season contender on debut as he fired a powerful effort towards Southwood’s top left-hand corner from 30 yards, only to be denied by the fingertips of the hosts’ stopper.

As the half hour approached, Cheltenham created their best opportunity of the first 45 as Will Goodwin headed Will Ferry’s corner over.

With ten first half minutes remaining, the Vale went within inches of an opener as Politic and Butterworth linked up in the penalty area, with the former’s dinked effort beating Southwood before being cleared.

Worrall clipped a 25-yard free-kick over as half-time approached, though the sides went in level at the break, with the Vale creating more final third entries but lacking the elusive opener.

Clarke’s side had the first opening of the second-half as Cass clipped a ball into the right channel for Massey, who timed his run well but fired wide form the edge of the area.

Mal Benning then intercepted a cross-field pass and fired a powerful effort towards goal from 25 yards, only to be denied by Southwood.

The hosts had a good chance of their own on the hour mark as Alfie May was denied by Jack Stevens after Donnelly headed back towards his own goal following a deep free-kick.

The Vale continued to push for a goal and Massey saw a low effort blocked following a Worrall corner before a long ball from the winger on his 200^th league appearance for the Vale got Butterworth in behind, though his near post effort was deflected away for a corner.

Clarke’s side had their best chance on 73 minutes when Donnelly’s long throw-in into to the area was glanced on by Nathan Smith before Holden headed against the bar from close range.

Ryan Broom forced a low save from Stevens in the final minute of the 90 but neither side could find the quality in the final third to separate a tight game.

Cheltenham Town: Southwood; Long (capt), Raglan, Goodwin, May, Taylor, Ferry, Bonds, Perry (Barkers 88), Broom, Olayinka (Jackson 63).
Subs: MacDonald, Williams, Brown, Baggott, Norton.

Port Vale: Stevens; Cass, Smith, Donnelly; Worrall, Garrity, Ojo, Benning; Butterworth (Proctor 83), Politic (Holden 68), Massey.
Subs: Stone, Forrester, Robinson, McDermott, Plant.