Port Vale 1-1 (3-2 pens) Newcastle Utd B – Trophy shootout success is overshadowed by injury concerns
The Valiants were held in 90 minutes by Newcastle Utd U21 but won a penalty shootout to earn an extra point in their Football League Trophy group fixture. However, the game was overshadowed by a serious looking injury to striker James Wilson.
Following the news that left wingback Conor Grant needs a scan and could be out for an extended period of time, Wilson’s knock is not what Vale need, especially with fellow striker Ryan Loft also injured and Uche Ikpeazu short of match practice. It could leave loanee Josh Thomas, currently on Wales U21 duty, as the club’s only 100% fit centre-forward.
Vale named a relatively experienced started eleven for this game with Ethan Chislett, Wilson and Mitch Clark all starting. Clark took up a left wingback berth while youngster Jack Shorrock played in the back three.
The Vale goal came on seventeen minutes when Debrah netted from close range following a corner. However, there were a few scares after the home side scored due to unforced errors in the Valiants’ backline.
However, Vale could really have gone into the break with more goals to their name but the loss of Wilson left them without a cutting edge and a string of corners from Chislett went unconverted. There were also a number of aggressive challenges from a Newcastle team that was up for the fight.
As the game progressed, Andy Crosby took the opportunity to blood some youngsters and a rookie frontline of Dipepa, Brazier and Buah finished the game. It depends on whether your glass is half-full or half-empty whether you regard that as credit to Vale’s academy or the paucity of experienced options available.
The visitors made Vale pay for not taking their chances when they levelled in the last minute. A flat second-half finished with a fine long-range effort from Stanton which eluded Leutwiler to make it all-square and take the game to penalties.
There was drama in the shootout as both sides were far from decisive from the spot. Vale had two penalties saved but three saves from Jayson Leutwiler saw Vale win 3-2 and earn an extra point.
There were bright performances by the likes of Walters and Chislett and with one group game still to go, Vale still look likely to reach the next round, but that injury to James Wilson will undoubtedly overshadow the result.
Vale: Leutwiler – Lowe, Debrah (Balmer), Shorrock – Massey, Garrity, Walters, Plant (Brazier), Chislett (Buah), Clark – Wilson (Dipepa)
Subs: Ripley, Sang, Smith
Attendance: 1,197 (70 visitors)
Vale penalty takers: Garrity (scored), Lowe (scored), Shorrock (saved), Walters (saved), Clark (scored)