Semi-final place after 10-0 victory
Tactics work as Vale keep rivals on back foot
Vale of Earn booked a place in the semi-final of the Ashleigh Cup courtesy of a resounding 10-0 win over Auchterarder on Wednesday night last week.
The Crieff side will play Letham away in the next round after getting the better of their local rivals in the Lang Toon.
Vale made the trip determined to keep the hosts on the back foot early on.
The tactic worked but it took until the 22nd minute before the deadlock was broken.
An Aaron Dawson corner was knocked back by Paddy Ward before Kros Brown rifled a sweet half-volley high into the net from 16 yards.
Vale made it 2- 0 in the 33rd minute when Euan Carter picked up the ball in the middle of the park and played a lovely ball through to Kros Brown, who showed good pace before finishing nicely by lifting the ball over the keeper.
It was soon 3- 0 to the visitors when Kros Brown slipped the ball down the right to Dawson, who fired a cross into the six-yard box which was met by the on-rushing Jack Howie who finished well from close range.
Vale scored a wonder goal five minutes before half- time when Carter picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and unleashed a powerful strike into the top righthand corner.
The men from Market Park went in at the break with a five- goal cushion when a quick throw in from Kros Brown to strike partner Ward saw the latter fire a great cross to the back post which was superbly controlled home on the volley by Lewis Young.
Vale were keen to keep the tempo up after the break and grabbed a sixth goal just two minutes into the second half.
A quick corner resulted in Carter crossing for Howie to head home and grab his second of the game.
A magnificent seventh goal would follow for Vale when Jack Simpson picked up the ball down the left and went on a mazy run, beating no fewer than four players, before rifling an excellent finish into the top corner from 20 yards.
The away side made it eight when a silly foul on Kros Brown by the Primrose keeper gave Dawson the chance from the penalty spot and he made no mistake.
A short corner between Kieren Porter and Kros Brown saw the latter’s delivery volleyed home by Graham Duncan.
And the scoring was completed in the 90th minute when Kros Brown grabbed his hat- trick when he got in behind down the left flank, opened his body up and finished superbly across the keeper.
Both sides praised the large local support for turning out on the night.