Vale crash out of the FA Youth Cup
RoundstFA Youth Cup 1
Walsall 2 Port Vale 0
The Vale youngsters went out of the FA Youth Cup at the first hurdle, going down 2-0 to Walsall at the Banks Stadium.
minute.thWalsall had the early pressure and the Vale defence did well to block efforts from Amadou Bakayoko whilst Callum Ferrie saved well from Wes Rush. Luke Beesley had a teasing cross blocked but it was the home side who took the lead with a superb goal in the 29
Liam Kinsella hit a long ball to Bakayoko and the Ivory Coast striker flicked the ball over Matthew Warner before hitting a fine shot into the roof of the net. Bakayoko also hit the post before Vale replied when a shot by Luke Wright was blocked.
Two minutes before half time Walsall doubled their lead when a long ball found Carlton McKenzie in space and he calmly lobbed it over the advancing Ferrie. Elliott Osborne shot wide as the half came to an end.
In the second period Osborne cut in from the left and fired over from 20 yards. Billy Reeves then had a shot blocked and Nathan Smith headed wide as Vale pressed but they couldn’t find a breakthrough.
minute when a cross from Dave Lander found its way to Warner at the far post and his strong shot was beaten away by Richard Jones in the Walsall goal.thThe closest they came to a goal was in the 79
The impressive Bakayoko was a constant threat at the other end and his performance was the main difference between the sides as Vale’s youth cup hopes came to an end for this season.
Walsall – Jones, Ashmore, Henry, Kinsella, Dallison, Christopherou, McKenzie (Shakespear 67), Delaney, Bakayoko (Rowley 87), Rush, Reid
Subs not used – Lovett, Garner, Probert
Port Vale– Ferrie, Swarby, Lander, Reeves, Smith, Warner, Osborne (Haughton 70), Wright (Steele 61), M.Davies, Kapend (Wakeham 81), Beesley
Subs not used – Pickering, Bergin
Match Report - Phil Sherwin