The Valiants host Wrexham for our final group match in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Although both teams have already qualified for the knockout stages, there is still plenty to play for as Vale must win to finish first in Group B and secure a home match in the next round.
After the first two group matches, Vale sits in second place with five points. In our first match we traveled to Salford City and secured a 2-0 victory thanks to second half goals from Ruari Paton and Diamond Edwards.
In our second match we hosted Wolves U21. Tom Edozie gave Wolves the lead after half an hour, before Lorent Tolaj equalized for Vale fifteen minutes into the second half. Wolves thought they had won when a long-range shot from Fletcher Holman restored their advantage in the 86th minute. However, Ronan Curtis equalized in the 89th minute with a close range strike. The Valiants finally earned an extra point after a thrilling 5-4 victory in the penalty shootout.
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Coach’s Thoughts
The manager discusses the potential benefits the Bristol Street Motors Trophy has for the football club:
“With the competition, it’s not seen from the outside as a glamorous affair, but for us as a football club it gives us a financial gain. The further you go, it can help the club stabilize and reward financially.
“Also, it’s an opportunity for clubs from the two lowest tiers to come to Wembley. I’ve been lucky enough to honor the old Wembley and the new Wembley, and it’s a fantastic arena and a opportunity for all fans who tune in. It’s a wonderful place, and this competition offers that opportunity. There’s still a long way to go, but if you want to succeed, you have to start somewhere.
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L’Opposition
Wrexham have made a good start this season, currently sitting 3rd in Sky Bet League One with 28 points. The Red Dragons head into the match on the back of a 1-0 win over Mansfield Town on Saturday. A low shot from Ryan Barnett in the 6th minute was enough to secure three points for his team.
Wrexham have had a perfect run in the EFL Trophy this season, having won against Salford City and Wolves U21. A late goal from William Boyle in the 83rd minute helped them beat Salford 2-1 at SToK Cae Ras before the Red Dragons easily overcame Wolves U21 3-0, thanks to goals from Mo Faal, Lewis Brunt and Paul Mullin .
Vale and Wrexham faced off in exactly the same situation last season. Both teams were already qualified, but the winner would finish first in the group. Vale’s youngsters were eventually beaten 2-1 by Wrexham in Wales.
Who is in charge?
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Former Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson is in charge at Wrexham. He became the club’s manager in July 2021 and played an important role in his team’s rise from the National League to League One.
On the road to football league status, he led Wrexham to 111 points in their record-breaking National League season, becoming champions after a dramatic run to the top with Notts County. This points total broke the record for the most points won in a single league season in the five biggest leagues of English football.
Since arriving at Wrexham, Parkinson has overseen 183 matches, winning 113, giving him an astonishing 61% win rate as manager.
Player to Watch – Paul Mullin
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It’s always difficult to predict who will start in these Bristol Street Trophy matches, but Paul Mullin has played and scored in both of his team’s games in the competition this season.
Despite only scoring once in the league this season, Mullin remains a formidable threat in front of goal. Since arriving at Wrexham, he has scored 108 goals in just 155 appearances, playing a vital role in their rise through the English football pyramid.
Another player to watch is right back Ryan Barnett. The 25-year-old was the hero of the match on Saturday after firing low into the bottom corner in the 6th minute. It was his first goal of the season and sixth of the campaign, having also contributed five assists from the right-back position.
It has been 19 years since the last time the Valiants beat Wrexham. However, the two teams have only faced each other twice since.
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Michael Husbands gave Vale the lead in the 19th minute when he was on hand to deflect Chris Birchall’s low cross into the net. The visitors equalized shortly after the hour when Jonathan Walters’ header fell favorably to Lee McEvilly, who struck from twelve yards.
However, Vale immediately responded with a decisive blow. Just a minute after conceding, Leon Constantine found himself in the right place at the right time to restore Vale’s advantage and ultimately send his side through to the second round of the FA Cup.
This victory marked the start of a memorable cup run, with the Valiants reaching the fifth round before ultimately being knocked out by Aston Villa at Villa Park.
