With Vale still having a serious injury list Chris Anderson (the Manager) was forced to play himself, plus we had only four players on the substitute bench.

With a good crowd in attendance the match started with Spartans having the upper hand for the opening stages and could have been ahead if their finishing had been better. However, Vale started to get a foot hold in the game and were starting to thwart the Spartan attacks and managing to put some pressure on the host’s defence.

The deadlock was broken by Spartans in the 28 minutes when a quick break down the left resulted in a cross by Maxwell being headed home by Dishington in the six yard box.

Vale responded well and only two saves from Stobie prevented an equaliser, especially a pile driver from Kerr Allan that he managed to push over the bar.

Half Time: Spartans 1 Vale 0

The second half started with Vale in the ascendancy and their best spell in the match. With Vale chasing the equaliser a Spartan’s attack in 63 minutes result in a scramble in the goal mouth where Ross Gilpin, despite a few valiant stoppages, was eventually beaten by a tap in from Dishington.

The game was finished off in the 85 minute when after a disputed free kick on the edge of the Vale box, the subsequent free kick was hammered home by Stevenson.

Full Time: Spartans 3 Vale 0

If the performance and effort shown tonight can be reproduced in the coming weeks, and with a more settled team we should be able to start climbing the league table. The chopping and changing of the team due to the injury list and player unavailability has certainly affected our overall performance. No failures tonight in the team, a real united effort, with a special mention to Sean Stewart who filled in at full back and put on a good show against our loanee from season Blair Atkinson (our Managers’ Player of the Year). Also, to Kerr Allan and Liall Smith, both new to the team this season, but your best game so far.

Chris Anderson is urging the Vale of Leithen players to show they are up for the fight, or be prepared to move on.

East of Scotland side Tweedmouth Rangers are the visitors to Victoria Park today, before a trip to face Spartans next Friday in the Scottish Cup.

And Anderson wants his charges to show grit and courage to turn around the form which has seen them win only two matches so far this season.

He recently spoke up in defiance of his belief in the players, but has warned that if an upturn in performance does not come then they will not be picked for the big fixture at Spartans, or possibly even have a future at the club.

He said: “In my opinion no team has the right to turn up and win a game without doing the basics and I expect my team to come with the attitude and work rate that will enable us to perform.

“We have a massive game in the Scottish Cup against Spartans approaching and my advice to the players would be to perform on Saturday or sit and watch our next game in the stands.

“My thoughts on the game are clear and going forward we can’t afford to carry any passengers on our journey to improve. If players want to stay at the club then performances have to improve.”

For a change Vale will go into this match expected to win against the side at the bottom of the East of Scotland League. An assured display is expected to carry them into the Ainslie Park fixture on Friday. The manager also revealed that there will be a debutant in the sticks.

“We go into the match as firm favourites despite our poor start to the season. Our performances in the league haven’t been to the level we’ve expected of late and we now go into a welcome break from league action.

“Today we add a couple of new players to the squad and goalkeeper Kieran Beveridge will make his debut after training with us for a number of weeks.

“We are all expecting a positive performance going into next week’s Scottish Cup tie”, added Anderson.

Chris Anderson has asked his players to give him the same application as they did last weekend in today’s crunch match against Hawick Royal Albert.

Despite the 2-0 defeat to East Stirlingshire last Saturday Anderson was pleased with the commitment shown by the team. An injury depleted squad was up against it but defended well and worked manfully to limit their opponents. Their resolve was finally broken after more than an hour before they conceded another in the last minute while trying to chase an equaliser.

Today’s Borders derby takes on extra importance because it is a match up between the Lowland League’s bottom two sides. Vale have three points thanks to their solitary win over Edinburgh University while Hawick are just below with nothing to show for their efforts so far.

Vale could jump a few places with a win and the manager believes that can happen if the players carry the intensity levels they produced against Shire. He said: “Last week’s performance was encouraging and if we play with the same energy and enthusiasm then we will give ourselves a chance today.

“Despite poor results I have tremendous faith in the players I have brought to the club and once we are at full strength we will start to climb the league. Confidence is something that comes with results and we are determined to make today the starting point.”

The injury crisis has not fully abated yet but the options available on match day are slowly beginning to grow back to a more agreeable size with Anderson revealing that two of his men will be back in the fold today.

“Our squad had been hit hard by injuries of late and it’s great to welcome back Ross Brady and Jay Stevens to the squad for today’s game. James Elliot and Andy Martin are still a few weeks away from full fitness.

“We are also pleased to announce Liall Smith has joined on loan from Livingston. He did well on his debut last week and I’m sure he will be a success at the Vale”, he added.