WREXHAM will be at home in the last 32 of the EFL Trophy after drawing 1-1 against Port Vale in the final group game at Port Vale.

Vale won the penalty shoot-out 3-1 but they will be away in the second round.

Paul Mullin scored Wrexham's first spot-kick but Anthony Forde, Sebastian Revan and Ollie Rathbone all had penalties saved by Ben Amos.

Both teams had already secured a place in the knockout stages with a match to spare and Phil Parkinson's men just had to avoid defeat against the League Two leaders to secure top spot.

Stand-in captain Max Cleworth put the Reds ahead early in the second half and although Vale levelled late-on, Wrexham have a Racecourse game to look forward to in the next round of a competition they won in 2005.

Parkinson said he would name a completely different side to the one that started Saturday's 1-0 home win against Mansfield Town which kept Wrexham third in League One, and he was true to his word.

The Reds' boss made 11 changes although Will Boyle, who was named captain, picked up an injury in the warm-up and couldn't start so Cleworth - originally named among the substitutes - kept his place and also took the armband.

Midfielder Josh Adam,  a former Manchester City academy player who joined Wrexham in September following a successful trial, was among the fringe players coming in to the team for his Reds' debut alongside Matty James.

Experienced midfielder James was without a club after leaving Bristol City at the end of last season but was brought in by Parkinson last month along with striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson - another free-agent - who made his first start for the Reds against Vale.

Wrexham won a succession of early corners and Mo Faal saw his header comfortably saved by keeper Amos from Forde's flag-kick.

There was another injury blow for the Reds when Luke Bolton was forced off in the 12th minute, with Revan taking over in the right wing-back role.

Faal's shot was blocked for another corner which came to nothing and after Ruari Paton's curling effort fell wide for Vale, Bodvarsson's low drive was well held by Amos following good play by Adam.

Although Wrexham were dominating, Paton's free-kick was saved by Reds' goalkeeper Callum Burton while Lorent Tolaj headed high over the bar from Jack Shorrock's corner.

Paton fired wide for Vale while Faal's header was off target with the final chance of the first half.

Wrexham went straight at Vale after the interval and good play by Faal and Bodvarsson won a corner.

A scramble in the box led to another flag kick from which Wrexham took a 50th minute lead.

Forde's corner was flicked on by Bodvarsson and Cleworth fired home from close range.

Vale immediately went in search of an equaliser and Mark Howard, who replaced Burton for the second half, did well to deny Benicio Baker-Boaitey before making another vital save to thwart Jesse Debrah.

Wrexham responded with Jacob Mendy's effort kept out by Amos following Matty James' ball into the box while Vale went down the other end and although Antwoine Hackford got in and tried to slot past Howard, the Reds cleared their lines.

Mullin replaced Bodvarsson on 66 minutes while Howard was again called into action to prevent Tolaj from finding the net.

Parkinson made a double change with Harry Ashfield and Rathbone coming on for Faal and Adam, but Vale equalised on 83 minutes.

A cross came into the box and Rico Richards fired home.

Neither side could find a winner and Vale came out on top in the shoot-out.

Port Vale (5-2-3): Amos; Shorrock, Smith, Hart (Heneghan 66), Debrah, Baker-Boaitey (Grant 76); Harper (Edwards 66), Lowe; Paton (Chislett 66), Hackford (Richards 76), Tolaj. Subs not used: Ripley, Curtis.

Wrexham (3-5-2): Burton (Howard 46); Aaron James, Cleworth, Brunt; Bolton (Revan 12), Forde, Matty James, Adam (Rathbone 82), Mendy; Faal (Ashfield 82), Bodvarsson (Mullin 66). Sub not used: Edwards.

Attendance: 1,837 (505 from Wrexham).