NEW manager Mike Lawson watched his team lose two late goals on Saturday.

But he remains upbeat about Vale of Leithen’s prospects for the rest of the season.

Lawson, who took over from Ian Little last Thursday, told us: “We were short of a few players who had injuries and holidays and I know we’ll be a different team when they are all back.

“We defended well for most of the game but they had a stronger bench than us and when the teams started to tire I couldn’t make the changes that they did.

“We’re bottom of the league but it’s not nearly as bad as it looks.” Lawson was forced to use two emergency trialists, keeper John Gilbertson and midfielder Scott Devlin, to bolster numbers.

But his Vale team more than held their own against the Rosewell team.

Kris Mitchell forced a good save from Welfare keeper Connar Easton.

And Alan Flanagan also had a few half chances.

But Sean Wringe fired a warning shot just before the break as he steered Jamie Devlin’s cross narrowly wide.

Vale forced a handful of early corners in the second half as they searched for the breakthrough.

But as the half wore on it was Whitehill who began to get on top.

With just eight minutes remaining Wringe produced a wonder strike from 30 yards to clip the underside of Gilbertson’s bar on its way into the net.

Vale of Leithen J Gilbertson, R Sclater, R Brady, S Lynch, D White (S Elliot 87), S Devlin, A Hunter, D McLeod, A Flanagan, K Mitchell (B Rixon 72) & J Guy.