Published: Friday, 12th March, 2010 1:00pm

Vale move to third with second-half treble

Vale of Leithen 3 V 1 Easthouses Lily

The industrious Greg Shortreed is tripped by Neil Ferrie during Saturday's win

AFTER two close encounters, the only thing Vale could have been sure of as they went into their third meeting of the season with Easthouses was that they would have to work hard for a victory.

After an indifferent first half, it's to the Innerleithen side's credit that they managed to dig deep and find some form in the second to wrap up the points.

The opening 45 minutes contained no goals and not much more interest.

Both sides made terratorial progress, but did little to threaten the opposition goal. Vale at least had the consolation of managing a few attempts on target, but none succeeded in worrying Lily keeper Justin Hynd unduly.

All that changed after the turnaround. Shortly after kick off, Vale came the closest yet to a goal as Aaron Somerville stretched to meet an Andy Martin cross, but could only hit it against the outside of the post.

Lily keeper Hynd almost punched a Greig Shortreed free kick into his own net, but managed to get back to claim the ball.

But Vale struck shortly afterwards with a quick-fire double strike. In the 59th minute Somerville threaded a ball through to Scott Moffat, who ran on and kept his composure to slip the ball past Hynd.

A minute later it was two. Moffat turned provider to set up Martin, who worked his way into the box. Hynd came out to narrow the angle, but Martin's shot sneaked inside the back post.

Vale were firmly in control and Gavin Tainsh was desperately unlucky to see a curling shot come back off the upright.

But having put themselves in the driving seat, a moment of defensive hesitation allowed Easthouses' Euan Smith to shoot home from 10 yards out. Encouraged, the visitors at last started to play with purpose and for a spell looked capable of producing an equaliser.

Four minutes from time, Vale made sure of victory with a superbly worked goal. Tainsh overlapped down the right before centering for Ricky Burke, who held the ball up well before laying off to fellow substitute Ousman Sonko, who blasted home from 20 yards.

Tainsh was again unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet with a quick break forward in injury time, but his effort was touched into the side netting by Hynd.

Vale of Leithen: D. Walker, G. Tainsh, P. Lee (O. Sonko 70), M. Stewart, D. Gillon, P. Greenhill, A. Martin, S. Moffat (Burke 85), S. Clee (A. Penman 66), G. Shortreed, A. Somerville.

Easthouses Lily: J. Hynd, D. Arthur (J. Hunter 63), C. Stupart, A. Conlon, W. Kidd, E. Smith, D. Watson (G. Chadwick 86), N. Ferrie, D. Beattie, R. Gaylor (J. Baigrie 55), R. Curran.