The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Clach sign off season with six-goal draw against Vale
CLACHNACUDDIN DEVERONVALE 3 3
Clach completed their Highland League campaign with an entertaining draw against Deveronvale on Saturday.
Lilywhites boss Iain Polworth reckons the Lilywhites should have scored more goals than the three they managed at Grant Street Park.
He said: “It was an end-of-season game on a bumpy pitch with mistakes from both sides.
“I thought we missed three good chances, one after another just after half-time, which was disappointing.”
Clach made a great start to the game and took the lead in the fifth minute when Daniel Maclennan latched on to a pass from Fraser Robertson and fired a low shot into the net from 12 yards out.
The home side’s advantage did not last long as Robert Scott tapped the ball home following a cross from Kyle Gauld.
Maclennan put his team back in front just before the break with another crisp finish, this time after a pass by Paul Smith.
But back came Vale again. Scott was once again the scorer of the Banff club’s equaliser as he headed in a cross from Dane Ballard four minutes into the second half.
Shortly afterwards, the visitors took the lead for the first time in a topsyturvy game when Grant Noble set up Ballard to provide a close-range finish.
Clach were determined to take something from the game and earned a draw as Smith drove a shot into the net from 18 yards out.
Scott, who scored a double for Vale, felt that a draw was a fair result.
However, the former Buckie player believes that with the likes of him and Ballard in the side, they should have had enough firepower to outgun their opponents.
He said: “A draw was probably deserved the way the game went, but I feel with the forward presence we have, we should have won the game.”
Vale boss Steve Dolan agreed with his player, saying: “A draw was fair. I’m a bit disappointed after going 3-2 up that we never pushed on and got three points.
It was game.”
Vale have two league fixtures left, the first of which is at home to Nairn on Saturday. a very open