Vale of Earn lose out to buoyant Balmoral United
Vale of Earn .......... 1 Balmoral United ... 2
Vale of Earn lost 2-1 at home to in-form Balmoral United on Saturday.
The Market Park men lost the opening goal early on when a mix-up in defence resulted in a penalty being conceded.
Vale keeper Reggie Stevenson pulled off a great save from the initial effort but was unable to prevent the rebound from being lashed into the net.
The hosts carved out their own chances, with Aaron Smith going closest on the half-hour mark, but went into the break 1-0 down.
Vale started the second half quickly and excellent play down the right from Aaron Smith and Aaron Myles saw the latter put in an superb cross which unfortunately had no takers.
And this was compounded after 60 minutes when a mistake by player/boss Garry Brock allowed the east Perthshire side’s attacker to nip in and hit a superb low strike past Stevenson.
Vale threw caution to the wind in search of a goal and had a couple of chances before a Niall Cassidy free-kick was headed home by Garry Brock.
The Crieff lads kept the pressure up but they were unable to force an equaliser.
Vale: Stevenson, Myles, Jewell, Brock, Miller, Brown, Cassidy, Webster, Smith, Bremner and Crerar. Subs: Jack, Gillies, Gunn, Taylor and McPhee.
Vale travel to play St John’s on Saturday in Division One. Kick-off 2pm.