Vale of Leithen 1

Spartans 4

David Knox at Victoria Park

VALE players can expect a few torrid weeks on the training ground after their unbeaten start to the season ended on Saturday.

Manager Chris Anderson believes his team's fitness was key to the Spartans success.

And he is determined to rectify his own's players puffing their way through the final quarter of an hour.

Anderson told us: "We lacked the quality on the ball that we have shown in recent matches today but we were still in the match with 15 or 20 minutes to go.

"I thought the main difference was that Spartans had superior fitness and that showed towards the end of the match.

"We have a good squad of players here but they need to be fitter if we are to match teams like Spartans."

The reigning champions, who had drawn their opening two matches, got off to the perfect start at Victoria Park.

Scott Maxwell's fourth-minute freekick from wide on the right caught Ross Gilpin off guard as it curled inside the near post.

But Vale, who had shown plenty quality during a midweek win over Gala, responded well with some eye-catching attacks.

Jack Blaikie headed just wide on 10 minutes.

And a few minutes later 40-year-old Keith Mcleod rattled home the equaliser after Sean Stewart had guided Marc Berry's deep cross onto the post.

Stewart teed up McLeod again just after the quarter hour but Blair Carswell was equal to the edge-of-the-area shot.

As the half wore on Spartans began to find their range with passes into the final third.

And it was an excellent through ball on 34 minutes that allowed Stephen MacDonald to shoot past Gilpin to restore the lead.

Spartans began the second period in the ascendency and it took a terrific save from Gilpin approaching the hour to deny Craig Stevenson.

But Vale were far from out of it.

The pace and energy of Stewart and Rixon continued to cause problems for the visiting defence.

On 69 minutes Stewart glided into the box to square for the unmarked Liall Smith but Carswell blocked well to prevent the equaliser.

Gilpin saved well at the other end to deny Jack Smith, and Jamie Dishington went within inches of stretching the lead with a header that whistled past the post.

Spartans secured the points with two late strikes from former Vale forward Jason Stevens.

On 84 minutes Blaikie tested Carswell with a powerful, low freekick.

But the champions countered quickly from their own area and Stevens was on hand to convert at the back post.

Just two minutes later Stevens drilled home the fourth from the edge of the area.

Vale of Leithen. R Gilpin, B Raiker, A Smith, P Dickson, J Blaikie, S Stewart, S Wilson, B Rixon (L Smith 67), K McLeod, R Currie & M Berry (J Finnie 57).