Relief at the final whistle
Published 12 Oct 2010 10:00
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DESPITE taking a three goal lead, Vale almost managed to throw this match away at Millburn on Saturday.
Cruising 3-0 at the interval the home side were stunned by the manner in which the visitors recovered in the second half.
There was a blow for Vale prior to kick off as Jack Buchanan was ruled out along with captain Alex Lacy, replaced with Ryan Russell and Alex Drain.
Vale took a well deserved lead after 22 minutes when a Crowhurst header brought out a fine save from Thomson.
And from the resultant corner taken by Alan Brown, Mark Bowie arrived at the back post to volley high into the roof of the net.
Four minutes later and Vale added a second when a long diagonal ball saw Alan Brown break forward and smash a left foot shot past Thomson from 12-yards.
After 32 minutes Grindlay made a fine save from Bennett.
Then with three minutes left in the first half left Bowie grabbed his second goal of the afternoon with a close range tap in after a mix up in the visitors’ defence. Three up at the break Vale fans must have been thinking about another high scoring affair.
The visitors threw on all three substitutes at the break and Shire got a lifeline after 53 minutes when David Shirley headed home from close range.
After 61 minutes another corner caused panic in the Vale box and in a scramble McDevitt brought down Bennett, allowing David Kirkwood to convert from the spot.
Striker Kirkwood missed a great chance to pull the teams level after 79 minutes when he headed past when it seemed easier to score, but after eight minutes of injury time Vale were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Best for Vale were Bowie and man of the match Alan Brown.
This Saturday Vale are on West of Scotland Cup duty when they travel over to Ravenscraig Stadium to face Greenock for the third time in two months. The second round draw for the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup took place at Linlithgow on Sunday and once again Vale are on their travels when they will take on Super first division side Cumbernauld United at Guys Meadow on Saturday October 30.
Vale: Grindlay, Wilson, Drain, McDevitt, Gourlay, Brown, Filshie, Berry, Russell (McNaught 60), Crowhurst (Pawsey 85), Bowie. Unused subs: Carr, McKenzie, Ward.
Vale’s under-21 side lost their league match at Airdrie against Strathclyde Colts 3-0.
This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 12 Oct 10
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