Vale destroy indisciplined Shire
Published 9 Feb 2010 15:34
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Vale of Leven.............. 8
Glasgow Perthshire..... 0
AN on-fire Vale of Leven side continued their impressive league form with a demolition job on Glasgow Perthshire.
Despite the Shire side promising much early on, they were ultimately punished for their indiscipline.
After three straight home league wins at Millburn, in which they have failed to lose a goal, Vale are moving into a threatening position in the league.
With new signing Robert Tiropoulos having to make do with a seat on the bench Vale started with an unchanged side from the Dunipace win last time out.
It was the visitors who were first to threaten when they won a free kick on the edge of the area and Ferguson's shot seemed destined for the top corner of the net until Matty Carr produced a fine fingertip save to turn the ball over.
Vale started to play to neat football and Bowie should have done better than shooting straight at Shire keeper Thomson after 15 minutes.
Next up McNaught's pass picked out the lively Gourlay on the right and his low shot to the near post almost caught out Thomson, who responded well to get down to turn the ball around the
post.
From the resultant corner Vale were awarded a spot-kick after 27 minutes when Brian Smith was impeded.
Up stepped Jack Buchanan to calmly slot Vale into the lead with his second penalty in successive matches.
Shire centre half Brown was cautioned after 31 minutes for continuing to complain to the referee and barely 60 seconds later he left the official with little option as he almost halved Vinny Berry in two to pick up his second
caution.
At the interval Vale were deservedly in front and manager Hugh Hamill decided to throw on the more attack-minded Mark Pawsey for Smith, hoping to take advantage of their numerical superiority.
Vale restarted the second half on the ascendancy and should have increased their lead when Bowie found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but he dwelled too long and the keeper saved at his feet.
Then Gourlay got on the end on a good move, only to fire his shot into the side netting when he seemed destined to score.
Vale's task was made easier when Shire went into self destruct mode after 59 minutes. The home side were awarded a free kick on the left hand side of the area and Eadie let rip with a verbal volley at the referee and was promptly ordered off.
From the free kick Gourlay touched the ball to top scorer Mark Pawsey who blasted the ball into the net to put his side two ahead.
Before the game could restart the previously booked Ferguson continued to show dissent to the match official and Shire were now down to just eight men.
Three minutes later and it was game over when a good move on the left ended with the ball played across field for Alan Gourlay to smash the ball home from the edge of the area.
In the final 15 minutes Vale netted a further five goals to do their goal difference no harm.
In the 75th minute Buchanan went on an uninterrupted run on the right before firing a low left foot shot into the net for his second goal of the afternoon.
A minute later and David McNaught raced clear to blast an unstoppable shot high into the net.
After 82 minutes Gourlay's pass picked out McNaught who rounded the keeper with some style for his second goal to make it 6-0.
A minute later and Pawsey made it seven from Russell's pass and then in the final minute Alan Filshie thrashed the ball into the net following a good cut back from Russell.
At the end of the day Vale recorded their biggest win for a few seasons with good performances from everyone on the field, with Gourlay just edging out Filshie for man of the match.
Unfortunately for Vale they lost the services of outstanding defender Craig Cavana and he will be extremely doubtful for his side's next match which is away to Thorniewood United on Saturday.
Bus leaves Gilmour Street at 11.30am.
Another blow for Vale will be the loss of the previously ever present Vinny Berry as the player is off to America for the next three weeks and his attacking play will be badly missed.
Vale: Carr; K.Wilson, Lacy, Cavana (Russell 65); Gourlay, Buchanan, Filshie, Smith (Pawsey 45), Berry; Bowie (Ward 70). Unused subs D.Wilson, Parlane,
Tiropoulos.
This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 09 Feb 10
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