Category: East of Scotland First Division

Civil Services Strollers 4 Vale of Leithen 2 (after extra time 2-2 FT)

Civil Service Strollers 4 Vale 2 after extra time

Today was really about Cowdenbeath beating Cove Rangers to ensure our Lowland League survival, and with that done this semi final was an excellent game where after leading twice through a Tommy Patterson penalty and a scrambled Llial Smith goal we were eventually beaten in extra time. When we were leading 2-1 we had a goal disallowed for offside and two attempts scrambled of the Strollers line. However, Strollers, a very good side, eventually beat us with some superb goals and all the best to them in the final.
A big thanks to our players who over the last two months have fought hard to ensure our place in the league, after the horrific injury problems we suffer throughout the season.
For sure we will be better placed next season, and also a big thanks to supporters and sponsors for their support during the season.
Hopefully soon we will be announcing some tasty friendlies for the new season plus a Old Firm Legends game at the park in June.

Dalbeattie Star 2 Vale of Leithen 4

Dalbeattie Star 2 Vale 4

Vale headed to Dalbeattie following a disappointing draw with Cumbernauld Colts on Wednesday.
Vale started the game with only Chris Anderson and Ross Brady on the bench.
However, after a promising start Vale were rewarded in the 5 minutes when a Sean Stewart cross was knocked home by Jordan Finnie.
The first half was fairly even pressure wise, but in the 28 min after some slack play on the Vale left a cross from the right was headed home by Star’s Tommy Muir.
The first half finished with no side taking control.
HT 1-1
Vale replaced Andy Martin at half time with Anderson.
In the 55 min Anderson was through on the goalie only to be thrawted by his out stretched legs.
Vale regained the lead in the 57 min when a 20 yard shot was fired home by Finnie.
With Anderson showing some good touches Star were struggling to contain him and in the 80 min he was eventually brought down in the box. Tommy Patterson stepped up and hammered the ball home from the penalty spot.
With Vale in command another move resulted in Sean Stewart being brought down by the Star goalie.
Finnie took this penalty to complete his hatrick.
In the last minute of the game Star got a consultation goal when Hugh Cameron headed home.
FT 2-4
Although this game left Vale in second bottom spot, Cowdenbeath drawing away to Cove Rangers in the play off, keeps Vale’s hope of survival alive, and after another good performance they deserve another season in the Lowland League.

Vale of Leithen 4 Cumbernauld Colts 4

Vale 4 Cumbernauld Colts 4

Well our survival in the Lowland League is now in the hands of Cowdenbeath who must beat Cove Rangers for us to stay up.
Although tonight’s game was very entertaining Vale will regret some lapses in defending that allowed the Colts to come back from 3-0 and 4-1 down to equalise in the last minute.
It was a tall order with both Blaikie and Scott-Mercer returning to the side after missing a fair part of the season with injuries, and eventually both had to be replaced through injuries as well as McBride.
The game had started with Vale pressing and they were reward in 5 min when Allan strode through the Colts defence to make it 1-0.
Vale increased there lead in the 21 mins when after some slack defending on the bye line the ball broke to Finnie who knocked it home.
In 41 mins a break on the left allowed Stewart to advance into the Colts box and put the ball beyond the keeper for a 3-0 lead.
On the stroke of half time a corner was missed by the Vale defence and Brown bent low to head past Gilpin.
HT 3-1

In 50 mins after a melee in the box from a corner McBride shot home to give Vale a 4-1 lead.
To fair to Colts from then on they started to create chances especially with Brown who is an excellent player and he was rewarded in 55 mins when he reduced the Vale lead.
From then on it was a backs to the wall for Vale as the fast Colt forwards were starting to give the Vale backline a hard time.
Colts reduced the lead further in 75 mins when Wallace scored.
As the game entered the dying minutes and Vale trying to see out time Colts broke up the park and Brown slotted home for his hat trick.
FT 4-4
Match Sponsor Brian Ellis man of the match was Ross Gilpin, who had some excellent saves during the game.
A hard result to take but the lack of match fitness for our returning players and some slack play in our own half led to our downfall.
Again the players put in a good shift and cannot be faulted for effort.