Saintly Vale secure semi-final spot

Dave Ryce • Published 18 Feb 2011 09:30

Vale of Leithen 4 v 1 St Cuthbert Wanderers

WHEN you have two clubs both featuring saints on their crests, it may be useful to consider some background first.

St Ronan was quite the tenacious type who gave his opponent - no less than the devil himself - what for with his staff to drive him out of Leithen Valley.

St Cuthbert on the other hand, was a bit of a hermit who didn't get out much and wasn't even interested in taking up the post of bishop to which he'd been elected.

Those accounts may be steeped in mythology, but still serve as a useful parable for this match.

Wanderers took the lead in the fourth minute of play when Gary Redpath released a perfectly weighted pass for striker Paul McClymont to run on and slot the ball home.

But the South of Scotland side then retreated into their shell, as Vale proceeded to drive their opponents out of the South Region Challenge Cup with a football, rather than a staff, their weapon of choice.

Within two minutes Vale had equalised as Scott Moffat was granted a free header a few yards out to glance in a Jamie Lauder cross and on the half hour mark they went ahead when another Lauder cross into the area was met by John Hall, who forced the ball home.

Vale had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards, but Steven Radzynski had strayed offside before executing a deft flick into the path of Moffat, who ran on to finish in vain.

Ten minutes into the second half Vale did increase their lead with a stunning goal. Kerr Dodds picked up the ball around thirty yards from Saints goal and took a short run forward before hammering a glorious strike high into the net.

Dodds grabbed Vale's fourth in the 70th minute as his shot took a wicked deflection off defender Adam Johnstone to wrong-foot Saints keeper Shaun Hutchison.

Vale threatened to run up a cricket score as they surged forward relentlessly, with Dodds turning from saint to sinner as he passed up chances to complete his hat trick, hitting a Radzynski cut back over the bar, before knocking the ball wide of the post when he was through with only Hutchison to beat.

Radzynski found himself through as well, but Hutchison spread himself and diverted the shot wide, while Dodds set up Moffat with another chance, but he volleyed over.

Vale of Leithen: D. Walker; J. Hall, J. Lauder, R. Miller, P. Lee, P. Greenhill (P. Doohan 73), A. Martin (C. Beaton 73), K. Dodds, S. Moffat, S. Radzynski, D. Gillon (G. Cole).

Tweet

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 18 Feb 11

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Follow @peeblesnews