Papa John’s Trophy action returns to Vale Park on Tuesday night as the Valiants face Wolves U21’s in the final game of the group stage.
Both sides have already secured their qualification for the next round, so they will be battling it out to see who can top the group.
With tonight’s game fast approaching, we take a look into how both sides have fared in the competition so far, and how they secured both their qualifications to the next phase.
Matchday One:
Port Vale 1-0 Stockport County
The Valiants kicked off their Papa John’s Trophy campaign with a victory thanks to a ferocious strike from former defender Chris Hussey.
Hussey, who now plays for County, smashed home a thunderstrike with just over 25 minutes left to play.
The game also saw a debut for Mipo Odubeko and academy graduate James Plant, who is currently on loan at Nantwich Town.
The result was a great way to start the group stage for the Vale, and it set them well on their way toward qualification.
Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Wolves U21
A late brace from Joe Hodge secured Wolves U21’s an opening day victory in the Papa Johns Trophy away at Shrewsbury Town.
The hosts took the lead with just 15 minutes to go through Travis Hernes when he received the ball from 25 yards out and hit a low-driven shot into the bottom left corner.
However, It didn’t take the academy side long to turn it around as Hodge struck twice in the final ten minutes, including a stoppage-time winner, to ensure the young team started the group stage in style.
Matchday Two:
Shrewsbury Town 0-4 Port Vale
Dennis Politic netted a hattrick as Vale secured passage to the Papa Johns Trophy knockout stages with a convincing 4-0 victory away at Shrewsbury Town in the second round of fixtures.
Politic netted the first three goals of the night while Brad Walker added a fourth with a brilliant finish to cap off a wonderful night in Shropshire.
The victory meant qualification into the second round of the trophy was sealed, and that the last match against Wolves U21s would be a shootout for the top spot.
Stockport County 1-2 Wolves U21
Wolves under-21s produced a brilliant performance to beat League Two Stockport County away from home to qualify for the knockout stages of the Papa John’s Trophy.
Lee Harkin put the young Wolves in front after just 20 minutes, before a fine solo run and finish from Tyler Roberts after the break secured all three points for the academy side.
They now line up for a tie away at the Valiants, and Darrell Clarke’s side will look to halt the impressive youngsters in their tracks and top the group.
GROUP STANDINGS:
|
|
Team |
P |
GD |
Pts |
|
1. |
Port Vale |
2 |
5 |
6 |
|
2. |
Wolves U21 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
|
3. |
Stockport |
2 |
-2 |
0 |
|
4. |
Shrewsbury |
2 |
-5 |
0 |
Vale have an impressive goal difference in the competition, so anything but a loss will see them top the group this evening.