Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 26th August, 2008 10:30

Vale pay the penalty

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Vale of Leven 2 Larkhall Thistle 3

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Brian Nicholas presents the match ball to Vale's Alan Brown

IF Vale are wondering how they lost this game then the answer is really quite simple — rank bad defending, not excluding the front players.

If the loss of a soft penalty for hand ball after just seven minutes was harsh, there can be no excuse for the other two goals conceded to an experienced Larkhall side who bullied Vale all over the pitch.

Boss Hugh Hamill recalled experienced duo Alex Drain and Graeme McKenzie in defence in place of youngsters Monaghan and Russell, and with Mark Pawsey not fit enough to start Dougie Wilson partnered David McNaught in attack.

In what was the opening league fixture, it was important that Vale got off to a winning start but with only minutes gone the home side were up against it when they lost a highly controversial penalty.

A driven shot from 25 yards hit the arm of Davie Grant although there was little the defender could do to get out of the way. From the resultant spot kick, Stephen Marshall placed the ball to Carrs left and into the net.

Four minutes later and Vale were really in trouble when McNaught lost possession as Vale attacked and when Thistle broke at pace Grant mistimed his tackle and Leon Kondol was in acres of space to round the hesitant Carr to score easily.

Vale then dominated the remainder of the half and Dougie Wilson gave them hope when he netted with a stunning drive after 61 minutes when he worked the ball from right to middle and ended with a curling left foot shot that beat the Jags keeper.

Just when it looked that Vale would grab the equaliser their play deserved, they were stunned when they lost the killer third goal. Once again Vale were on the attack when Russell was brushed aside easily and again the normally dependable Grant lost the break of the ball and from the cross Joe Shields netted from a suspiciously offside position.

In the final minute, Hugh Ward scored for Vale from the spot after a hand ball in the area, but it was a case of too little to late.

Vale of Leven: Carr; G.McKenzie, Grant, Cavana, Drain; Buchanan, Brown, Filshie (Russell 32), Montague, McNaught (Pawsey 45), Wilson (Ward 85).Unused Subs: Docherty, Monaghan.

Vale under-21s got their first points the on board in the league with an emphatic 7-1 win over St Johnstone at the Argyll. David McBarnes was top marksman with a treble to add to the single strikes from Alan McPherson, Kenny Wilson, Nickie McGeachy and Greg Chalmers.

This week, Vale played their outstanding Sectional League Cup tie against Johnstone Burgh at Keanie Park yesterday (Monday) evening, and on Saturday they return to the same venue to face Burgh on league duty.

Vale would like to thank Stuart McIntyre and Stuart of Jamestown for sponsoring Saturday’s match ball.

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