Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport | Vale's well-deserved victory

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 9th September, 2008 14:30

Vale's well-deserved victory

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Vale of Leven 2 Yoker 1

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Vale fought hard against Yoker

VALE of Leven moved up to joint second spot in the table with a well-deserved three points against local rivals Yoker at Millburn on Saturday.

The home side played some great football but they were made to defend in numbers as Yoker threw everyone forward in the final 20 minutes of this entertaining match.

The Millburn men went into the game without the goal-scoring threat of top marksman Kevin Montague, but they were able to recall tricky winger Gordon Martin after holiday as well as Allan Lees, who was making his first start of the season.

Vale’s McNaught had the ball in the net after only five minutes but the goal was disallowed after a foul by Pawsey in the set up.

After 15 minutes, an inswinging corner taken by Alan Brown should have resulted in a goal for Robert McKenzie but he failed to get direction on his point-blank header and the ball went wide of keeper Meechan’s left hand post.

After 21 minutes, Vale’s pressure paid dividends with the opening goal after some fine play on the left. Ryan Russell played the ball up the touchline and Gordon Martin’s clever dummy sent Pawsey free, and his return pass inside found Martin whose shimmy deceived Meechan as he rolled the ball into the net.

Yoker drew level after 36 minutes with a real comic cut goal. Alan Brown played a 50-yard pass back to keeper Carr who could have rolled a sideways pass to Davie Grant but instead blasted his kick against the onrushing striker Davie Kirkwood who tapped the ball into the empty net.

Full credit to Vale as they regained the lead within 2 minutes when Alan Brown flighted a free kick into the box and this time Robert McKenzie was standing all on his own to send a glancing header low into the net at Meechan’s right-hand post.

The second period started well for Vale with Meechan called upon to make a great save to deny Pawsey but after that the chances dried up as Yoker made a valiant bid to get an equaliser but having gifted the earlier goal Vale were in no mood to concede anything else as they held out to take the points.

Vale: Carr, G.McKenzie, R.McKenzie, Grant, Russell; Buchanan, Lees (Cavana 75), Brown, Martin (Ward 75); McNaught (Drain 85), Pawsey. Unused Subs; Docherty and Monaghan.

This Saturday, Vale face a difficult away trip when they take on a Cambuslang Rangers side who beat them home and away last season and the season previously.

Vales under-21s suffered an embarrassing 10-0 defeat at top division league leaders Knightswood in the West Cup. This Saturday they are again away from home when they travel to meet Busby in the Golden Goal Cup.

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