Shrimpers stay top but Shrews hit seven: League Two Match Highlights

Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates praised his players after they cruised to a 2-0 victory, their seventh successive win in League Two, over a depleted Port Vale outfit to remain in the automatic promotion places six points behind the division leaders Southend. 

Darryl Duffy broke the deadlock on 55 minutes, rifling home a penalty after Russ Penn had been tripped inside the area by Louis Dodds. Luke Summerfield thundered in a second on 69 minutes after Vale keeper Stuart Tomlinson had failed to gather a Luke Garbutt cross.

Kaid Mohamed was inches away from making it 3-0 moments later as the home side dominated the second period. Yates praised his side's ability to improve in the second half to take the points.

"I thought we were really good throughout, but in the first half I just wanted a little more quality in the final third," he said. "We didn't work the keeper enough. I asked for that at half-time and I got it in abundance. The lads were superb - they created chances, looked dangerous and were organised.

"We set a tempo from the start and I thought our passing was superb and there was an enthusiasm to do the right thing. Everything was there apart from the final ball when we got into the final third. They showed that they could do that second half and we could have had a couple more.

"We have had another clean sheet which is fabulous. It is a big plus because clean sheets give you a great chance to win games especially with the forward players and midfield players we have and with how dangerous we are from set pieces. I know they have had a few out - suspended or injured - but that's a big win for us."