English League Two

Pope enters Vale history books

Tom Pope became the quickest player in Port Vale's history to score 20 goals in a season as Bristol Rovers were crushed 4-0.

Pope scored a hat-trick to eclipse Wilf Kirkham's 86-year club record by a single day, with his achievement coming just hours after the Alchemy Investment Group took Vale out of administration.

Both teams were limited to ambitious long range shots in the opening exchanges before Pope struck twice in two minutes.

He opened the scoring in the 20th minute when he chested down a long ball from Clayton McDonald and crashed an 18-yard shot low inside Neil Etheridge's right-hand post.

And Pope was left with a simple chance to head home from point-blank range at the far post after Ashley Vincent crossed from the left byline.

Pope was again heavily involved as Vale added a third in the 36th minute. His header from Richard Duffy's cross came off the inside of Etheridge's left-hand post before Ben Williamson ran in the loose ball.

But Pope was not to be denied and put his name in the record books with a 16-yard header after Etheridge had wandered way off his line.

Pope was substituted just two minutes later and Rovers' sixth defeat in seven games was made worse in the last minute when defender Tom Parkes was stretchered off with a leg injury.