Vale start the Leasing.com Cup with 11 changes, this trophy does not have the feeling or attention of the FA cup, but winning today could add another £10,000 to the prize money already banked with the win on Saturday again MK Dons.
When I arrived at the stadium I was behind a scout from a unnamed premiership team, so the lads out there could get noticed by “the big boys”. Nathan Jones is in attendance, sitting with the scouts.
Vale start strongly and get their first corner within five minutes. Not the best of deliveries and its cleared for a second corner. This is delivered with slightly more power, but is cleared, but this time outfield.
10 ball delivered forward to Jordan archer who jumps for the ball and knocks it to his left. The referee deems it to be a foul and the opportunity ends there. Great bit of play by Vale.
Newcastle have started to up the pressure and have had two good opportunities to score, with the ball being squared to jack young, but he fails to capitalise on it and vale manage to block it out.
Mark Cullen runs through the centre with the ball, attempts to pass it to the left to Rhys Brown , but puts too much power on it and it goes out for a throw.
The ball is delivers into the box, Kieran Kennedy with a volley in the centre of the box with his left foot, but it goes over. Great attempt, just a little too much power. This is closely followed by a shot by Cullen, who also puts too much on it and it sails wide.
Newcastle with a corner, heavily contested by the Vale back four as they seem to think that it was a Newcastle player that put it out. The corner is driven into the box, but it hits the top of a Newcastle striker and gains more Hight than power and vale are able to clear the ball when it comes back to ground.
The corner count is stacking up, but at this point they are missing the deliver quality of Worrall.
Brown with a shot that’s charged down by the keeper, but Cullen is able to run on the rebound in the centre of the box and slot it away.
Newcastle are showing that they have pace in the team with a through ball to Luke Charman, had it been delivered a few seconds earlier, Vale could have been in real trouble there.
Thought ball to Thomas Allan, brilliant run the vale could not match his for pace and he was to get one on one with the keeper. However the keeper was able to make himself very big in the box and it was well saved.
Second Half
The ball hits the bar and bounces over the line and brilliant goal by Rhys Brown. However the assistant hasn’t given it. The whole media are is in shock including the representative from Newcastle. Newcastle have got away with one there.
Elliot Anderson with a powerful header from the centre of the box. Its Vale 1 Newcastle Under 21’s 1, but it should really have been 2-1.
Looping cross into the Tickett-Smith, who meets it with his head. Excellent save by Jake Turner, pushing it over for a corner.
Newcastle’s James Sterry with a half volley in the centre of the box and Vales keeper stretching to save it, but he does and it goes out for a corner.
Jordan Archer is forced off with a injury.
Yellow for Keiran Kennedy sliding tackle that was mis timed.
Mo Sangage is played in, with a powerful through ball. Vale back line had to throw in a last ditch tackle to block the shot. Brilliantly timed as it goes out for a corner.
Rhys Brown brought down on the 78th Minute, eight yards out just left o f the centre, Atkinson with the free kick but it hits it too high.
Scott Burgess goes down following a mid-air collision, he appeared to have been taken out by the Newcastle defender, but nothing is given. Scott stays down for a full minute, but with all the subs used he has to play on and eventually gets to his feet and with a limp, runs back to his position.
Charman is a powerful volley in the centre of the box, Smothered by Vales keeper
Mark Cullen breaks free with a brilliant timed through ball from Taylor, He beats the last two defenders, the keeper feels there is no choice but to run at him, but it is well out of his area, and he knows he can not bring him down. Mark dribbles it to the left and around the keeper and shots from distance 2-1 to Vale.
Vale on the balance of play were the better team, the match lacked a atmosphere, partly down to the attendance as it stands at only 571. Newcastle showed at times that they have a lot of young talent and put up a good fight against what is ultimately the Vale reserves. The stand out player for Newcastle under 21’s has to be Jack young. Vale possibly Rhys Brown as a lot of the chances were created through him. Vale only needed the draw to top the group and get the all important home tie. They managed to get the win to cement there place at the top.
571 attendance 23 travelling fans
