Vale are stretched

DEPLETED Vale couldn't halt the Stirling charge towards the top of the table of Saturday.

Shelley Kerr's team have emerged as Edinburgh City's closest challengers following an unbeaten run in recent weeks.

And despite a spirited performance by the makeshift Innerleithen side, they couldn't prevent the Students moving into second place in the table.

Vale general manager Mark Lamb told us: "I was impressed with Stirling although we were a wee bit unlucky with the goals.

"There are four or five players missing just now who would normally start and we are stretched in certain positions.

"Once we have the players back I do believe we will be a match for any team in this league."

Also missing on Saturday was the team manager Micky Lawson, who was on holiday in Mallorca.

But Vale still started brightly enough with Keith McLeod and Kris Mitchell enjoying plenty possession up front.

But a slip by Ainslie Hunter in the middle of the park approaching 20 minutes allowed a through ball to reach Chris Geddes, and the goal-machine stroked his shot beyond Andy McQueen for the opener.

Around 10 minutes later Calum Burns made it two from the edge of the area after a corner hadn't been cleared properly.

Both Mitchell and Darren White were denied by fantastic saves from the visiting keeper as Vale tried to work their way back into the match.

But early in the second half, new full back Liam Todd gave away a penalty after wrestling with a player inside the area.

Geddes tucked away the penalty to make it 3-0.

McLeod almost pulled a goal back but his shot was palmed away by the Stirling keeper.

Ross Brady, who was Vale's man-of-the-match, made it 3-1 approaching 75 minutes with a stunning strike from 25 yards.

Despite a few hopeful crosses and a speculative shot from distance Vale couldn't score a second to set up a thrilling finish.

Vale of Leithen. A McQueen, L Todd, R Brady, A Flanagan, D McLeod, D White, S Lynch, A Hunter, K McLeod, K Mitchell & L McIntosh. Subs: C Jackson, B Rixon & K Beveridge.