Lothian Thistle HV 3 Vale of Leithen 0
Vale started with the same team who performed so well against East Stirlingshire.
With a strong wind at their back Vale started the game brightly and had the upper hand for the early exchanges. As the game progressed Thistle began to take control and were giving Vale problems on both wings.
Vale had to make a change when Ross Brady was injured in a tackle and had to be replaced by Steven Lynch, which meant a reshuffle in the back four.
Dawson and Stewart were very active for Vale in advanced positions but were being extremely well marshalled by the Thistle defenders.
In the 28 min Thistle’s Liam O’Donnell drove down the left wing and into the box without being tackled and hammered the ball passed Gilpin.
The rest of the first half was fairly even with the best chances falling to Thistle.
H-T 1-0
The second half commenced as the first with Vale on the front foot and giving Thistle some anxious moments at the back.
However, after a foul on the right wing in the 57 min, the resultant free kick was swung into the box and headed home by Thistle’s Grant Munro.
As Vale were winning a lot of free kicks around the Thistle penalty box, a cross from one was met by Dawson who’s header was brilliantly save by Swain.
Things got worst for Vale in the 79 min when Dawson who had been booked in the first half received a second booking and was sent off.
The game was virtually finished within minutes when Aaron Lewis mistimed a tackle in the box resulting in a penalty kick, that was subsequently scored by Louis Swanson.
FT 3-0
Over the piece Thistle were the better team on the night and deserved to win, their speed and strength were evident for all to see.