Match Report: Port Vale 2-1 Wolves B (Football League Trophy)
Port Vale sealed a place in the final sixteen of the Football League Trophy after coming from a goal down to beat Wolves B.
Manager John Askey made seven changes from the side which thrashed Bolton Wanderers at the weekend and initially the much-changed Vale side were second-best as the visitors hit the bar in the opening minute and then took a deserved lead on twenty minutes.
The Valiants were struggling to create any chances in the opening half but when one did come their way they took advantage. Good work from Alex Hurst and Tom Pope set up Harry McKirdy to draw the sides level. The Valiants could have been ahead at the break but Tom Pope’s header was ruled to be offside.
Vale had a slow start to the second-half as Wolves once again rattled the woodwork. However, the visitors were to rue that miss as the Valiants gradually took charge. McKirdy drew a fine save from the keeper before Vale went ahead on 79 minutes. Good work again from Alex Hurst and Tom Pope set up full-back Zak Mills to drive home his second goal in Vale colours.
Late on Vale could have added to their lead as Wolves tired. Sub Theo Robinson almost made it three after some pinball in the box but his drive was well saved by the keeper’s legs. Minutes later, Robinson was played through and he set up Scott Burgess only for the keeper to save well again.
However, despite those late misses, Port Vale held on to move into the final sixteen and bank a more than useful £15,000 in prize money.
Port Vale: Visser, Mills, Brisley, Smith, Fitxpatrick, McKirdy (Worrall), Burgess, Conlon (Joyce), Hurst, Cullen (Robinson), Pope
Subs: Brown, Montano, Rodney