VALE crashed out of the Scottish Cup at the preliminary stages during a disappointing say at Wigtown.

Blair Dougan’s strike approaching the half hour was all that separated the teams.

But it was a below-par performance by Vale of Leithen who required some good saves from stand-in keeper John Dodds.

Manager Micky Lawson admitted his team didn’t deserve to go through.

He told us: “It is a tight park and we never managed to get our most dangerous players onto the ball as much as we’d have liked.

“I’m not sure if it was the occasion or the three-hour bus journey but we didn’t play nearly as well as we can. Our ball retention was poor.” The Lowland League side did create a few half chances in the second half with Alan Flanagan and James Guy both going close.

But the South champions always looked dangerous on the break with former Berwick player Gary McCutcheon pulling the strings.

There was further dismay for Vale with a season-ending injury for Kenny O’Brien.

The promising midfielder missed the end of last season due to a serious knee injury.

And there was uncertainty about the stage of his recovery ahead of Saturday’s tie.

Lawson added: “It was always in the back of my mind that his knee could go.

“His studs caught in the turf and he hurt it again. We’re just waiting on a date for surgery now.

“Kenny’s injury put a dampener on what was already a bad day.”