SAINTS loanee Thierry Small was on the scoresheet as Port Vale eased past non-league Newcastle Town last night.

Small, 18, has struggled to make it into Vale's side for League One fixtures in recent weeks.

So he was given a chance to get some game-time in the second round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup.

And Small, starting in an advanced attacking position, made his mark, breaking the deadlock inside 12 minutes with a long-range effort.

The youngster went close to bagging a second, before former Bolton Wanderers striker Dennis Politic made it 2-0.

Small then had a goal ruled out for offside, before then striking the crossbar soon after the restart.

Politic and Liam McCarron added further gloss to the score, before Newcastle pulled one back through substitute Lewis Holdham.

But Vale ran out 4-1 winners.

Small, who joined Saints from Everton in the summer of 2021 and made one senior appearance last season, has featured seven times for Darrell Clarke's first team this campaign across league and cup competitions.

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