Tonight the Valiants will host the Newcastle Under-21’s in their final Leasing.com group game at Vale Park. With the game just a few hours away, we look back on four classic matches that the Vale have played in the competition.

Checkatrade Trophy Round of 16, Vale Park, Tuesday 4th December 2018: Port Vale 4-0 Stoke City U21

When Vale were drawn against the Stoke City Under-21’s it was always bound to be a classic encounter, and it didn’t disappoint for the Valiants in attendance.

Vale were on the front foot from the start of the match, and took an early lead via the man with the armband, Tom Pope. Cristian Montano burst down the left wing and delivered a cross to the back post where Popey was there to drill the ball into the back of the net.

Vale maintained on the attack for the half and were rewarded for their pressure with a second goal with just four minutes left of the half, this time Montano turned from provider to scorer, as the winger arrived in the box to convert the rebound from a Theo Vassell shot.

Montano’s dream game got even better just two minutes later, as Manny Oyeleke played in a beautiful ball to the Columbian from the edge of the box and he slotted the ball away to give Vale a three goal lead at the break.

Stoke started the second period well but Luke Hannant was able to end their potential resonance with 20 minutes to play when Pope held up the ball before sending Hannant through one-on-one where he rocketed the ball into the Stoke net to wrap up the win.

Port Vale: Brown, Gibbons, Montano (59’ Dodds), Kay, Oyeleke, Pope, Hannant (71’ Kanu), Rawlinson, Smith, Vassell, Conlon (82’ Miller)

Unused Subs: Hornby, Joyce, Whitfield, Hardcastle

Stoke City: Haugaard, Tymon (45’ Niakate), Campbell, Verlinden, Sorenson, Shenton, Collins, Waddington (58’ Dunwoody), Jarvis (85’ Pemberton), Thandi, Wara

Unused Subs: Gyollai, Kyeremateng, Stanton, Twyford

Att: 7,940

Checkatrade Trophy Group Stage, Vale Park, Tuesday 7th November 2017: Port Vale 4-2 Crewe Alexandra

Port Vale were able to book their place in the next round of the competition after an exciting encounter with rivals Crewe, meaning the Vale won the group without losing a game.

The Valiants took the lead early on via Chris Regis after he got on the end of a low driven cross from James Gibbons, and they soon doubled their lead thanks to an Anton Forrester screamer.

The Alex pulled one back just past the half hour mark via Lewis Reilly but couldn’t complete their comeback as in the second-half when Billy Reeves made it 3-1.

Crewe grabbed another goal and it looked like game on until Cristian Montano got onto the scoresheet in the last minute to secure the win for Vale.

Port Vale: Boot, Yates, Gunning, Smith, Gibbons, Tonge, Calveley (45’ Reeves), Regis (62’ Turner) Stobbs, Montano, Forrester (90’ De Freitas).

 Unused Subs: Hornby, Walford.

Crewe Alexandrea: Garratt, Bakayogo, Walker, Raynes, Porter, Cooper (61’ Ainley), Nolan, Lowery, Kirk, Reilly, Stubbs.

 Unused Subs: Richards, Ng, Dagnall, Bowery, Pickering, Lundstram.

 Att: 1,322

Checkatrade Trophy Group Stage, Vale Park, Tuesday 30th August 2016: Port Vale 1-0 Derby County U21

The Vale entered the fixture in good form, unbeaten in their last five games and having won their previous two on the bounce, including a 1-0 win away at Crewe Alexandra. Derby were also in strong form for the fixture, unbeaten in their last four games but were sat bottom of the Checkatrade group.

The only goal of the game was scored by Nathan Smith, who headed home a close range winner 10 minutes from full-time, sending the Valiants to second in the group.

Port Vale: Alnwick, Purkiss, Streete, Smith, Kiko, Mbamba (82’ Turner), Pereira, Amoros, Hart (40’ Ferguson), Forrester (58’ Cicilia), Paterson.

Unused Subs: Mac-Intosch, Haughton, Boot, Gibbons

Derby County U21: Ravas, Rawson, Cover, Wassall (71’ Gordon), Stabana, Hanson, Guy, Santos (86’ Walker), MacDonald, Vernam, Babos (86’ Jakobsen).

Unused Subs: Cresswell, Barnes, Thomas, Bogle

Att: 1,198

Checkatrade Trophy Group Stage, The Keepmoat Stadium, Tuesday 8th November 2016: Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Port Vale

The Vale made the trip to Doncaster for this group stage matchup and were able to hold the Rovers to a goalless draw and take thee fixture to a penalty shootout.

The first penalty was taken and converted by Doncaster’s James Houghton, but Remie Streete was able to tie things up for the Valiants. The Vale were given an early chance to take the lead as Cedric Evina put his penalty off target, but Anthony Grant failed to take advantage, with his attempt striking the post.

Vale were able to instantly regain control though, as Miguel Santos brilliantly saved William Longbottom’s effort, before Paulo Tavares gave the Vale the lead.

Both sides were able to convert their remaining penalties with Quentin Pereira scoring before Sam Hart secured the win.

Port Vale: Santos, Mac-Intosch, Streete, Smith, Hart, Grant, Pereira, De Freitas (78’ Tavares), Kiko (59’ Mbamba), Kelly (69’ Cicilia), Turner.

Unused Subs: Brown, Haughton, Boot, Amoros

Derby County U21: Etheridge, Baudry, Alcock (45’ Richardson), Garratt, Mason, Keegan, Calder, Beestin (65’ Houghton), Evina, Longbottom, Mandeville.

Unused Subs: Marosi, Pugh, James, Walker, Fletcher

Att: 1,495