Port Vale youngsters drop out of the FA Youth Cup after a tight affair at the Proact Stadium.
Vale made the first incisive break as Beeston played a great ball up the right that allowed Grimshaw to let the ball run as he turned and chased, he played a low ball into the six-yard box where it skipped all the way through without anybody getting a touch.
With five minutes on the clock Foster cut into the Vale box but as he was about to shoot Ryder slid in to win the ball and play it off the attacker’s foot for a goal kick.
Vale were soon causing a threat as Grimshaw went on a run and found Green-Birch on the edge of the box, unable to carve out a shooting opportunity for himself, he played it wide to Benns whose cross come shot curled away from goal at the far post.
In the 16th minute Vale had the first shot of the game as a long range effort from Steele saw Jones collect the ball at the second attempt.
The Spireites responded with Ofoegbu but he shot well wide from a tight angle.
Benns again threatened in the 26th minute as he cut in from the wing and shot low towards the near post but it didn’t have the power to worry Jones.
Just before the half-hour mark a shot by Foster, that Ryder had got a touch to, looked to be curling inside the far post but Crockwell went full length to push the ball around the post as a goal looked certain.
Chesterfield took the lead in the 31st minute as, from a corner, Willock rose highest to power the ball into the roof of the net even though Crockwell got a hand the ball.
The home team were on top at this stage and Vale attacks were infrequent but as the half drew towards a close, Green-Birch tried an overhead kick from 20-yards out as he was put under pressure but it dropped well past the far post.
HALF-TIME: Chesterfield 1 - 0 Port Vale
Vale replaced Josh Ede with Jack Wakefield at the start of the second half and he soon got involved, providing a pass to enable Campbell- Gordon to burst down the left wing and deliver a dangerous cross that saw the first defender chest it past the ‘keeper, before the defender at the far post hooked the ball away; soon after, the home number 10 was booked for dragging a Vale player back.
Green-Birch won the ball 40-yards out and set towards goal but his shot from 25 yards went well over the bar.
Beeston got in a tackle to stop a shot at the expense of a corner and from this, Render eventually put in a powerful shot to the near post that Crockwell held well; Vale responded to also win a corner that saw Hill head just wide of the back post.
Chesterfield extended their lead in the 72nd minute after Ofoegbu played in Rawson who shot through Crockwell’s legs as he came out.
Vale almost reduced the arrears immediately as Green-Birch saw a shot pushed away for a corner by the ‘keeper at full stretch.
Vale did pull a goal back in the 79th minute; a corner was not cleared by the home team and Steele made space to shoot, his shot was deflected towards the far post and Ryder slid in to divert it into the net.
Chimenes then went into the referee’s note book for a tackle and with three minutes remaining Willock also saw yellow for clattering Chimenes into the advertising hoardings, and play continued with Vale having 10-men as he received treatment and didn’t make it back on to the field of play.
FULL-TIME: Chesterfield 2 - 1 Port Vale
TEAMS
Chesterfield: Brad Jones, Brandon Howard, Alex Render, Jamie Sharman, Marshall Willock, Jack Holmes, Aaron Sennett-Neilson (Zak Walker 84), Ify Ofoegbu, Luke Rawson, Charlie Wakefield, Robbie Foster (Levi Amantchi 74).
Subs not used: Teddy Marris, Will Russ, Conor Emery.
Port Vale: Dequan Crockwell, Max Beeston, Ryan Campbell-Gordon, Matty Ward, Josh Ryder, Zak Hill, Jake Grimshaw, James Steele, Lucas Green-Birch (Kyle Johnson 80), Harry Benns (Maxwell Chimenes 70), Josh Ede (Jack Wakefield 46).
Subs not used: Finley Jackson, Joe Berks.