David McNaught rescues a point for Vale Juniors

Nov 28 2008 by Marc McLean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

DAVID McNaught came off the bench and scored FIVE minutes into injury time to rescue a point for Vale on Saturday.

The striker was in the right spot to tap home the equaliser with only seconds remaining.

It is now six league games without a win for Vale and once again the Millburn men paid the price for early pressure and missed chances.

And Vale almost paid dearly as late substitute Gordon Martin inexcusably got himself sent off within 10 minutes of his arrival and then with three minutes remaining St Anthony’s took the lead.

Vale boss Hugh Hamill made a couple of changes to the side that ended the run of defeats with a point at Lesmahagow last Saturday. Out went strikers McNaught and Meechan and back into the starting 11 came Kevin Montague and Alan Gourlay. Alex Drain recovered from last week’s injury to start in defence.

The Dark Blues should have taken the lead after just two minutes when a great turn and run from Montague released Pawsey but the young striker shot past the upright when really he should have at least hit the target.

After Brown and Montague both came close to opening the scoring, Jack Buchanan held his head in disbelief as he nodded over from close range after Alan Brown’s free kick landed square on his forehead.

Within two minutes of the restart Mark Pawsey equalised for Vale. He chased a long ball and, as defender Mansare, passed back to his keeper he was surprised by the striker’s tenacity and keeper Turner could only hit the ball off Pawsey and the ball rebounded back into the net.

The home side were forced into a change on the hour mark when Williams went off injured and within 60 seconds his replacement Ross Cummings had levelled the scores with a stunning volley from the edge of the area.

Vale had thrown on Gordon Martin in a bid to regain the lead but, with just five minutes left on the clock, he handed the home side the initiative when he got himself sent off for unacceptable comments to an opponent.

It looked like the end for Vale after 87 minutes when centre half Tom Miller bulleted a header from a corner into the net for what looked like the winning goal.

Despite their one man disadvantage, Vale kept trying to play football and fully five minutes into injury time Vale got their reward when Allan Lees headed Gourlay’s free-kick back across goal and David McNaught was left with the simple task of tapping the ball into the net.

Vale were best served by Carr, Drain and Grant Vehicle Repairs Man of the Match Allan Lees.

* This week Vale face local rivals Clydebank for a place in the 4th round of the Scottish Citylink Scottish Junior Cup. The third round tie take place on Saturday at Millburn Park, kick-off at 1.45pm. Supporters are reminded that, in the interests of crowd safety, alcohol is banned from the ground. Admission is £5 for adults and £2 for juveniles and OAP’s. Any supporters able to help on the day should contact Secretary Angus Wallace on 0141 840 1556.

Vale’s Under 21’s drew their League fixture away to Glasgow University 3-3. This week the side travel to meet Avoca.

VALE: Carr; Lees, Grant, Drain; Buchanan, Filshie, Brown (McNaught 66), G.McKenzie; Gourlay; Pawsey (Martin 80), Montague. Unused subs: Meechan, Lacy.