Published: Friday, 16th May, 2008 12:00
Laurie caps a dream debut for Vale
By Dave Ryce at Victoria Park
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THE distinctly end of season feel about this game meant that it probably won’t live long in the memory of many who witnessed it, but it was certainly a memorable occasion for Bonnyrigg teenager Laurie Jones.
Drafted in to the squad to cover the loss of several regulars, the 17 year old was thrust unexpectedly on from the start following an injury to captain Campbell Forsyth during the pre-match warm-up, and scored the only goal of the game to secure the points for Vale.
The Innerleithen side had an excellent chance to edge in front in the 24th minute when Ormiston goalkeeper James Rushford parried a Greig Shortreed cross straight to the feet of Aaron Somerville, but the striker snatched at the shot and blazed it over the bar.
Shortreed then got a head to a Steven Notman cross, but Rushford managed to gather the ball at the second attempt.
By far the more dominant side, a Vale goal didn’t seem far away, and it arrived in the 40th minute, as Notman released Somerville down the left, and his low cross was touched home by Jones.
Ormiston are anchored at the foot of the First Division, averaging less than a goal a game and it wasn’t difficult to see why as they struggled to create much in the way of chances. What opportunities did come their way were courtesy of defensive mishaps.
A comedy moment saw three Vale players loose their footing to allow Ormiston striker Paul Lynch within sight of goal, but a superb recovering tackle by Gregor Forsyth prevented him from making any headway.
Next, Robbie Clark was short with a pass back to Vale keeper Mark Wilson, but with Lynch closing in, Wilson raced from his box to head clear.
From the beautiful, warm sunshine of the early afternoon, the game ended in a thunderstorm of almost biblical proportions.
Shortreed headed a Greg Young corner over, but it was Raymond Fleming who came closest to adding a second, when his shot rebounded off the post, after he had latched on to a quickly taken free kick.
A couple of late chances that fell to Jones underlined the youngster’s potential.
Some hesitancy in taking control of situations and leaving the ball to his more experienced team-mates was understandable.
But his height gives him an obvious advantage in the air and when he directed a header from a Fleming corner on target, it looked a certain goal until Ormiston’s John Shaw headed off the line.
Fleming provided another cross to Jones in the dying seconds, but his downward header flew inches wide of the post.
Vale of Leithen: M. Wilson; F. Harrison (G. Forsyth 57), G. Young, R. Clark, Ryan McManus, A. Hardie, S. Notman, G. Shortreed, A. Somerville (S. Diamond h-t), Ray Fleming, L. Jones.
Ormiston: J. Rushford, C. Fordyce, G. Nisbet (J. Shaw 66), M. Leslie, T. Donnelly, S. Fisher, M. Sneddon (R. Motion 73), S. Thomas, P. Lynch, B. Arthur, G. Purves.
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