Vale back to winning ways in Scottish Junior Cup

Nov 7 2008 by Laura McLachlan, Lennox Herald (main ed)

VALE got back to winning ways on Saturday – and progressed to the third round of the Scottish Junior Cup in the process.

The Millburn men travelled to Ravenscraig to face Greenock Juniors and had to hold strong in a testing closing 10 minutes for the away side – with Matthew Carr pulling off a wonder save eight minutes from time.

Boss Hugh Hamill made four changes to the side that exited the West Cup at home to Rob Roy – into the side came Meechan, McNaught, Martin and Robert McKenzie in place of Montague, Brown, Filshie and Cavana.

The Millburn men were dominant early on and it was no real surprise when they took the lead after just 15 minutes.

Russell’s long throw was helped on by McKenzie and David Meechan arrived at the near post to stab the ball into the net.

Vale doubled their lead after 32 minutes when Martin sent over a deep corner from the left and, when David McNaught headed back across goal, Allan Lees was on hand to smash the ball into the net from six yards.

Despite being well on top, Vale came out for the second period knowing that they would need a third goal to kill the tie, and they should have had it when Pawsey shot high and wide from good position after 50 minutes.

Gordon Martin then saw an inswinging corner almost find the net but Stirling headed out from under his own crossbar.

Vale introduced last season’s top scorer, Kevin Montague, in place of the tiring Meechan and within two minutes he looked to be celebrating a stunning goal but his clever chip from 40 yards came back off the crossbar with keeper Scott posted missing.

The home side must have taken inspiration from Vale’s miss as they promptly broke upfield and pulled a goal back from Ryan McDonald with questions being asked of Vale’s defence once more.

Greenock were a different team now and at last started to cause Vale problems.

The visitors could have sealed the win but Montague saw his close- range effort blocked for a corner when it seemed he must score from Pawsey’s cut back.

With eight minute,s remaining the home side’s McKay beat the Vale offside trap and raced unhindered in on goal, but Matty Carr spared his side’s blushes when he dived at the striker’s feet to save and so ensure Vales place in the third round draw.

Vale were best served by McKenzie, Carr, Lees, and Grant Vehicle Repairs Man-of-the-Match Alan Gourlay.

Vale’s Under 21s were also on Scottish Cup business and returned from Blantyre with a 3-2 win, thanks to two goals from Mark Brown and one from Gary McDevitt, but the star of the show was young goalkeeper Brian Gallacher.

This week the first team travel to meet high-flying Ashfield in the league at Saracen Park, while the under 21s will once again try to play their outstanding League Cup tie against Drumchapel United at the Argyll Park.

Vale: Carr, Buchanan, R.McKenzie, Grant, Russell; McNaught, Gourlay, Lees, Martin, Meechan, Pawsey. Subs: Filshie, Drain, Montague, Brown and Ward.