Port Vale ended a run of six League games without a win when a first-half penalty from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson earned them all three points against struggling Cheltenham Town.
The spot kick was awarded after 32 minutes when Cheltenham defender Jamie Victory made a clumsy challenge on Michael Cummings from behind and referee Frazer Stretton pointed to the spot.
It was a game of two penalty decisions as the Cheltenham fans were enraged three minutes before half-time when an in-swinging corner from Grant McCann appeared to hit defender Steve Rowland on the arm. The penalty claims were waved away and that was just about the closest the Robins came to scoring a goal.
The struggling Gloucestershire club went into the game on a run of three league and cup games without defeat, but they failed to match the level of their previous performances and found it hard to break down a determined Vale defence.
Visiting goalkeeper Mark Goodlad made good saves from Paul Brayson and substitute Tony Naylor, but his opposite number Steve Book had to make even better stops from Billy Paynter and former Cheltenham striker Brett Angell to prevent the lead from being extended.
"It was very disappointing from our point of view because we lacked the knowhow to break them down and really open them up," said Cheltenham manager Graham Allner, whose team have now lost five of their eight home league matches.
"We have to be more consistent because it's no good putting together two or three performances, we have to do that week in, week out." Port Vale manager Brian Horton said: "It was a good result for us and a professional performance. I thought we passed it well first half but in the second half we just kicked it.
"I thought we were the better side in the first half and it's the little things like set-pieces that have been costing us, although we were quite good on set-pieces in this game."