Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport

Wednesday, 7th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 18th November, 2008 09:30

Stalemate for the Vale

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Lesmahagow 0 Vale of Leven 0

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Vale of Leven in action

Pic by: John Crawley

After weeks of conceding soft goals Vale kept a clean sheet against bottom of the table Lesmahagow on Saturday.

Unfortunately their goalscoring run also came to an end with their forwards misfiring on a difficult surface.

Mark Pawsey, Alan Brown and Graeme McKenzie were all recalled while Alan Gourlay, Craig Cavana and Ryan Russell missed out.

This was a game Vale dominated for large periods, but were unable to make their superiority pay.

Time and time again they contrived to pass up great chances with David McNaught and Pawsey the chief sinners.

And had it not been for a great save from Matty Carr just before the break then a horrendous miss from Gow’s Brown, it could have been another pointless day.

Vale started well and soon Gow’s 17-year-old keeper Wilson was out smartly to dispossess Pawsey after McNaught’s clever reverse pass.

A Brown free kick appeared to hit the arm of a home defender, but the referee dismissed the claims and McNaught somehow managed to put the ball over the bar from point blank range.

Next up, Meechan broke free onto McKenzie’s quick throw and his cross only had to be diverted in, but the ball agonisingly came off Alan Filshie’s boot and ended up over the bar.

On the half hour mark, McNaught beat a couple of defenders, but his low shot was well saved by the keeper. Gow came into the game towards the end of the first half and Carr made a great save to tip Cunningham’s shot over, haulting the home fans’ premature celebration.

Early in the second half, Alex Drain limped off injured and his replacement Craig Cavana lasted just five minutes before colliding with his own keeper.

It almost cost Vale dearly as Carr dropped the ball, but the Gow attacker somehow missed from six yards.

Sub Kevin Montague nearly scored with his first touch, his shot deflecting off a defender and out for a corner. Filshie saw his netbound header from the corner cleared off the line by McDougall.

And with 10 minutes remaining, it was groundhog day for Filshie as McDougall was again well positioned to clear his headed effort.

Vale tired, but the back three held firm with Allan Lees and Grant Vehicle Repairs man of the match Davie Grant outstanding.

Vale: Carr, Lees, Grant, Drain (Cavana 55 (R McKenzie 60)), Buchanan, Filshie, Brown, G McKenzie, McNaught, Pawsey, Meechan (Montague 60). Unused Subs: Martin and Lacy.

 This week, Vale travel to take on St Anthony’s at McKenna Park in the league, kick off 1.45pm. Vale 21s League Cup with clash with Hillwood was cancelled. This week, they play Glasgow University away in the league.

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