Author: Bobby Craigie

Vale sign-up future talent

Vale are committed to developing local players – Manager Chris Anderson is looking to the future with the signing of 16 year old defender Stan Swain.

Manager Chris Anderson said: “Stan is only 16 and is a player with lots of potential. He’s someone that myself and club captain Ger Rossi have known for a while having come through Peebles Youth and attended sessions with CG Elite Coaching as a youngster. We have to give local players a pathway to play at the highest level they can and I expect Stan to use the example of another local player Michael Robertson in developing into an established Lowland League player.” Welcome to the Vale Stan.

Vale 4 BSC 6: Match Report by David Knox

Vale of Leithen 4

BSC Glasgow 6

VALE continue the search for their first win of the campaign after giving up a two goal lead against BSC Glasgow.

But boss Chris Anderson still gave his players the thumbs up for effort after running last season’s Scottish Cup giant-killers close at Victoria Park.

Vale had raced into a deserved two goal advantage inside 20 minutes before being pegged back before the break.

Leaking a further three goals inside the opening 15 minutes of the second half didn’t snuff out a renewed belief around the Innerleithen side this season, and it was only the woodwork that prevented the home team drawing level in the final minute of the game.

Anderson said: “We were playing a good team who are looking to challenge yet we were positive out there and the performance was good.

“It’s disappointing to lose six goals and we’ll work on things, but I’m happy with the energy we showed even after conceding.

“We’ve played well in patches in all our games so far this season, but we need to turn those patches of playing well into points.”

It took a fine double save from Ben McGinley during the opening exchanges to prevent Stephen Swift’s team taking an early lead.

But Vale also came close with Martin Brogan narrowly failing to steer Michael Robertson’s angled cross inside the post.

Vale, though, did make the breakthrough from the penalty spot in the 18th minute after Nicholas Weir was fouled inside the area.

Jonathan Grotlin dispatched the spot kick.

Within 90 seconds the home team had doubled their advantage with Lewis Hall converting the rebound from 20 yards after Lyle Avci had blocked Arran Laidlaw’s initial effort.

BSC responded well with Ryan Tierney slipping past Martin Brogan to beat McGinley at his near post on 33 minutes.

And just seconds before the interval a mix up between McGinley and his defence allowed Alfie Agyneman to slot home the equaliser.

Ross Lyon clipped the post for the visitors four minutes into the second half.

But the former Rangers and Scotland youth player only had to wait a further minute before firing BSC in front from the penalty spot.

Lyon added a fourth from close range in the 55th minute.

And he completed his hat-trick on the hour after responding first to Agyneman’s shot that struck the post.

Vale should have been a beaten team, but within three minutes they were back in the match.

Laidlaw held off a challenge inside the area to slot the ball beyond Avci.

And in the 70th minute Laidlaw ran onto Levi Kinchant’s through-ball to make it 4-5.

Vale pushed for an equaliser with Nicholas Weir volleying a couple of feet wide, and in the 89th minute Kinchant curled a 25-yard freekick against the bar.

But in the third minute of stoppage time, with home players pushed forward, Darren Christie raced away on the counter-attack to seal the victory for BSC.

BSC’s hat-trick hero Lyon said: “Vale made it a really tough match and I was just pleased to be in the right places at the right times for my goals.

“We have a lot of new boys coming in this season and we will need to be better than we were today, particularly at the back.

“We’re unbeaten after our first three matches, but we’ve still got a bit of improving to do.”

Vale of Leithen. B McGinley, M Robertson, J Temple (R Higgins 58), N Weir, M Brogan, G Rossi, R Neave (R Wylie 85), L Hall, J Grotlin, D Ndiweni (L Kinchant 56) & A Laidlaw.

Ando adds 3 signings to squad

We are less than 48 hours before our opening game against Berwick Rangers kicks off, but Manager Chris Anderson continues to add to his squad.

Nick Weir (defender), Robbie Neave (midfielder) and Arran Laidlaw (forward) have signed on season long loans from Bonnyrigg Rose.

All three go into the squad for Saturday.

Lewis Hall: Vale ready for new campaign

After eight months without competitive football, the Vale get the new Lowland League campaign under way on Saturday (10 October) with the opening day match away to Berwick Rangers.

Lewis Hall, the club’s newly appointed Vice Captain, looks ahead to the new season: “It’s been a long period without a competitive game so I’m sure the whole team along with me are really excited to finally get back at it. 

I believe we will definitely improve on the results and the position we ended up last year. Personally I want to start contributing more in the sense of setting up and scoring goals myself, last season was my first ever season where I’ve not managed to get on the score sheet. So that’s something I can improve on. 

Last year was my first in the lowland league, so it was a difficult start. I think coming up from a successful Spartans 20s team maybe made me underestimate the pace and quality of the league and the amount of hard work you have to put in. This pre season I’ve put in the extra running and workouts on top of training to ensure I’m fit and ready to start the season as best I can. Especially because I’ve learnt from last year how important it is to get a good start to the season, so we want to get points on the board as soon as we can. 

I think we will compete much better this season and won’t suffer any big defeats like last year. We’ve got a fairly new squad but I think the players who have come in have brought a fresh mentality and style of play into the squad. We’ve shown in pre season that we can score goals and get big results when we work hard. So I’m excited to see how we fair in the upcoming campaign.”

Berwick Rangers v Vale of Leithen kicks off at 3pm and is a behind closed doors march due to current restrictions. You can get updates on the match by following the Vale’s twitter account @ValeLeithen

Vale beat Peebles in local pre season friendly

The Vale continued their pre season preparations with a 3-2 victory over Peebles Rovers at Whitestone Park.

Vale dominated possession from the start and eventually broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when trialist Aaron Laidlaw crossed from the left hand side and Donny Ndweni drove into the net.

Defender Martin Brogan grabbed his first goal for the club in his first game. Brogan had already missed a great chance when he headed the ball just wide of the right post, when a similar ball from a Donny Ndweni corner saw Brogan head home after 32 minutes to make it 2-0 to the Vale at half time.

Peebles came out determined in the second half and pulled a goal back after 46 minutes after the Vale were caught at the back. The Vale got their third on 66mins when a through ball saw new boy Reece Wyllie one on one with the keeper. His initial shot was saved but Wyllie slotted home at the second attempt. Peebles grabbed a consolation goal just before the final whistle.

Full Time: Peebles Rovers 2 Vale of Leithen 3

Vale continued their pre season campaign with upcoming fixtures this week against Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (Wed 23 Sept, 8.15KO, Saughton Enclosure) and Upper Annandale (Sat 26, 2pm KO, Victoria Park). All games are behind closed doors.