ACTION-PACKED PAGES OF UNRIVALLED WEEKLY COVERAGE THE VALE OF FEARS

Villagers’ home form could be key to Mark Robinson’s team winning promotion REDS DEFENDER BREEN WANTS TO BE A PART OF TROPHY-WINNING SOLITUDE CLUB: SEE 8&9

YOU would have to go back to the 2011/12 season to record the last time Laurelvale played in Mid-ulster’s top flight.

And, as for winning a title, that was the 2005/06 campaign when the Intermediate A crown was last delivered to Laurel Park.

In the intervening years since relegation from that division Vale have failed to make a fist of returning with a number of managers failing to rekindle the County Armagh club.

However, fast forward to 2018 and Laurelvale, under the management of Mark Robinson, are sitting eight points clear at the top of Intermediate B.

The Villagers have been among a clutch of sides genuinely chasing the second tier title throughout this campaign. But week by week they’ve seen their rivals slip up and fall behind.

They landed one of those hefty blows themselves two weekends ago when going to second-placed Bourneview Mill and winning.

Mill weren’t in league action on Saturday so in their absence Laurelvale stretched their lead with a 2-0 home win over Lurgan Town.

“We are working hard in training and matches and trying to prepare in the right manner and do things right,” said Robinson (circled).

“We have been beaten by three different teams this season which goes to show how difficult this division is.

“The win over Bourneview Mill was massive for us and gave us a great boost.”

SHOT AT THE TITLE Laurelvale’s Stephen Whitten has a go at goal as Lurgan Town’s Jamie Mcneill tries to close him down.