Published: Friday, 21st March, 2008 09:00
Hitman Aaron hits birthday brace
By David Ryce at Albert Park
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Vale goalkeeper Mark Wilson clears from the Hawick striker.
Hawick Royal Albert 1 v Vale of Leithen 4
HITMAN Aaron Somerville grabbed a belated birthday brace to send Vale on their way to a much needed three points in Hawick.
The striker, who turned 21 the week before last, celebrated with a first half double against a Royal Albert side who provided stuffy opposition.
But were ultimately outgunned as Vale sought to make amends for their poor showing against Ormiston.
Referee Andy Rooney, as is usual, was handing out cards of the yellow, rather than birthday, variety. But he was nonetheless in charitable mood in the fifth minute when he elected to merely caution Vale captain Campbell Forsyth for tugging back Hawick’s Barry Sheil as he burst through just outside the area.
Vale took the lead three minutes later, as Mike MacKale neatly back-heeled into the path of Somerville, who rolled the ball home.
Vale were spreading play about on a pitch which, despite the rain, held up well throughout.
But Hawick were working hard to close their opponents down and started to carve out some chances.
Vale keeper Mark Wilson, having been a virtual spectator for the first half hour of the match, was suddenly called into action, saving brilliantly as the Royalists new signing Barry Raeson got his head to an Ian Turnbull free kick.
But Wilson was powerless to prevent the home side’s equaliser in the 31st minute, as Malcolm Cooper’s free kick from 20 yards out took a wicked deflection off the wall and sneaked in under the bar.
Having edged themselves back into the game, Hawick found themselves chasing it again within five minutes, as Somerville ghosted into the six yard box to turn a Ryan McManus corner into the net.
The younger McManus brother was enjoying what was quite possibly his best game so far in a Vale shirt, and showed some great skill to almost set up another, a neat drag back and turn leaving two Hawick defenders for dead.
His cross was met well by Ronald Fleming, but his powerful volley flew inches over.
In the 56th minute though, Fleming returned the favour, a strong run down the left ended with a cross into the middle and sheer determination got McManus to the ball ahead of Albert’s Jamie Thomson for a deserved goal.
It was the killer goal, and the home side appeared to realise the game was up as heads dropped and their play became loose.
Vale’s fourth arrived in the 65th minute. MacKale had not had the happiest of days in front of goal, passing up a trio of gilt-edged chances during the game.
But there was nothing wrong with the rest of his play, as having set up the first goal of the afternoon, he set up the last.
A perfectly flighted free kick was met by defender Craeg Robertson, who headed high into the net.
Hawick Royal Albert: S. Dowie; M. Clark (J. Gracie 74), A. Campbell, M. Cooper, J. Thomson, S. Noble (M. Moir 78), I. Turnbull, B. Stavert, D. Stavert, B. Sheil (J. Shearman 67), B. Raeson.
Vale of Leithen: M. Wilson; R. Alexander, Ross McManus, C. Robertson, C. Forsyth, Ron Fleming (C. Smith 74), R. Clark (S. Johnston 50), Ray Fleming, A. Somerville (A. Hardie 67), M. MacKale, Ryan McManus.
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