The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Five-star Banffers give students shield lesson
To the four: Ballard does trick as Vale win University challenge
Dane Ballard grabbed a hat-trick as Deveronvale made it five wins in a row last night when they beat Aberdeen University 4-0 in their Morrison Motors ( Turriff ) Aberdeenshire Shield first-round tie at Princess Royal Park, Banff.
Grant Noble was also on the mark as Vale set up a home derby against Buckie Thistle in the next round.
The Banffers fielded experienced former Lossiemouth and Clachnacuddin goalkeeper Errol Watson, who has signed a contract until the end of the season, with regular Vale number one Grant Pennet dropping to the bench.
Aberdeen University arrived with a full starting line-up but with only one substitute, in the shape of manager, Daniel McKendrick.
Early exchanges were fairly even but Vale full back Lewis Dunbar’s early cross set up a chance only for a timely intervention by University defender Hamish Levein to avert the danger.
The students, who play in the North Region Junior FA First Division East, were holding their own in the first 25 minutes against a young Vale side looking to string together five wins on the spin.
A good run by University’s Ben Williams spelled danger to the home defence but his intended final pass to David Akpara went astray.
Williams then tried his luck from distance but his effort cleared the crossbar without troubling Watson in the Vale goal.
Deveronvale opened the scoring after 35 minutes when Matthew Wallace played Ballard through and the former Fraserburgh striker fired the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Iain MacKenzie.
The students were defending well and playing some excellent football up to the 18-yard line but lacked that cutting edge.
A deep in-swinging corner from Vale full back Kyle Willox caused confusion in the visitors’ defence but the ball landed a foot wide of the byeline.
In the 56th minute Ballard had the ball in the students’ net again but this time he was a couple of yards offside.
Vale sent on youngster Jody Munro, the striker replacing Robert Scott, and on the hour mark the Highland League side doubled their advantage when Ballard’s cross was tucked away by the inrushing Noble.
In the 70th minute the Banffers made sure of the victory when Dunbar’s inch-perfect cross was met by Ballard, who wheeled and fired it high into the roof of the net from eight yards out.
Then, with seven minutes to go, Ballard completed his hat-trick when he finished off a feed from substitute Jody Munro from close range.