Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport | FIRST HOME DEFEAT FOR MILLBURN MEN

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 11th December, 2007 10:00

FIRST HOME DEFEAT FOR MILLBURN MEN

By Sports Reporter

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Vale of Leven 2 Forth Wanderers 3

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VALE suffered their first home league defeat this season and passed up the chance to create a bit of space between themselves and Carluke Rovers.

The league fixtures were once again decimated as a result of the driving rain but Vale gaffer Hugh Hamill last week told the Reporter the game would go on bar ‘a freeze’.

How right he was, but after seeing his side return to action following a long lay off, he may have wished Millburn was not kept in such fine fettle.

On their four previous home outings, Vale had notched up 10 goals and taken maximum points, including two impressive 3-1 victories against Greenock and Thorniewood.

But Saturday brought disappointment and leaves Carluke just one point behind the league leaders.

Vale dominated the opening stages and took the lead early on in terrible conditions at Millburn Park.

Only eight minutes had passed when Alex Lacey set up centre-half Robert McKenzie to head home.

The league leaders were playing really well but allowed Forth to draw level after 20 minutes.

Finding too much space, their centre forward Stevie Donnachie turned inside the area and fired home.

A minute before half-time, Wanderers took the lead courtesy of another strike from Donnachie. Again unmarked inside the box, he cooly netted to give his side an unlikely advantage.

The terrible conditions continued in the second half. So too did the fortunes of Vale who went further behind only eight minutes after the restart.

A fumble by the goalkeeper was punished by who else but Donnachie, whose hat-trick came gift wrapped.

Donnachie was on the scoresheet the last time the two sides met and his class once again told.

Vale did reduce the deficit on the hour mark, McKenzie notching his second of the afternoon, but there was to be no home hat-trick nor even a point despite laying siege on the Wanderer’s goal. A goal line clearance was to be as close as they came.

It was a bad day at the office for Vale, who could point to rustiness having not played a league fixture since November 17.

Greenock away is the next challenge to face Hamill’s men. Greenock currently sit 7th in the table, lying seven points adrift having played two games less.

Hamill will hope the Wanderers game was merely a blip.

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