Vale's road to Hampden ends
Dave Ryce • Published 25 Nov 2011 09:30
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Auchinleck Talbot 3 v 1 Vale of Leithen
IT wasn't quite the white-hot cauldron of intimidation that they had been warned of, but Vale's Scottish Cup dream wilted in the face of an effective display by the Scottish Junior Cup holders at Beechwood Park.
Although the home side were unquestionably the more deserving of a place in the pot for the fourth round draw, a frustrating aspect for the Innerleithen side was that had they been at the top of their game, this was a more winnable tie than pre-match predictions had suggested.
Vale had some defending to do early doors as Talbot came out of the starting blocks well, but looked dangerous on the break with a Scott Moffat attempt flying over the bar before the Innerleithen side shocked their hosts with the opening goal in the 24th minute.
A Jordan Hall corner bypassed a crowd of players gathered on the edge of the six-yard box and fell to Liam McKenna, who wasted no time in sending a low drive underneath Talbot keeper Andy Leishman and into the net.
Vale had their best spell of the game following the goal, but the home side rolled up their sleeves and worked hard to get themselves back into contention with a Bryan Young shot whistling past the post before Bryan Slavin glanced a header from a Martin McGoldrick corner narrowly past the far post.
James Latta then wasted a great chance when he placed a header wide of the post, but an equaliser for Talbot eventually arrived in the 38th minute, as another McGoldrick inswinger was pushed onto the bar by Vale keeper Mark Wilson and Keir Milliken slid in at the back post to poke the ball home.
That the scores were level at half time was more of a disappointment to Vale than Auchinleck, and three minutes into the second half Talbot took the lead as Michael McCann headed a Milliken cross high into the net.
Vale came agonisingly close to levelling as a piledriver from Steve Radzynski brought a superb diving save from Leishman and barely a minute later Andy Martin sent a shot from the 18 yard line crashing off the bar.
But a third goal for Auchinleck in the 63rd minute killed the game.
Another Milliken cross was met in the middle by Bryan Young and his clipped shot eluded the fingertips of Wilson to sneak in at the far post.
Vale of Leithen: M. Wilson; S. Sproule, J. Lauder (R. McKenzie 84), R. Miller, P. Lee (J. Paterson 84), P. Greenhill (S. Devlin 65), A. Martin, L. McKenna, S. Moffat, S. Radzynski, J. Hall.
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 25 Nov 11
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