Checkatrade Trophy: Port Vale 1 Shrewsbury 1 (Vale win 4-3 on pens) - Report and pictures

A fitting goal by Ryan Sears, one of Town’s starlets, put Salop ahead after the hour but wise old striker Tom Pope equalised for the hosts seven minutes from time.

It was not to be for Sam Ricketts’ side, who failed in their bid to make it consecutive finals at Wembley.

Fejiri Okenabirhie, Lee Angol and Ryan Barnett converted from the spot but Alex Gilliead and Abo Eisa saw poor efforts saved.

The result should not mask a fine showing by the experimental Shrews side, made up of a number of academy products, several of which shone against a strong Vale side.

With the furore surrounding Dave Edwards’ return to Shrewsbury dominating the column inches and excitement among supporters, it was easy to forget about Town’s low-key tie in Staffordshire.

As expected, there was no place in the 18 for Edwards as Ricketts completely shuffled his pack.

The boss had stated the importance of the competition, insisting he was out to win it. But Ricketts was unafraid to totally rotate his side.

There were 11 changes is total, with 17-year-old James Rowland make his senior career debut and fellow pups Ryan Barnett, Ryan Sears and Christos Shelis in from the off.

Ricketts also changed his formation, using three centre-halves and wing-backs. Wide attackers Eisa and Barnett - given permission to play by loan club AFC Telford United - flanked striker Lee Angol.

Neil Aspin went with a considerably stronger line-up, making one just change to his Vale side - an XI he would comfortably field in League Two, where the struggling Valiants lie 19th.

The low-key tie was played in front of little more than 1,000 fans with very little atmosphere.

Ipswich loanee Josh Emmanuel, starting on the left, showed early will to attack, with Barnett showing signs on the ball and Rowland busy in midfield.

Winger Abo Eisa, out to impress on a rare start, was fractions from winning a penalty in the early stages as referee Christopher Sarginson judged the foul on him millimetres outside the penalty area.

Former non-league flyer Eisa sent a dipping free-kick inches over the top.

Vale, with a much more senior side, started seeing more of the ball and probing Town, looking for experienced frontman Pope, two goals from his Valiants century.

The hosts’ first sight of Town’s goal came through visiting skipper Omar Beckles, who inadvertently sent a left-footed swipe inches wide of his own left post.

Town were, at times, making life difficult for themselves defending set-pieces. Young Cypriot defender Shelis did well to put Pope off as the striker fired off-target.

The Salop youngsters were showing glimpses of promise. Rowland, formerly of West Bromwich Albion, in particular as he doggedly scrapped to win his side a corner.

But chances were limited. Barnett swept over left footed from distance before nobody could connect to Eisa’s lovely low cross.

Pope headed tamely at Joel Coleman before the halves’ big chance. A delightful Barnett cross found the storming, unchecked run of Emmanuel but the wing-back flashed a header well over.

Frontman Angol frustrated in the first period, taking the ball in full stride at times but wasting easy passes.

Highly-rated pint-sized midfielder Rowland was really catching the eye with a tenacious display. On a handful of occasion he won the ball when second favourite and showed his ability.

As the edgy tie wore on he showed more confident, ambitious and accurate passing.

Shrewsbury looked the more composed side in the second period, with Eisa proving the game’s best attacking outlet.

But, as the tie crept beyond the hour mark, a moment arrived to remember for one youngster.

Sears, from Newtown, connected to a perfect Emmanuel cross to send in a superb header across Scott Brown and into the opposite corner for his first goal in blue and amber.

It was fitting that one of the game’s impressive youngsters broke the deadlock.

Aspin made an attacking change as soon as his side fell behind but the opener rattled Vale who became rushed as their attacks lacked any sort of conviction.

Town were looking composed and as their hosts made a late rally they were always looking to spring away on the break.

Pressure would come and and big defender Connell Rawlinson, formerly of TNS, had a scrappy header cleared off the line by Sears.

But with seven minutes to go Pope finished from close range after Kieran Kennedy missed his clearance from an awkward right-sided cross.

Vale took the initiative after their late goal as Luke Hannant wasted a glorious chance to win it in added time by firing over from inside the box.

Shrewsbury will regret a couple of poor spot-kicks, from sub Gilliead and Eisa, as Hannant converted to send the Valiants to the last eight.

Teams

Port Vale (4-3-3):

Brown; Gibbons, Rawlinson, Smith, Clark; Joyce (Angus, 65), Kay, Oyeleke; Hannant, Whitfield (Miller, 79), Pope (c).

Subs not used: Hornby (gk), Worrall, Dodds, Vassell, Conlon.

Shrewsbury Town (3-4-2-1):

Coleman; Shelis, Kennedy, Beckles ©; Emmanuel (Gilliead, 90), Loft, Rowland (Okenabirhie, 90), Sears; Eisa, Barnett; Angol.

Subs not used: Arnold (gk), Mwandwe, Taylor, Leask, Turner.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Attendance: 1,355 (192 Town fans)