TRAPASSO STRIKES AS VALE’S YOUNGSTERS SEAL CUP WIN
PORT Vale are into the third round of the FA Youth Cup after edging out Salford 1-0 in a hard-fought tie at Kidsgrove Athletic.
Che Trapasso’s 19th-minute strike separated the teams to earn the Vale a third-round place for the first time in four years.
The draw is provisionally scheduled for November 18 but has been known to be put back if enough second-round ties aren’t completed by then. Third round ties are scheduled to be played by December 17.
The youngsters’ progress won’t only be measured in this competition, but Tuesday night’s starting XI featured Tommy Mcdermott, James Plant, Rhys Walters and Jack Shorrock who have all appeared for the first team this season.
They played their part in helping Vale through in front of a crowd at the Autonet Stadium that included first-team manager Darrell Clarke.
Vale were without keeper Reuben Perry who was suspended after he was sent off in the 3-1 first-round win at home to Chesterfield last week.
But his replacement, Dominic Brook, made his mark after 15 minutes with an acrobatic save to tip the ball over after Salford winger Alfie Henderson had cut on to his left foot and bent a shot towards the top corner.
Vale took the lead when left wing-back Jack Shorrock sent over a terrific deep cross. That was met by right-sided forward Che Trapasso who slid in and squeezed the ball inside the far post.
They threatened a second on 34 minutes but keeper Shea Callister just got a touch on to a cross, doing enough to cause James Plant to send his header over.
Henderson looked Salford’s chief threat but his low strike was confidently stopped by Brook before the break.
Vale came close to a second,
11 minutes into the second half, when Ben Lomax’s cross from the right was only half cleared to Che Trapasso but his volley was blocked on the line.
The home side threatened again when striker Eli Fisher won a free kick on the edge of the area. Tommy Mcdermott’s strike took a deflection but the keeper managed to adjust in time to save on the line.
Salford went close on 65 minutes
when a corner eluded Vale’s defence at the near post but Jacob Hamman didn’t have time to react and could only deflect the ball over the bar.
Vale saw the game out with plenty of industry and organisation although substitute Liam Brazier did have to hammer the ball away a yard from the line after a ball into the area had been deflected goalwards.
Vale last reached the second
round in 2018/19 when they were beaten 3-2 at home to Norwich. The side is under the management of Scott Ruscoe and former Sheffield United and Rochdale forward Matty Done. They operate under the guidance of the club’s head of academy Will Ryder.