Published: Friday, 10th October, 2008 12:30
Vale shock as club gets cup knock-out
By David Knox and David O'Leary
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A SUSPENSION blunder has led to Vale of Leithen being booted out the Image Printer’s Cup.
Captain Campbell Forsyth played his part in the club’s best win of the season last Saturday – thumping Premier League hopefuls Edinburgh City 5-2.
But it emerged at the start of the week that the West Linton-based defender shouldn’t have been included in the team – as he was due to serve a one-match suspension for a sending off against the same team a fortnight before.
Vale secretary Alex Currie had mistakenly instructed his managers, Lindsay Rathie and Robbie Clark, not to play the experienced centre-half in the previous week’s Scottish Cup tie.
And gave them the thumbs up for Forsyth to return on Saturday.
Currie told the Peeblesshire News: “I went up to tell the boys what I’d done at training and I got some stick.
“I’ve been doing the job for 12 years and this is my first mistake – it’s a costly one.”
Vale were due to face Eyemouth United tomorrow (Saturday) in the competition’s quarter-final.
But the Fishermen will now travel to Meadowbank to play Edinburgh City instead – and Vale will tackle Hawick Royal Albert tonight in a league fixture.
Boss Lindsay Rathie said: “It has been frustrating to get thrown out after playing so well. It was an honest mistake and we’ll just have to get on with things.
“The Hawick game will hopefully give us the chance to kick-start our league campaign.”
Bizarrely, Forsyth will be allowed to play tonight but Vale will be without Michael Osbourne, Ryan McMannus and Andy Martin for their trip to Albert Park.
Peebles’ disastrous season continued last week with an 8-0 drubbing by Lothian Thistle.
Gary French’s side entertain fellow strugglers, Easthouses Lily, tomorrow at Whitestone Park.
Nobody from Peebles was available to comment on the game.
Vale’s match in Hawick kicks off at 7.30pm while the bottom of the league clash in Peebles starts at 2.30pm.
Peebles Amateurss will be looking to put their league form back on track as they face Gordon at home this weekend.
Rock bottom of League B with fifteen goals conceded after three straight
defeats from the opening games the only way is up for the Kerfield side.
To add to their woes they were on the end of a 12-1 hiding in the cup at
Carse Thistle last weekend.
However manager John Meikle remains upbeat that the side will begin to turn
it around when injured players return.
He said: "It'll be a tough game this weekend after what has been a horrible
start to the season. We have a young squad and alot of injuries at the
moment.
"Players are playing out of position and we've no regular goalkeeper. It's
still early days in the season though and we'll turn it around when players
return.
"The lads have been working hard in training and if we can tighten up the
defence then we can take it from there."
In League C, table toppers Tweeddale Rovers face basement boys Yetholm away
in the cup but manager Jim Moffatt is still wary of the strugglers.
He said: "It should be a hard game and we shouldn't underestimate them.
We've got a couple of players away at the Scotland match so i'm actually
glad it's the cup and not the league."
JIm also spoke of the sad loss felt at the recent death of former Rovers
chairman, Davie Conner.
He said: "He's a big loss to football in general in the area not just
Tweeddale Rovers. He was instrumental in so many good aspects of the club
and his passing is felt by all."
In League A, Leithen Rovers continued their assured start to the season as
they beat Forth Thistle 4-1 away. They have an early break this weekend with no fixture scheduled.
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Further Details
Ground fears for reborn team