IF evidence was needed that the new Lowland League has quickly moved a few steps up the ladder, in footballing terms, from the East set up, it was there for everyone to see on Saturday.

Kelso United are amongst the challengers for the second spot, behind Hibs, in the East First Division this season.

Tom Blaikie’s team possess a good blend of exciting young players with a scattering of old, reliable heads. But in this South Challenge Cup tie against Vale they were always second best.

Vale manager Chic McAleavy admitted his team are benefitting from life in the higher division. He said: “Kelso made it difficult in the first half but we were always the better team.

“We changed things about a bit today and the players that came in enjoyed getting that wee bit extra space and time on the ball.

“Kelso are a decent enough team but we are playing week after week against the best non-league teams and that showed. The boys were told to enjoy themselves in the second half and they did – we scored some good goals.” The breakthrough came just four minutes later as Eddie Mearns’ defence-splitting pass picked out Brigain to stroke the ball beyond Elliot Turnbull.

Kelso enjoyed their best spell of the match in the following 20 minutes with Grant Gass and Damien McNulty working hard in the middle. But the best the visitors could muster was a Bruce Chisholm strike from 25 yards that Bruce Callin saved.

The crucial second came seven minutes before the break. There was some uncertainty about who had won a freekick midway into the Kelso half – and as the arguing continued Lough darted onto a quick pass and managed to fire the ball through the hands of the out-rushing Turnbull.

It was cruel on United and more or less extinguished any flames of hope they had.

The second half turned into a bit of a stroll for the Lowland League challengers. Lough finished off a sweeping move on 54 minutes with a sweetly struck curling shot from 20 yards out.

Goal number four came 12 minutes later as Scott McCulloch scuffed Scott Gormley’s pass beyond Turnbull. And it was Gormley, himself, who burst away from the Kelso defence on 75 minutes to dink the ball passed the keeper.

The home team saved the best for last as, with five minutes to go, Mearns played a delightful one-two with Ross Aitchison before flicking the ball to Brigain with his back heel – and the striker fired a powerful low shot into the far corner of the net.

Kelso boss Tom Blaikie said: “They are a good team and it shows they are playing at a higher level than us. I though the second goal was crucial – we all thought we’d won the freekick and even after they’d taken it the boy who scored was yards offside.

“The bigger picture for us this season is to win promotion – we were never going to win the Challenge Cup, we’ll leave that to the Lowland League teams. We’ll bounce back and get on with business.” Vale of Leithen: B Callan, T Aitchison, R McKenzie, J Young, R Aitchison, D Rennie, S McCulloch (D Aird 70), E Mearns, K Lough (D McAleavy 58), C Brigain & S Gormley (G O’Brien 85).

Kelso United: E Turnbull, C Black, S Angus, D Bowie, S Tait, D McNulty, S Bonnington (L Hill 85), G Gass (R Beveridge 70), B Chisholm (B Herdman 64), L Wallace & J Lauder.