Title challenge continues with derby win

Published 16 Apr 2010 12:33 0 Comments

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Andy Martin and Peter Shearlaw battle for the ball

Peebles 0 v 4 Vale of Leithen

VALE of Leithen had a convincing win in the end against Peebles in an entertaining Central Taxis East of Scotland League First Division match at Whitestone Park last Saturday.

In a game of two halves, Peebles more than held their own for most of the first 45 minutes until the Vale put themselves in the driving seat with a couple of quick goals just before the break.

The Vale posed a threat as early as the first minute when Aaron Somerville made a menacing run into the Peebles box before he was foiled by a splendid save from David Simmons at close range.

Peebles replied with a Darren Crosbie right-wing cross finding Peter Shearlaw, who beat two Vale defenders before he sent in an angular shot from 12 yards which was well saved by Darren Walker at the near post.

But it was the Vale who opened the scoring after 12 minutes when the Peebles defence failed to clear an Andy Martin corner-kick and the loose ball broke kindly to Darren Gillon who slammed it into the roof of the Peebles net from close range.

Just eight minutes from half time both Eoin Anderson and Alex Munro were shown a yellow card for staging an all-in wrestling match.

But moments later, Peebles came close to grabbing an equaliser when from a David Knox throw-in on the left, Anderson despatched the ball just over the Vale crossbar with a spectacular scissors-kick from 12 yards.

However, it was the Vale who added a second goal three minutes before half-time.

The Peebles defence had failed to clear a Gavin Tainsh's right-wing cross, the loose ball broke kindly to Andy Martin who beat Simmons with a sweet angular shot on the volley from 20 yards.

Then the Vale scored a third goal 30 seconds into injury-time of the first half.

After a neat Vale build-up, Munro sent over a left-wing cross which picked out Darren Gillon before he gave Simmons no chance with a splendid well directed looping header.

However, it was Peebles who were the first to show after the interval when Anderson flicked on a Craig Dilworth free-kick to Knox, who let go with a wicked dipping shot from 18 yards which was well held by Walker.

Vale practically secured their win when they notched a fourth goal after 65 minutes.

After the Peebles defence had failed to clear a Burke left-wing cross, Aaron Somerville coolly drilled the loose ball past a helpless Simmons from 12 yards.

Then Peebles came close to opening their account eight minutes later when from a Jason Kane defence-splitting pass, Peebles substitute Steven Murray sent the ball just inches wide of the Vale's left-hand post with a blistering angular shot from 16 yards.

But then at the other end, from a Martin corner-kick on the left, Vale substitute Greig Shortreed seemed almost certain to score with an acrobatic overhead kick until Dilworth cleared the ball off the Peebles goal-line with Simmons well beaten.

Vale's Paul Thomson had the miss of the match when he failed to hit the target from close range when it almost seemed easier to score.

Peebles came close to grabbing a consolation goal five minutes from full-time. The Vale's Paul Lee up-ended Shearlaw just outside the Vale box.

Then from the resulting free-kick, Johnson's shot from 20 yards was deflected onto the Vale crossbar before the ball safely went over it for a Peebles corner-kick which came to nothing.

Peebles. D. Simmons, J. Kane, C. Dilworth, D. Learmond, K. Barr, D. Johnson (D. Urey 88 mins), D. Crosbie (S. Murray 61 mins), R. Glass, E. Anderson, P. Shearlaw, D. Knox.

Vale of Leithen. D. Walker, G. Tainsh, P. Lee, M. Stewart, P. Thomson, P. Greenhill, A. Martin, D. Gillon (A. Penman 45 mins), R. Burke (J. Hall 68 mins), A. Munro (G. Shortreed 58 mins), A. Somerville.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 16 Apr 10

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