Young Valiants seal place in the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup with 3-1 victory at Rocester FC.
- Staffordshire Senior Cup Match Report | Rocester 1 - 3 Port Vale
- Goals from Eli Fisher, Callum Besford and Tommy McDermott seal progress to the semi-finals
- Callum Niven grabbed goal back for Rocester in the second half, though the Valiants progress to the semi-finals for the first time since 2014/15
ROCESTER FC 1
Niven 67
PORT VALE 3
Fisher 14, Besford 30, McDermott (pen) 72
Attendance: 258
The Valiants secured a place in the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup on Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory at Rocester FC.
Goals from Eli Fisher, Callum Besford and Tommy McDermott sealed the victory for a young Valiants side, coaching by Scott Ruscoe and Matty Done.
It is the first time since the 2014/15 season that the Vale have reached the last four of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, with the final quarter-finals to be played next week. Kidsgrove Athletic have already booked their place in the last four, while Stafford Rangers/Leek Town and Sporting Khalsa/Rushall Olympic are the potential opponents for the Valiants in the last four.
The Valiants started on the front foot against the North West Counties First Division South side, with James Planet forcing a good save from Rocester's Charlie Wood on just 20 seconds.
Fisher then headed a Plant cross off target on nine minutes before giving the Vale the lead on the quarter hour. Another cross from the left was squared to Fisher, who tapped home at close range.
On the half hour, Vale doubled the advantage when Rocester failed to clear a Vale corner and Besford fired home from the edge of the area.
The hosts had a chance to grab a goal back before half-time as McDermott was penalised for a foul in the penalty area, though Mellor's spot-kick was well saved by Reuben Perry in the Vale goal.
Rocester started brightly in the second half and got themselves a goal back soon after the hour mark as Niven fired a powerful free-kick beyond Perry.
However, within five minutes the two-goal lead was restored as Rhys Walters was fouled in the penalty area and McDermott stepped up to calmly slot home the penalty.
Vale: Perry, Mahaffy, Trialist, Besford (Brazier 79), Lomax, Walters (Sadiq 79), McDermott, Buah, Fisher (Dipepa 74), Plant, McDermott, Manhertz (Ryan 45).
Subs: Davis