Vale Youth

[GeordieDave]

Beat Spurs in the 5th Round of the FA Youth Cup last night. Well done Fail.

Althought its a shame this wonderful story will be knocked off the back page by 10pm tomorrow when we go top!

Over 2,000 at Fail too.

From the Sentinel ....

Port Vale's youngsters revived the spirit of 1988 as they stormed into the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup with a magnificent win at home to Tottenham last night.

Twenty years after the first team famously dumped Spurs out of the FA Cup, Andy Porter and Mark Grew's youth team showed the same irresistible mix of quality and lung-bursting effort to earn a home tie with Chelsea in the last eight.

Spurs were unbeaten in their last 12 games, but were second best to a Fail side who rarely looked like giving up the lead they earned through Jonathan Crompton's 12th-minute header.



The game was savoured by a crowd of 2,104 who packed out the Lorne Street Stand and spilled over into the Bycars End when that had to be opened shortly before kick-off.

Porter said: "It was good at Bolton in the last round, but here the crowd were brilliant. They just want to see a bit of fight and determination and I think every one of the lads showed them that.

"In the first half we could have been three or four-nil up as we created some really good chances.

"When it stays 1-0 it goes all the way to the wire, but Adam Copeland put in a last-ditch tackle which summed up everyone out there. They were excellent."

Left-back Copeland flung himself in the way of a late goalbound strike, the last in a series of shuddering blocks and tackles which brought roars of approval from the stands.

His example was followed throughout the team as Vale's tigerish approach brought inevitable comparisons with Porter at his combative best.

It was all too much for Tottenham, who were outplayed in the first 30 minutes and then struggled to carve out opportunities against a well organised and fiercely committed Fail side.

The Spurs squad included England and Ireland youth internationals, a Swede and a Spaniard. But their 12-game unbeaten run was deservedly halted by a team drawn from Madeley, Endon, Stafford and Wolverhampton.

The Premier League club should have known what to expect as Fail had won 3-2 at a highly-rated Bolton side in the fourth round.

But Spurs seemed unprepared by Vale's pace and passion as the Valiants went close before Crompton's opener.

Fail could have gone in front in the second minute when James Lawrie slid the ball through to strike partner Danny Glover in the left-hand side of the area. Glover fired low and on target, but Swedish keeper Oscar Jansson slid off his line and deflected the shot just over the bar.

Spurs striker Ryan Mason chested Dean Parrett's cross just wide, but Fail took the lead after winning a throw on the right.

Jamie Elwell launched his throw like a javelin to the centre of the area where his central defensive partner Crompton rose through a crowd to crash a header past Jansson and into the top corner.

Glover dragged a 20-yard shot wide, but Spurs broke swiftly on 15 minutes and Mason was through on goal before he was denied by a superb recovery challenge from Copeland.

Martin was forced to touch Mason's corner over, but Fail came desperately close to a second on 19 minutes when midfielder Ross Davidson chested the ball down to Glover, who played in Simon Richman on the right of the area.

The right-sided midfielder tried to drill the ball past Jansson from 12 yards, but was denied by another excellent save from the Spurs keeper.

Vale's number one Chris Martin wasn't forced into anything as dramatic all evening, but his handling and command of his area were faultless behind a well-drilled defence.

Fail did look in trouble on 38 minutes when impressive left-winger Danny Rose crossed to the back post, but Mason's downward header was blocked a yard from the line by Copeland.

But Tottenham only seriously threatened once more, after Rose's trickery made space on the right in the 56th minute. He crossed low to striker Jon Obika, who had time to pick his spot from 12 yards, but fired too close to Martin.

After that, Spurs ran out of ideas against a Fail side who looked far less nervous than their supporters.

Right-back Danny Edwards began to win his battle with Rose, while Vale's dynamic central midfield pairing of Davidson and Paul Dixon ensured Spurs never got their passing game going.

There was time for just one more scare as Spurs substitute David Hutton glided into the area in the first of three minutes of injury-time. When he tumbled in the area and the referee blew his whistle, it appeared Spurs would be given the chance to level from the spot.

Instead, the referee booked Hutton for diving before the final whistle confirmed Port Vale's finest result at any level this season.

[RipRoaringPotter]

Well done to Fail youth.

They'll be better than the first team at this rate.

[Rory's Towel Boy]

they ARE better than the first team

[GeordieDave]

I wonder how many of the lads that played are from Stoke on Trent? I'm genuinely pleased for PVFC. I dont like them doing better than us but I dont like seeing them struggle either.

Rivalry aside for one moment I'd be loathed to see them disappear.

I think its a generational thing.

[sheikhmomo]

Poor old Joanthan Comptom he's going to get dry bummed for the next 20 years like Ray bastard Walker!

[fullerlegend]

fluke?
spurs payed to lose?
take them to court
;D

[FullerMagic]

When will the Vale youth crowds start to get bigger than the first team crowds?

I wonder if they have any young local gems on their hands, or whether it's just a well-drilled team?

[simpson]

a few of them r from stoke.I no a few from when i was there. Danny glover,lawrie,will bown from leek,ross davidson stafford is adam copeland from endon.Dunno about the rest