Published: Tuesday, 4th November, 2008 10:15
Keeper saves the day
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Greenock 1 Vale of Leven 2
A STUNNING late save from Matt Carr ensured the Vale eeked through at Ravenscraig.
It was a deserved win, but the Millburn men had their keeper, pictured inset, to thank after a late Greenock fightback almost brought a replay.
Boss Hugh Hamill made four changes to the side which exited the West cup to Rob Roy and they dominated early on.
It was no real surprise when they took the lead after just 15 minutes.
Russell’s long throw was helped on by Robert McKenzie for David Meechan who stabbed the ball in at the near post.
Vale doubled their lead after 32 minutes when Gordon Martin sent over a deep corner from the left and when David McNaught headed back across goal, Allan Lees was on hand to smash the ball into the net from six yards.
Despite being well on top, Vale came out for the second half knowing they would need a killer third goal. And they should have had it, but Mark Pawsey shot high and wide from good position after 50 minutes.
Martin  then saw an inswinging corner almost find the net, but Stirling headed out from under his own crossbar. Hamill introduced last season’s top scorer Kevin Montague in place of the tiring Meechan and within two minutes of his arrival, he looked to be celebrating a stunning goal.
But his clever chip from 40 yards came back off the crossbar with keeper Scott posted missing.
The home side must have taken inspiration from Vale’s miss as they promptly broke upfield and pulled a goal back through Ryan McDonald.
Greenock looked a different team now, but the visitors could have sealed the win when Montague looked set to score, only for his close range effort to be blocked for a corner when it seemed he must score from Pawsey’s cut back.
And with eight minutes left, Carr’s divine intervention proved pivotal.
Greenock’s McKay beat the Vale offside trap and raced through unhindered on goal.
Carr spared his sides blushes when he dived at the striker’s feet to make a cracking save.
Vale were best served by McKenzie, Carr, Lees and Grant Vehicle Repairs Man of the Match Alan Gourlay.
Vale: Carr, Buchanan, R McKenzie, Grant, Russell, McNaught (Filshie 80), Gourlay, Lees, Martin (Drain 85), Meechan (Montague 63), Pawsey. Unused Subs: Brown and Ward.
 Vales U21s were also on Scottish Cup business and returned from Blantyre with a 3-2 win, with goals from Mark Brown (2) and Gary McDevitt, but the star of the show was young goalkeeper Brian Gallacher.
This week, Vale face Ashfield in the league at Saracen Park and the U21s are on League Cup duty against Drumchapel United at Argyll Park.
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