Port Vale hit five against Man City youngsters as Arsenal fight back in EFL Trophy

Port Vale scored five against Manchester City's youngsters on an EFL Trophy night that also brought wins for Blackpool, Shrewsbury and Arsenal's Under-21s.

Port Vale put their League Two struggles aside to score five against Manchester City's Under-21s on Tuesday, while Arsenal's youngsters produced a late turnaround at AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy. Blackpool and Shrewsbury Town also beat Premier League academy opposition, leaving Arsenal as the only winners among the four top-flight clubs' youth sides involved in those matches.

Vale, who sit second from bottom in League Two, inflicted most of the damage early as City conceded four goals inside 34 minutes. Maleace Asamoah opened the scoring, with Jaheim Headley, Max Watters, Lewis Montsma and Keyrol Figueroa also on target. The result left Vale leading Northern Group D on seven points and City in third. Manager Jon Brady said afterwards that he had selected a strong side with the intention of winning, and welcomed the five-goal return.

At Bloomfield Road, Blackpool recovered from Fletcher Boyd's 29th-minute opener to beat Aston Villa's Under-21s 3-2. Zac Ashworth brought the hosts level before Jerry Yates and Jordan Brown also scored to turn the match in Blackpool's favour. Markie Meade reduced Villa's deficit in stoppage time, but the visitors could not rescue a point. Blackpool are second in Northern Group B, while Villa remain bottom without a point.

Arsenal left their recovery much later at Wimbledon, overturning a deficit in the final 18 minutes to win 2-1. Callum Maycock had put the League One side ahead, only for Scottish substitute Evan Mooney to equalise five minutes after entering the match. Emerson Nwaneri then delivered the decisive goal three minutes from time. Arsenal's youngsters now lead Southern Group F with six points, with Wimbledon occupying second place.

There was another late finish at Shrewsbury, where Everton's youngsters lost 2-1 to remain without a point in Northern Group E. Michael Golding put the hosts in front and Omari Benjamin replied for Everton, before Jeval Thompson-McKenzie settled the contest in the second minute of added time. Shrewsbury manager Gavin Cowan praised his players afterwards, saying their performance had merited the victory.

Original reporting:BBC Sport