Despite falling short on penalties, the Valiants top their Vertu Trophy group after a 3-3 draw at Vale Park
The only goal of the first half came with twenty minutes played as Mark Helm found the back of the net with a strike from eighteen yards out.
The second half was much livelier as Vale scored two goals in quick succession through Shipley and Brown to take the lead. However, the visitors followed with two goals of their own to lead 3-2. A late equaliser from George Hall meant the game went to penalties, which Vale would lose 4-2, but still finish top of their group.
Coming into Tuesday's top of the table Vertu Trophy clash against Fleetwood, Darren Moore made eight changes with Humphries, John and Headley keeping their place in the lineup.
The game had a lively opening to it, and it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the game. Coughlan cut inside on his left foot and got his effort away; however, the effort was easily saved by Amos.
It was Coughlan again, causing Vale problems with twenty minutes on the clock. After the ball pinballed around the penalty area, Coughlan pounced on the loose ball and fired a shot just wide of Amos’ right post.
The visitors did take the lead ten minutes later. A free-kick was taken short to Helm, who let fly from the edge of the box and found the far corner, leaving Amos with little chance of getting across.
At the break, the Gaffer made a pre-planned change in the form of Jesse Debrah and Connor Hall replacing Cam Humphreys and Kyle John.
The Gaffer got his response immediately as the Vale equalised six minutes into the restart. A defence-splitting pass from Ojo was taken brilliantly by Shipley, who found himself bearing down on goal and slotted home with the outside of his foot.
The comeback was complete just moments later as the Valiants took the lead. Brown beat Fleetwood’s high line before sitting the keeper down with a smart finish into the bottom corner.
Vale were the only team that looked like scoring since the break, and Brown almost got his second goal of the game. Debrah burst through the heart of the visitors' defence and laid it off to the forward, but Brown’s effort went inches over the crossbar.
The Cod Army equalised with twenty minutes to play at Vale Park, completely against the run of play. After some neat play around the penalty area the ball found Medley in acres of space, and his effort found the back of the net.
Fleetwood took the lead in Burslem with seven minutes left to play. The visitors countered through the centre of the pitch, and it was Medley again who found himself in space and able to get his shot away, which went underneath Amos and into the net.
The action wasn’t finished there, though, as Vale equalised with the ninety-minute mark rapidly approaching. Another delightful through ball from Ojo found Hall in-behind the Fleetwood defence. Hall took a touch and rifled an effort into the top corner to put Vale back in pole position in the group.
Due to the game finishing as a draw, the game went to a penalty shootout to decide who walked away with an extra point.
The Vale would go on to lose in the penalty shootout, but thanks to their superior goal difference over Fleetwood, they still won the group and secured a home draw in the next round.
Port Vale Lineup: Amos, Headley, Heneghan ©, Stockley, Brown (Paton 70’), Curtis, Ojo, John (Hall 45’), Humphries (Debrah 45’), Shipley (Byers 70’), Faal (Hall 80’)
Unused Substitutions: Marosi, Croasdale
Fleetwood Town Lineup: Harrington, Medley, Helm, Norwood (Graydon 74’), McCann (Ennis 45’), Coughlan (Davies 65’), Neal © (Virtue 65’), Morrison, Hughes, Haughley, Mullarkey
Unused Substitutions: Lynch, McLean, Costello
