Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 21st August, 2007 10:57

MISSED CHANCES COST

VALE of Leven lost 2-0 at home to relegated Renfrew last week.

This was despite a better start to the match where they were unlucky not to take an early lead after Iain Crawford failed to take advantage of a poor Simon Keys back-header.

Keys was involved minutes later when he cleared an Alan Filshie header off the line and such was Vale’s dominance that the visitors first clear attempt on goal didn’t come until the half hour mark.

But Vale were made to regret their earlier missed opportunities as ‘Frew got stronger and began applying pressure, with Graham Mort coming close on two occasions.

With six minutes of the first half remaining, and with cracks beginning to show in the Millburn defence as wave after wave of attacks hit them, the breakthrough came.

It was a spectacular opener as David McKenzie sent a fierce volley into the net from 25 yards with keeper Matthew Carr unable to do a thing.

Renfrew continued to press in the second half and were perhaps unfortunate not to have a penalty in the 50th minute when Craig Wotherspoon appeared to foul Chris Faulds in the box but the ref waved play on.

Half chances continued to fall the way of the visitors and they doubled the lead midway through the half when a long ball eluded the home defence,

It found Chris Faulds, son of Arthurlie manager Gary, and he wasted no time in pouncing to fire home unchallenged from just inside the box.

The home side passed up a late lifeline when a similar long ball eluded the Renfrew defence but despite rounding keeper Craig Marshall, Alan Ferguson couldn’t find the unguarded net.

Team — Matthew Carr, Graeme McKenzie, David Grant, Robert McKenzie, Alex Drain (Alex Lacy 42), Jack Buchanan, Toby King, Alan Filshie, Kevin Montague (Craig Wotherspoon 62), Hugh Ward (Dougie Wilson 57), Iain Crawford. Unused subs — Alan Ferguson and Mark O’Donnell (G/K)

Vale took advantage of their free Saturday by playing a home friendly against their namesakes, Vale of Clyde, when they lost an entertaining match 4-3 after leading 3-1 at half time.

The league cup campaign concludes on Saturday with another trip to Ravenscraig to play Greenock with qualification to the quarter-final stages dependant on a draw between Renfrew and Port Glasgow combined with a high-scoring Vale victory at Greenock.

Social Bookmarking What are these?