Vale lost 6-2 at home to local rivals Stoke City in the Central League Cup this afternon.

The visitors took the lead after only 41 seconds when Phil Roe missed a ball into the Vale box and Tom Soares nipped in to take it past Chris Martin before slotting home.

Vale levelled matters in the 13th minute when a long ball over the top saw Ben Williamson find space on the edge of the box and and he took the ball on before firing home in fine style.

Unfortunately Stoke went back in front less than a minute later when a shot from Michael Tonge hit John McCombe only to rebound to the same player, and this time he hit a shot low into the corner of the net.

Sam Morsy was having a decent game and he hit a free kick which hit the top of the Stoke wall before going through to the 'keeper.

Stoke went further in front in the 25th minute when Louis Moult passed to Mama Sidibe on the right and he beat Joe Davis before powering a shot past Martin.

The vistors scored a fourth goal in the 52nd minute as a ball down the middle saw Moult beat Davis and slide the ball under an advancing Martin.

Vale hit back eleven minutes later when a corner was only half cleared to Gary Roberts and his pinpoint cross was headed home by Williamson for his second goal of the game,

The game took a sad turn in the 68th minute when Sidibe went down clutching his knee and was carried off on a stretcher after a four minute delay.

Dodds blazed over but Stoke scored again in the 81st minute when Moult cut in from the left and finished in fine style with a shot into the roof of the net. It was a happier occasion for the player than his last appearance at Vale Park, as a member of the beaten Accrington side earlier this season.

In injury time the scoring was complete when Tom Soares skipped through three tackles and shot home from the edge of the box.

Vale: Martin (GK), Thorley, Roe, Morsy, McCombe, Davis, Dodds, Roberts, Williamson, Lee (Jeffries 81), Lloyd Subs not used - Boot (GK), Plant, Pryor, Morris

Stoke:  Bachmann (GK), Lund, Hall, Arismendi, Parry, Higginbotham, Soares, Cuvelier, Sidibe (Brunt 68), Moult, Tonge Subs not used - Eve (GK), Roberts-Nurse, Dawson, Musungu

Attendance - 186