As he prepares for the first cup game of the season, Chris Anderson is adamant that his team must do better in knockout competitions.

Vale take on Preston Athletic today in the Qualifying Cup having struggled to make an impact in any of the cups last season, including being hammered by East Kilbride in the Scottish and knocked out of the Qualifying Cup by East of Scotland Heriot Watt University.

Eight players were missing against EK last weekend and Preston will arrive at Victoria Park to find a squad still short of full strength. However Anderson still wants them to set out their intentions for better fortunes in the cups. He said: “Last year we didn’t do well enough in the cup competitions and our goal is to improve in all competitions this time out.

“We are still in the early stages of the season and with a number of players missing we find ourselves not quite at full strength.

“Our captain James Elliot is still injured and a few weeks away and we are also missing the experience of Andy Martin who we hope can make a return in the near future.

“Once everyone is fit and healthy it will be up to the players to stake a claim for a starting place.”

He also took time to discuss the latest addition to his squad, Kerr Allan. Despite his red card in the victory over Edinburgh University there are high hopes for what Allan can add to the team.

“We are delighted to announce the signing of Kerr Allan. I have known Kerr for a few years now and he has been a player I was keen to work with.

“Not only is he a talented player but more importantly he possesses a great attitude and willingness to improve”, added Anderson.

Chris Anderson has vowed that his players will be up for the fight tomorrow, despite the fact that no-one will believe his depleted side can pull off a shock.

Last season’s runaway champions East Kilbride are the visitors to Victoria Park, after beating their hosts three times last season including a 9-1 thumping in the Scottish Cup. They have also started this campaign well enough, beating Dalbeattie Star 1-0 on the opening day before drawing with ambitious BSC Glasgow.

To make the task at hand even more difficult Anderson will have eight members of his squad unavailable but he will still demand that those players that are on the pitch give it everything in a bid to match EK.

He said: “Today’s game is our biggest challenge of the season so far. Not only are we playing the champions and an excellent side but we are also missing almost a full side due to holidays and injuries.

“It’s a free hit for us as nobody will give us a fighting chance. However I expect us to push them all the way.”

With so many missing out there will be opportunity for some others to step up and stake their claim for a place in the starting line-up in future.

“Keeping a large squad happy is a manager’s toughest task, however it’s never been so evident how much we need everyone”, added Anderson.

James Elliot, Andy Martin, Jason Stevens, Steven Lynch, Shaun Stevens, Craig McBride, Alex Imlah, Ewan Saunderson are the players he will have to do with out. The Victoria Park clash kicks off at 3pm tomorrow.

 

After a successful pre-season, Vale manager Chris Anderson believes his side are ready for what will be a tough Lowland League opener against Stirling University.

He has presided over four wins and a draw in the club’s friendly matches, conceding only two goals. The wins came against Peebles Rovers, Tollcross Thistle, a Livingston XI and Arniston Rangers and the draw came against Haddington Athletic.

While they have been non-competitive fixtures, winning breeds confidence and can only be good preparation for bringing the curtain down on the Lowland League season at Falkirk Stadium.

Tomorrow’s opponents finished fourth in the league last season despite Vale triumphing 4-0 in the same fixture early in the season. It has often been said that university teams can be vulnerable at the start of the season when they are still waiting for some students to arrive on campus, but Ando is under no illusions about what his team will be up against.

“We are delighted with the way pre-season has gone. Obviously we are undefeated in pre-season and while it’s not all about the results in these games it is still encouraging.

“The boys have worked hard and applied themselves and hopefully we can carry that forward into the season.

“Some people might believe that it’s a good time to get a Uni team, but we know that we are up against a very good team. Last time we played them we lost, so we know that we are in for a game.

“I’m not going to think about the fact that Uni teams can struggle at the start of the season, all we need to focus on is that they were one of the top teams in the league last year and prepare accordingly”, said the manager.

The majority of last season’s Vale squad have stuck around for another season, with only goalkeeper Andy McQueen, Danny O’Donnell, Kevin Motion and Keith McLeod moving on, along with loanees Braid Raiker and Blair Atkinson returning to their parent club.

In have come Ross Gilpin, Euan Saunderson, Niall Doherty, Jon McInally, Jack Hay and Jordan Finnie and Ando has been pleased with his acquisitions.

He added: “The new signings have all fitted in really well so far. They’ve worked hard to fit into the group and we are happy with their contributions so far.

“We knew what we were getting with them – talented, hard working boys – so they will be big assets for us going forward.”

Regretfully, the friendly match against Hibernian XI scheduled for Wednesday night has had to be postponed.

The Hibees suffered injuries to their Development Squad playing in the weekend’s Ronnie Swan tournament and that, coupled with call-ups to the first team squad for tonight’s friendly against Berwick Rangers, has forced their hand.

We are hopeful that we will be able to reschedule but there is nothing concrete yet.

Meanwhile, we have added another fixture to the pre-season schedule with a trip to face Haddington Athletic juniors on Saturday. The match has a 2pm kick off.

Vale kicked off their preparations for the season with a 3-0 victory over near neighbours Peebles Rovers.

Jason Stevens got the ball rolling after 11 minutes, before Jordan Finnie added a penalty on the half hour.

Vale continued to dominate and Euan Saunderson scored a screamer early in the second half to round off the scoring.

Despite Vale having early possession it was Peebles who registered the first effort on goal. David McKenzie’s lay off into the path of Gregor Lamb was followed by the youngster shooting off target.

Vale took the lead shortly after when Craig McBride’s long pass found Jason Stevens who managed to hold off Jason Newell and steer past Ben McGinley with his left foot.

Robbie Renwick played as a lone striker for Peebles and he managed a couple of efforts. A half volley flew across goal and wide and a low shot from James Dodds’ pass also went wide of the target.

Other than that it was mostly Vale, although Peebles worked hard to limit them in the final third.

However when Niall Docherty burst into the box, Ben Brown could do nothing but stick out a leg and bring him down. On his first appearance in a Vale shirt, Finnie stepped up to send McGinley the wrong way.

The start of the second half was quieter until Saunderson lit up the match with a beautiful goal after 12 minutes. Picking up the ball 25 yards out he stepped forward and sent a glorious strike beyond the reach of McGinley.

Tiring Peebles began to see less of the ball in an attacking sense, but despite Vale enjoying their most dominant spell they did not manage another goal.

Saunderson found Tommy Paterson getting forward from left back but he could not direct his low effort towards the target.

Finnie was next to try his luck after a short corner, again involving Saunderson and Paterson, but substitute keeper Tom Kerr got down to parry.

Peebles began to grow again towards the end with sunstitute Ross Forrest making a nuisance of himself up top.

A deft touch from David Lindsay generated space to have a go but Ross Gilpin was equal to it.

And Jason Newell absolutely thumped a free kick towards goal, only to see it sail the wrong side of the post.

With Wednesday’s match against Hibernian XI being cancelled, the next scheduled friendly is on Saturday against Arniston Rangers. However, a last minute game could be arranged for Wednesday night.

Peebles: McGinley, Dodds, Brown, Newell, Sterricks, Schulz-Keith, Glass, Rossi, G.Lamb, McKenzie, Renwick. Subs used: Kerr, J.Runciman, B.Runciman, Cockburn, Forrest, Lindsay

Vale: Gilpin, Imlah, Lynch, McBride, Frain, McIntosh, Docherty, Saunderson, Patterson, Finnie, J.Stevens. Subs used: Manson, S.Stevens.