Reds out of trophy

Barnsley went out of the EFL Trophy after a 2-1 loss at fellow League One club Port Vale on Wednesday night.

The hosts were on top for most of the game, scoring two goals in the first half an hour and missing some other fine chances.

Barnsley substitute Tom Edwards pulled one back late on but they were extremely disappointing overall.

Liam Kitching, Adam Phillips and Jack Aitchison were the only players who started Saturday’s league win over MK Dons and the midweek cup tie.

Young striker Fabio Jalo missed out through illness, with Jack Butterfill starting up front alongside Aitchison. Full debutant Harrison Nejman played in holding midfield with Josh Martin used at right wing-back.

In the first ten minutes, Aitchison glanced a header wide from Kitching’s cross then Martin shot over from 20 yards after a free-kick was punched out.

The hosts took the lead in the 15th minute when Dennis Politic was played clean through by a clever pass and blasted into the top left corner.

Vale were then well on top and doubled the lead ten minutes later when a good passing move on the left totally opened up the flat-footed Reds and Politic’s low cross was swept in at the back post by the unmarked David Worrall.

Moon gifted James Wilson the ball deep in his half and he sent in a cross from which Worrall looked set to score an almost identical goal by Jack Walton made an excellent save at his near post.

The hosts dominated the first half as they opened up the visiting defence on several occasions, while Barnsley’s midfield could not gain control or their forwards keep hold of the ball.

Barnsley brought on Herbie Kane and Tom Edwards at half-time with the Reds changing to a 4-4-2 with Martin and Nejman on the wing.

Politic should have made it 3-0 midway through the second half when substitute Mipo Odubeko set him up unmarked in the box but he blazed over ten yards out.

But it was Barnsley who scored next as, after a fine pass by Martin, Edwards smashed a superb 25-yard effort in for his first Barnsley goal. But they could not create a chance for a leveller, despite throwing centre-back Robbie Cundy up front.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Walton; Moon, Cundy, Kitching (Edwards HT); Martin, Benson, Nejman, Phillips (Kane HT), Larkeche; Aitchison, Butterfill.

Unused: Collins, Andersen, Cadden, Cole, Connell.

Yellow cards: Kitching.

Goals: Edwards 75.

Port Vale (3-4-3): Stevens; Cass, Hall, Smith, Worrall (Jones 89mins); Garrity (Conlon HT), Pett, Benning; Politic (Charsley 86mins), Holden (Massey 57), Wilson (Odubeko 57).

Unused: Stone, Jones, Butterworth.

Goals: Politic 15, Worrall 26.