Port Vale 1-2 Blackpool: Seasiders advance to the next round

A weakened Blackpool side advanced in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after a deserved 2-1 victory at Port Vale.

The visitors, with eight changes from the team which beat Swindon on Saturday, were inches from taking a 16th-minute lead when Kwame Thomas' powerful header was kicked off the line by Anthony Grant.

But the first-half action was overshadowed following a nasty clash of heads between Vale defender Remi Streete and Thomas in the 31st minute.

Streete came off worst and had treatment for more than 10 minutes before he was taken off the field on a stretcher and replaced by Ryan McGivern.

Blackpool took the lead two minutes later when Thomas crossed from the left to the unmarked Jarrett Rivers, who took a touch before placing a low, left-footed shot inside Jak Alnwick's left-hand post from 12 yards.

Vale levelled in the 52nd minute after Enoch Andoh was brought down in the penalty area by Clark Robertson.

Anthony Grant placed his right-footed spot-kick inside Colin Doyle's left-hand post as the Blackpool goalkeeper went the opposite way.

But the visitors were in front again two minutes later when Robertson atoned with a powerful 12-yard header from Jose Miguel Cubero's free-kick.

The ball came down off the underside of the crossbar and struck the diving Alnwick's back before entering the net.

Vale huffed and puffed in search of a second equaliser, but failed to seriously trouble Doyle again.