Published: Friday, 15th August, 2008 11:52
Vale dream turns into a nightmare
By David Ryce at St Mark's Park
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Craigroyston 5 v 1 Vale of Leithen
Vale got their season of to a great start - unfortunately it lasted only 45 minutes.
By the end of the 90, they'd crumbled to defeat against a Craigroyston side obviously keen as mustard to make amends for last season's relegation.
Ryan McManus shot Vale ahead after just three minutes, latching onto a through ball from Aaron Somerville. Home goalkeeper Craig Weir came out to block, but couldn't prevent McManus's shot from hitting the net.
Craigroyston equalised in the 12th minute as Kyle Hay found James Binnie down the left. As everyone waited for the cross to come over, Binnie had other ideas and sent a marvellous strike into the far corner of the net.
The capital side found themselves under the cosh for the majority of the first half. Chris Graham sent a header onto the roof of the net and shortly after, a Steven Notman free kick flew inches over.
In the 36th minute Vale's Mike Osbourne hammered a superb shot against the crossbar from 25 yards, while Campbell Forsyth got his head on the end of a Raymond Fleming corner, but Weir was equal to it.
Weir was living something of a charmed life between the posts and somehow managed to survive an incredible barage from Vale on his goal in the 40th minute.
The veteran keeper did well to push away an Osbourne drive, and managed to block Ryan McManus's follow up with his legs, before Ross McManus finally shot the ball wide.
Despite all their pressure, Vale went in at the break behind as Hay broke forward on the stroke of half time and sent a powerful shot high into the net from the edge of the area.
The turning point in the game came after 57 minutes, as Vale midfielder Osbourne, who had been booked in the first half, put in a heavy challenge on David Jeffrey and referee Mark Doyle showed him a second yellow card.
10-man Vale found themselves further behind within five minutes as Binnie gave Vale keeper Mark Wilson no chance to notch his second of the game.
In the 69th minute the capital side made it four as winger Sammy Hassan exchanged passes with Binnie before slamming the ball home.
There was no way back for Vale now, and Craigie wrapped things up seven minutes from the end with the best goal of the afternoon.
Centre-half Jeffrey broke from his normal area of the pitch to embark on a terrific run before releasing Steven Manson down the left, whose cross was tucked neatly away by substitute Jordan McKenzie.
Craigroyston: C. Weir; J. Paterson (G. Georgeson 75), K. Morrison, M. Olsson, D. Jeffrey, J. Lawson, S. Hassan (C. Mortimer 83), K. Hay, J. Binnie (J. McKenzie 70), C. Bain, S. Manson.
Vale of Leithen: M. Wilson; G. Tainsh, Ross McManus (A. Martin 67; F. Harrison 89), P. Lee, C. Forsyth, M. Osbourne, Ryan McManus, S. Notman, C. Graham, A. Somerville, Ray Fleming (Ron Fleming 60).
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