Vale of Leven boss Hugh Hamill was having a case of deja vu after his side threw away a 2-0 lead away to Dunipace on Saturday.

It was the opening game of the Central District Second Division campaign at Westfield Park.,and for the second time in a week his side led comfortably with strikers Scott Cowan and Andy Clark putting the visitors in front.

But the Vale conceded two goals in the space of minutes shortly after the break, and Hamill is hoping it does not become a recurring theme for his side after a similar collapse last week against Port Glasgow.

He said: “We played very well. The first half was outstanding, we went 2-0 up and we thoroughly deserved it. At half time we said to the players look what happened last week; we haven’t won anything by half time so do the same again.

“But four minutes later we’ve conceded. He took his goal well to be fair to him and they scored their second right after that.

“We were far better in the first half than the second, and both teams had chances to win it at the end.

“If you’d asked me before the game if I’d have taken a point I probably would have, but Saturday’s game felt a bit like a defeat.

“I hope it’s not a habit we get ourselves into too often.”

Vale of Leven host Ashfield at Millburn Park next week, the Vale’s first home fixture of the league campaign.

And after finishing third in a tough Sectional League Cup group, including Super First Division sides Clydebank, Yoker and Maryhill, the Vale manager is not taking anything for granted, despite beating them home and away last season.

He said: “It will be a tough game. There’s no question it’s a tough league this year but we beat Ashfield home and away last year so we’ll be looking to do the same again this year.

“If we play like we did in the first half on Saturday then we’ll certainly win more games than we’ll lose. It’s early days but we’re being cautious; we didn’t want to start the league campaign with a defeat.”

The game against Ashfield kicks off at 2pm on Saturday.

Results
Saturday, August 27        

Ashfield    1–1    EK Thistle

Carluke Rovers    4–2    Glasgow Perthshire

Dunipace    2–2    Vale of Leven

Lanark United    4–1    Newmains United

Royal Albert   1–4    Port Glasgow

St Anthony's  2–0    Gartcairn

Fixtures:             
Saturday, September 3            
EK Thistle  v    Carluke Rovers

Gartcairn    v    Dunipace

Glasgow Perthshire   v    Royal Albert

Newmains  United  v    St Anthony’s

Port Glasgow   v    Lanark United

Vale of Leven    v    Ashfield