Port Vale kick off their Vertu Trophy campaign with a win as they beat Leeds United U21s 4-1 at Vale Park.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play at Vale Park thirteen minutes in, thanks to a goal from Joshua McDonald. However, two goals in the space of eleven minutes from Ruari Paton and Jack Shorrock meant Vale went into half time with a 2-1 lead.
A sublime goal from Ronan Curtis and a Mo Faal header in the second half gave the Valiants a 4-1 victory and ensured they took all three points in their opening game of the Vertu Trophy.
Darren Moore made ten changes to his side that fell to a narrow defeat at Reading, with only Jesse Debrah keeping his place.
Meanwhile, the visitors made just the three changes from their 2-1 victory over Burnley U21s last Friday.
The Vale had a huge opportunity to open the scoring less than two minutes into the game. A slip from the Leeds centre back was pounced upon by Paton, who layed the ball off to Waine. Unfortunately, the striker’s effort was well-blocked on the line from the retreating Leeds defender.
It was the visitors, however, who took the lead with thirteen minutes on the clock. A loose ball by Debrah was gathered by a Leeds player and passed forward to Gray. Gray laid the ball off to McDonald, who met the ball with a first-time effort and found the back of the net.
The Valiants eventually got their equaliser with just over twenty minutes played. A delicate through ball from Brown played Paton through and with Paton bearing down on goal, he calmly slotted the ball past the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Jack Shorrock put his side into the lead eleven minutes later. Paton was at the centre of everything that Vale were doing, and he played a delightful pass to Shorrock, who took a touch and shot across the goalkeeper, finding the net via the post.
With just over an hour gone, Vale got their third goal. Substitute Curtis won the ball and drove towards the Leeds penalty box, before unleashing a piledriver into the top right corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.
Darren Moore’s side did score again shortly after, however, it was ruled out for offside as Paton made his run slightly early before firing home from close range.
The Valiants did get a fourth goal five minutes from time. An in-swinging corner from Curtis was met by Faal, who rose highest and nodded the ball into the bottom right corner.
Full Time: Port Vale 4-1 Leeds United U21s
Port Vale Starting XI: Marosi, Hall ©, Brown (Curtis 60’), Ojo, Gordon, Paton (Faal 75’), Waine, Debrah (Heneghan 46’), Shorrock (Headley 60’), John (Croasdale 79‘), Shipley
Unused Subs: Blight, Walters
Leeds United Starting XI: Ombang, Douglas, Lienou, Cresswell ©, Lopata-White, Enahoro-Marcus, Brockie (Dudley 66’), Chadwick, Gray, Pickles, McDonald (Pirie 73’)
Unused Subs: Kenyon, Njinko, Mills, Whitehead, Firth
