Port Vale: Reserves beaten by Nottingham Forest (PICTURES)
Port Vale Reserves 0, Nottingham Forest Reserves 3
ANDY Porter's men failed to be inspired by the FA Cup glistening outside Vale Park as they slumped to defeat against a strong Nottingham Forest second-string.
While schoolchildren marvelled at the famous trophy, starting its national tour in Burslem yesterday afternoon, Forest's merciless finishing proved to be the difference in this totesport.com league clash.
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Forest's chief executioner proved to be former Stoke loanee Lee Martin, who fired home a classy brace.
Vale coach Porter fielded a line-up mixing youth players with first-team fringe players.
First-team manager Dean Glover, watching from the stands, was also able to run the rule over Cheltenham Town trialist Scott Brown, who took his place in central midfield.
And the 23-year-old made his intentions clear, bursting forward in the opening minutes before crashing his 25-yard effort into the arms of keeper Paul Smith.
In the fourth minute, unchallenged striker Danny Glover horribly mis-hit from eight yards in meeting Paul Edwards's right-wing centre.
Soon after, Danny Glover slipped in winger Anthony Malbon in the right channel. The teenager crashed his low 12-yard drive against the far post, with the ball flying back across goal to safety.
Both sides weren't afraid to let fly from distance, and fit-again striker Steve Thompson failed to test Smith's goal with two long-rangers.
Meanwhile, Vale keeper Chris Martin kept out edge-of-the-box efforts from striker Adam Newbold and Lee Martin.
The visitors took the lead on the half-hour when Newbold latched on to James Dunne's long ball.
Fellow runner Lee Martin appeared to be offside, but when play was allowed to continue, Newbold's strike across the keeper was turned into his own net by the sliding Edwards.
Chris Martin made a superb low diving save to deny his namesake from Forest. But Lee Martin, on loan from Manchester United, grabbed his second on the stroke of half-time, lashing his angled 12-yarder into the far corner.
Thompson and Glover enjoyed further sights on goal after the break, without an end-product.
On 68 minutes, Forest midfielder Mark Byrne nipped past centre-half Luke Prosser on the left, only to be stopped in his tracks by the onrushing Martin.
Two minutes later, centre-half Jamie Elwell looked in agony after twisting his knee and had to be stretchered off. His condition will be assessed later today.
Lee Martin put the icing on the cake for Forest in the 88th minute, receiving Byrne's pass and hitting an unstoppable bullet into the top corner from 16 yards to cap a fine individual display.
Porter said: "The finishing was the difference. Coming in at half-time, we're 2-0 down, but we've had good chances.
"Danny Glover should have scored and Malbon's hit the post and we've had a couple more shots.
"They've gone up the other end, had two chances and scored, that's the difference.
"I thought Scott Brown looked very busy and sharp in the first half. He was comfortable on the ball, worked hard and understandably tired a bit in the second half."
VALE: Martin, Edwards, Prosser, Elwell (Copeland, 71), Taylor, Malbon, Brown, Dixon, Pike (Bell, 78), Glover, Thompson (Guerin Lokonga, 81). Not used: Weston, Osei Siribour.
FOREST: Smith, Tait, Bencherif, Lynch (Mitchell, 70), Reid, McCleary (Whitehurst, 58), Byrne, Dunne, Martin, Newbold, Davies (Darnet, 84). Not used: Richardson, Hook.
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