Port Vale: Brave Vale bow out of Youth Cup

Port Vale 2, Everton 3

PLUCKY Vale were edged out of the FA Youth Cup in a five-goal thriller.

Mick Ede's young Valiants were twice ahead, but eventually lost out to Premier outfit Everton after extra-time.

The defeat was also marred by a bad head injury to Vale defender Tom Morris,

who was stretchered from the field to a waiting ambulance after being down for

seven minutes.

Everton were the better side in goalless first half, prompted by impressive Scottish winger Matthew

Kennedy.

Morris went down in a heap four minutes into the second period after

colliding with an Everton forward while trying to clear a cross. He was

replaced by Matthew Warner.

Vale went in front

in the 64th minute when Ricardo Swaby

had a shot blocked and Ollie Marland was on hand to turn the loose ball home.

The Valiants were finishing the game the stronger side, but Everton levelled matters in

the 89th minute when a cross by Harry Charsley was headed home by

George Waring. 

Vale regained the

lead three minutes into extra-time when a cross from the left by Josh Croft

was swept home in fine style by Macauley Davies.

But Everton drew level for a

second time in the 103rd minute when a move down the right ended

with Matthew Pennington racing forward and sliding the ball home from 10 yards.

And the Toffees got the

winner in the 123rd minute when Waring found Chris Long in space on

the right of the box and he fired home before being booked for removing his shirt.

Vale almost took the game to penalties in the

last minute when Nathan Smith planted a header against the bar.

Port Vale – Boot, Evans, Morris (Warner 56), Whieldon,

Price, Smith, Croft, Pryor, Marland (Davies 90), Beesley, Swaby (Osbourne 80). Subs not used: emmings, Wright.

Everton – Griffiths, Pennington, Touray (Johns 78), Kenny,

Langton, Molyneux, Kennedy, Ledson (Charsley 66), Waring, Long, Grant (Jones

97). Subs not used: Springthorpe, Dyson.