Port Vale 2 (Tolaj 59, Curtis 89) Wolves 2 (Edozie 26, Holman 86)
Wolves under-21s battled to earn a point in their opening Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage fixture at Port Vale, and were denied all three following an 89th minute Ronan Curtis equaliser.
Two stunning goals from Tom Edozie and substitute Fletcher Holman saw the Old Gold lead twice, however the League Two side fought back on both occasions to take the game to penalties. And it was Darren Moore’s side who prevailed from 12 yards, earning the Valiants the additional point at Vale Park.
Tom King started in between the sticks for James Collins’ side, who made three further changes from Saturday’s Premier League 2 draw at Brighton. Fil Mabete and Finn Ashworth both came into the line-up, along with 16-year-old Alfie White who started at right wing-back in a back five.
Wolves started brightly and it was the home side who looked the more nervy, as the ball was given away at the back early on. The Old Gold looked to capitalise through Ashworth who jinked his way into the box, but then dragged an effort just wide of the near post.
Vale then had a spell of their own as a ball into Jayden Stockley was cushioned into the path of Ethan Chislett to strike but, like Ashworth at the other end, he rolled his attempt wide.
Stockley was the danger man in the box for Vale and the focal point whenever the ball was delivered into the penalty area. The striker towered above Mabete following Benicio Baker-Boaitey’s cross but, fortunately for Wolves, his header was nodded wide.
The visitors then took the lead on 26 minutes thanks to some individual brilliance from Edozie as the attacker cut inside from the left before unleashing an effort that fizzed past Ben Amos in the Vale net.
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Port Vale almost responded immediately when Benicio shifted the ball onto his left before striking low and just past King’s left-hand post.
Half-time | Port Vale 0-1 Wolves
Vale came out with much more intent in the early stages of the second period, and were pushing for a goal that would bring them level.
Nathan Smith forced King into a reflex save before moments later, the ball bounced kindly for substitute Lorent Tolaj who hit the ball sweetly on the half volley and fired into the top corner.
Vale then almost took the lead for the first time on the night when a cross into Stockley was met by the striker on the volley, but he whistled one just wide.
Goal scorer Tolaj and fellow substitute Antwoine Hackford combined moments later, with the latter finding King in the way who batted out his effort towards goal.
Collins introduced Ty Barnett, Owen Farmer and Holman at two separate intervals in an attempt to swing momentum in their favour, and the visitors were able to weather that initial Vale storm.
Curtis should have done better when he capitalised on a loose ball, but the Vale number 11 blazed over the top after doing well to shift the ball onto his right boot.
And one of the Wolves substitutes, Holman, then thought he’d won it on 86 minutes with a moment of pure brilliance. After latching onto a loose ball, the striker struck a curling effort from some 25 yards out that beat Amos and nestled into the top right corner.
However, the lead lasted for just three minutes as Vale equalised for a second time on the night with a minute to play. Despite a superb initial save from King and bodies on the line defending, Curtis smashed home the rebound to level once again and take it to penalties.
Full-time | Port Vale 2-2 Wolves
PENALTIES
Wolves | Barnett (scores), Holman (scores), Keto-Diyawa (scores), Whittingham (saved), Esen (scores), Farmer (saved).
Port Vale | Tolaj (scores), Curtis (scores), Sang (scores), Richards (scores), Lowe (saved), Plant (scores).
Port Vale win 5-4 on penalties
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s host Huddersfield Town in the Premier League Cup after the international break.
NEXT THREE
- 13/09 Huddersfield (H) PL Cup
- 17/09 Sheffield United (A) PL Cup
- 23/09 Leeds United (H)
TEAMS
Port Vale | Amos, Smith, Byers (Lomax 61), Stockley (Hackford 61), Chislett (Richards 46), Curtis, Lowe, Sang, Plant, Debrah (Agnero 77), Baker-Boaitey (Tolaj 46).
Subs not used | Ripley, Buah.
Wolves | King, Esen, Pond, Mabete, Keto-Diyawa, Angel (Holman 73), White (Farmer 73), Whittingham, Ashworth (Carson 90+5), Edozie (Barnett 64), Voice.
Subs not used | Nasta, Igbinoghene, Ballard-Matthews.
