Increased performance levels will be required if Vale are to recover from their recent sticky patch against third placed Dalbeattie Star.

Manager Chris Anderson acknowledged as much while also reiterating the belief that he has in his players.

Vale have not won in their last four matches, with the last taste of success coming against Gretna 2008 in October. Impressive results earlier in the season means they are finely poised to jump back into the top half, and also acts as a reminder of the ability which exists at Victoria Park.

After a less than convincing campaign last term, Star have turned out to be one of the strongest teams in the league this time out. They earned a 1-1 draw in Innerleithen on the opening day of the Lowland League season but may be a tougher nut to crack away from home.

Anderson said: “Dalbeattie will prove another tough test for us tomorrow and we will have to improve on what has been a disappointing run of games.

“I’ve said from day one we have great group of players here and have huge belief in every one of them. It’s only a matter of time before we go on another good run.

“The league is very tight and only a few wins will put us back up the league. With only a few games of 2016 left it would be nice to end the year on a high.”

What has not helped during the bad run has been the number of injuries the young manager has had to contend with, but he revealed that two of them will be back tomorrow.

“I’m pleased to see Steven Lynch and Ross Brady back in contention for a place in the team after a difficult spell of injuries.”

Vale will meet Civil Service Strollers in a Lowland League match for the first time tomorrow, and general manager Mark Lamb says they are expecting a tricky encounter.

Civil, who like Vale are a former East of Scotland League club, made the move to the Lowland League this season after being accepted in the summer. They have coped with the step up reasonably well with four wins and three draws from 14 matches, and Lamb thinks that shows they are capable of getting a result at Victoria Park.

He said: “With Civil Service Strollers joining the league this year we don’t know an awful lot about them, but they have acquitted themselves pretty well so far and we expect a tough match.”

Recent injury victims Jason Stevens, Kevin Motion and Andrew McQueen have recovered to give Chris Anderson a full squad to choose from for the first time, and Lamb added: “Having last week’s match with Whitehill postponed has allowed a few players to shake off the injuries they were carrying.

“We have had problems with injuries and suspensions, so it will be strange to have everyone fit and available.”

Chris Anderson believes that a second win over Whitehill Welfare this season would be a statement of intent by his Vale of Leithen team.

Vale won 2-0 at Ferguson Park on September 10 with goals from Liam McIntosh and Kevin Motion, and Anderson said: “Our previous meeting at Rosewell was one of our most accomplished of the season and it would certainly put down a marker for the future if we can do the double over one of the big boys in the league.

“Having had three away games in a row it’s nice to be back home and it’s a good opportunity to get back to winning ways. Our squad has been tested having played three games in seven days and will be tested further by injuries to Brad Raiker and Tommy Patterson.”

Welfare’s fortunes have changed since that defeat and they are now above Vale in the league with a game in hand and have won their last three matches. Historically one of the strong non-league sides, if they remain around the same spot it will be their best finish in the Lowland League since it’s first season in 2013/14. However, if Vale do manage to make it two wins against the Rosewell men they will jump ahead of them again. To do so they will have to stop a winless run of three matches.

To add further intrigue to the match, Whitehill have eight players who once played their football at Victoria Park.

Recent form

Vale: LWLLD

WW: LLWWW

Vale will have to conquer another potentially tricky away day if they are to bounce back from Wednesday night’s defeat to Gala Fairydean Rovers.

Edinburgh University were also victims of that result with Gala jumping above them in the Lowland League table and they now find themselves in 13th. But as we so often see, and Wednesday night was the prime example of this, most teams can beat each other on their day.

Last weekend, as Vale were crashing out of the South Challenge Cup, Uni were advancing to the next round with a 1-0 win over Wigtown and Bladnoch. That result continued a winning streak which now spans three matches following successes over Selkirk and Preston Athletic.

In contrast, Vale have lost their last two and they will be looking to get back on track in their quest for a top half finish. Allowing a slump to continue would put them in danger of being sucked into the bottom section in a league where every point is a prisoner.

Speaking before the Gala defeat, Chris Anderson said: “We are away at Gala then Edinburgh University – if we win both we will be pushing for a top six finish, if we get beat in both we are looking over our shoulder.

“These two games could well determine how our season will go.

“I have been pleased with our league form but we need that to continue into these two big games.

And afterwards he added: “We lost a bit of momentum in the second half and we suffered for it.

“We are without two or three important players and it was clearly noticeable. We lacked that bit of punch in the final third and it was a disappointing night for us.”

Recent Form

Edin Uni: LLWWW

Vale: WLWLL