VALE BATTLE BACK TO EARN A VITAL POINT
Crieff side share the spoils with Kettins in hard-fought tie
Vale of Earn shared the points with Kettins as the sides drew 1-1 in Division One on Saturday.
The teams were familiar with each other having faced off in the semi-final of the Perthshire Cup on Thursday last week.
The Crieff side went a goal down early in the first half at the weekend when the Kettins forward was street-wise enough to run across the Vale defender and the ensuing tangle of legs resulted in a spotkick being awarded.
James Fleming did the honours from 12 yards for the visitors from Lindsay Park.
Vale mustered a couple of chances prior to the break but lacked killer finishing in front of goal.
Kettins defender Stuart Hendry was sent off before half-time after receiving two yellow cards.
Vale came out flying in the second half, with Euan Carter the driving force as he set out in search of an equaliser.
He rampaged down the right before smashing a cross- come-shot which fooled Kettins keeper Aidan Donachie and flew into the net.
Vale kept pushing but Kettins were always dangerous on the break.
The home side were dealt a blow when Brian Finlay was sent off after picking up two bookings in quick succession.
Both a man down going into the closing stages, the teams fought hard for a winner and Josh Roberts went close with a shot fired straight at the keeper.
Carter was named Vale’s man of the match after putting in what manager Garry Brock described as a “cracking” performance.
Vale went into Saturday’s tie in good form after booking a place in the Perthshire Cup final following a 4-0 win over the same opponents the previous Thursday.
The men from Market Park took the lead on 16 minutes when an Aaron Dawson corner was bulleted home by Carter.
Vale doubled their lead when excellent defensive work by Jordan Crerar saw him clear to Paddy Ward, who played a cracking ball through to Kros Brown.
Kros Brown went on to neatly lob the keeper from the edge of the box.
And Vale made it 3- 0 in front of a good crowd just before the break when a Kros Brown flick-on resulted in Crerar slamming a sweet left-footed volley into the top corner.
Vale looked to keep thing tight in the second half and plugged away, limiting the away side’s chances on goal.
Vale made it 4-0 when Crerar crossed for Jack Howie to bundle home from close range.
The host’s man of the match on this occasion was young Jack Simpson.
Next up for Vale is an Ashleigh Cup semi-final away to Letham on Thursday night this week.
It’s a 7.30pm kick-off at Seven Acres in Perth.