Tommy Patterson enjoyed his scoring role in the win over Whitehill Welfare like he has enjoyed the whole season, and he insists that he is looking forward to more of the same next season.

The teenager loves to bomb forward from left back to try and provide ammunition for his team-mates, but found himself on the score sheet when the ball broke to him following a save from visiting keeper Bryan Young.

He is in his first season at both the Vale and in the Lowland League and has thrived on testing himself at this level. With the season in its closing stages, he is already excited about the prospect of another campaign at Victoria Park.

He said: “It’s good to get a run out in the team, I’ve obviously played the last couple of games.

“It’s obviously good to get a goal as well. I’m enjoying it and the step up to Lowland League football has been really promising this year. I’m hoping to keep going with Ando and Vale of Leithen.

“At the start of the season I think we had higher hopes but we had a bad spell during the winter. Hopefully we’ll get back to it during the summer and get back to the best form we could be at.”

It was a tight affair with Whitehill pushing Vale all the way in the second half, forcing the defence and goalkeeper Andy McQueen to stand up and be counted. They did so and that paired with getting two goals during their own good spell won them the match.

“It’s been the same in most of the Lowland League games – everyone is tough opposition so there’s always going to be tight games.

“You’re under the cosh at times in every game but we held it together pretty well and defended solidly from the back, and obviously the front men worked hard as well.

“It gives us motivation. Whitehill have been on a good run in recent weeks, getting results against good teams so hopefully this can push us on.

“We’ve got Hawick next Tuesday – hopefully a Borders derby that we’ll get a win in and hopefully try and push on and get as far up the league as possible and kick on next season”, added Patterson.