Vale bowed out of the Papa Johns Trophy at the round of 16 stage after Matt Smith’s headed goal condemned us to a 1-0 defeat away at Salford City.

Salford scored the only goal of the game through Matt Smith on the 10-minute mark after he rose highest in the middle of the area to head home an Ibou Touray cross from the left-hand side.

Darrell Clarke made just two changes from the side that faced Bristol Rovers ten days ago, with Aidan Stone, and Dan Butterworth coming into the side.

Mal Benning look set to give Vale the lead nine minutes in when he managed to pinch the ball off Luke Bolton in the area, but Jacob Chapman did well to come out and smother his effort.

Vale’s next effort of the match came from a well-worked corner, as Butterworth was unlucky to see his first-time effort fly over the bar after David Worrall smartly found him alone on the edge area.

Five minutes before half-time, the Valiants came close to an equaliser with Worrall once again whipping in a delightful cross, this time for Ben Garrity, whose powerful volley was saved well by Chapman down to his right.

Just over five minutes after the break, the hosts should have doubled their lead when substitute Lorent Tolaj crashed an effort against the upright after he was sent through one-on-one.

The Ammies hit the woodwork once again five minutes later, this time through Smith, who latched onto a looping cross and saw his header from close range hit the base of the post.

Salford made it a hattrick of efforts hitting the woodwork in the 60^th minute when Conor McAleny produced a spectacular effort from outside the area which cannoned back off the bar.

Vale pushed harder for an equaliser as the second period rolled on, and they nearly got it through Benning with 22 minutes to go, but his low-driven effort was cleared off the line by a Salford defender.

With only minutes left on the clock Vale somehow weren’t level after a goal-line scramble looked destined for the net, but the ball was hooked away at the last second.

Only moments later, Ellis Harrison saw an effort hit the bar from close range after he did brilliantly hit the ball on the turn.

Salford City | Chapman, Touray, Lowe (46’ Tolaj), Watson, Lund (72’ Hendry), Galbraith (72’ Jenkins), Smith, McAleny (62’ Bailey), Bolton, Leak, Vassell

Port Vale | Stone, Jones, Hall (61’ Holden), Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Wilson (61’ Odubeko), Conlon (61’ Pett), Benning (78’ Massey), Harrison, Butterworth (61’ Politic)

Attendance | 743 (332 Valiants)