Published: Friday, 19th September, 2008 11:35
Vale learn cruel football lesson
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Vale in recent action against Yoker
Pic by: Eddie O'Neill
Vale learned a harsh lesson at Somervell Park on Saturday — if you don’t punish teams when you are on top then you’ll suffer the consequences.
The Millburn men totally dominated the entire first 45 minutes but failed to take advantage of the many chances made.
And after the interval it was like a totally different team as they surrendered tamely to a Cambuslang side who were allowed to take control of the midfield.
Surprisingly, Vale made a couple of changes to the side that won the previous week against Yoker. Back into the side came top scorer Kevin Montague and Craig Cavana with Gordon Martin and Alan Brown dropping down to the bench.
The home side fielded the same side that hit Thorniewood for six the previous week.
With the exception of a goal line clearance from Davie Grant after 18 minutes, it was Vale who dominated the first half with a corner count of 10-1 in their favour.
Unfortunately they were unable to get the ball past the experienced Connolly in the Lang goal who did well to stop netbound efforts from Montague, Lees and Pawsey.
Vale went in at the break frustrated at the equality of the scoreline and they must have thought that it would be just a matter of time before they scored. Well it didn’t quite work out that way as they very quickly found out.
Within five minutes of the restart, Montague was stupidly booked for dissent and then Buchanan was wrongly booked for a tackle. But as Vale wanted to mump and moan, they lost concentration and conceded a soft goal after 55 minutes.
Experienced striker Donaldson pulled Robert McKenzie out wide and from his cut back, Kevin Ogilvie met the ball at the front post to stab it past Carr.
A minute later and it could have been all over.
McNaught played a suicidal back pass to Carr, which came up short. But the Vale keeper spared his blushes as he blocked Ogilvie’s effort with his legs.
In a bid to get back into the match, Vale introduced Brown and Martin in place of Cavana and Montague after 72 minutes.
They were again kept in the game by Carr with 10 minutes left when he dived to his right to save a penalty kick from Ogilvie.
And then in the follow up Graeme McKenzie cleared off the line to deny a certain second goal.
With five minutes remaining, Vale lost possession and were hit on the break. Templeton controlled the ball with his arm but still managed to get a pass to substitute Nick Miller on the right and he advanced to slot the ball past Carr.
Vale pulled a goal back with three minutes remaining when Martin’s trickery on the right left Mark Pawsey with a tap in and then the home side were reduced to 10 men when Queen was given a second caution.
Unfortunately, despite some blatant time wasting by the home side, the referee failed to add the proper amount of stoppage time and the points were lost.
Hopefully Vale will have learned from this defeat and not surrender so tamely next time out.
Best for Vale were G McKenzie, Cavana, Russell and the outstanding Matt Carr.
This week Vale are on West of Scotland Cup duty when they travel to Kirkconnell to meet Kello Rovers in the first round.
The Ayrshire district league side hit Ardeer for 12 last week taking their goal count to 24 in four games.
Vales under 21s held Premier Division side Busby to 1-1 after 90 minutes in the Golden Goal Trophy, unfortunately they lost the penalty shoot out 4-3.
They have no game this Saturday.
Vale: Carr, G McKenzie, R McKenzie, Grant, Russell, Buchanan, Cavana (Brown 72), Lees, McNaught, Montague (Martin 72), Pawsey. Unused Subs; Ward, Monaghan and Drain.
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