Vale Meet Again

Saturday 22nd July 2017

Pre-Season Friendly

Oban Saints AFC v Vale of Leven F &AC

Glencruitten 1

Glencruitten Drive

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EB

Kick off 2.00pm

Referee Mr John Stobo

Saints are delighted to welcome back third time visitors Vale of Leven Juniors this Saturday afternoon for what should be another good preseason workout for both sets of players. Saints got their preseason fixtures schedule off and running in traditional style two weeks ago in the D&K Lafferty Cup tournament where two wins and two defeats secured a third placed finish behind Dundee United and tournament winners Hamilton Academical. Manager Alex Craik will look to raise the level a little further in the first of the three ninety minute matches the club has planned before the Argyll & Bute Cup on 5th August and the start of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division campaign one week later.

The Vale commenced their preseason training on 17th June and played their first friendly last Saturday at home to West Calder United where a fifty seventh minute Mark Butler equaliser secured a 1 - 1 draw against their East Region South opponents. This was quickly followed two days later by a 3 - 2 win against Saints former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals Thorn Athletic. Vale raced into a three goal lead through goals from Robbie Dolan and a brace from Ben Craig. Keeper and Skipper Robert Tiropoulos also saved a first half penalty from Thorn's Jordan Devine to further cement the home side's advantage. A very much below full strength Thorn rallied in the second half inspired by former Saints tormentor Paul Young. A trademark Young free kick brought the Caledonian League Premier Division outfit back into the match before another Young set piece delivery was glanced on by Thorn Manager and second half substitute James Donnelly before finding it's way into the net via an unsuspecting Josh Grace.

Vale currently ply their trade in the Scottish Junior Football Association West Region Central District Second Division where they finished last season in sixth place with thirty three points from twenty two games played. Despite trailing home fifteen points behind champions Glasgow Perthshire this was a significant improvement on the previous season's tenth place which was Vale's lowest final league position for 51 years.

As part of their quest to revive the club's fortunes the 2016 Annual General Meeting ratified the promotion of Under 21's Manager Brian Brown to the post of Assistant to first team Manger Hugh Hamill. The second phase of the succession plan was implemented at this year's AGM when Hugh stood down after twenty years and three months at the helm to make way for Brian. The new Gaffer will be assisted by his brother and former club captain Alan Brown. The pair follow in the footsteps of their father Jimmy who was Vale manager for fifteen years before leaving to take up the reins at Dumbarton where he had previously enjoyed a spell on the playing staff. The Brown brothers have moved swiftly to add SFA coach Kenny McComish to the backroom team to complement the existing coaching staff of Hugh Ward and Iain Lee for what they hope will be an exciting new chapter in the club's history.

New Vale Manager Brian Brown

Notwithstanding their current lowly league position the Vale have a long and illustrious history in the game and to secure this preseason friendly match between the clubs is a major coup for Saints. Originally founded in 1872 Vale of Leven won three successive Scottish Cups (1877 - 79) and became unofficial British champions in 1878 beating English F.A. Cup holders The Wanderers at Kennington Oval. In 1890 they were founder members of the Scottish Football League where, excluding brief flirtations with the Scottish Alliance, the Scottish Football Combination and the Western League, they remained until 1939 when they club disbanded due to the suspension of league football for World War Two. The club immediately re-emerged as Vale of Leven Football and Athletic Club becoming members of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Over the years many league and cup successes followed the biggest of which being the Scottish Junior Cup win in 1953.

Millburn Park, Alexandria home of Vale of Leven Football and Athletic Club

Thousands lined the streets of Alexandria, Bonhill and Renton to cheer the Vale's victory parade

Last year's encounter

The visitors took the lead in the sixth minute from an innocuous looking deep cross from the right wing by Adam Monaghan. Thomas McCulloch elected to stay on his line allowing Monaghan's cross to reach Scott Cowan who out-jumped Jamie Graham at the back post to head the ball back across goal for Craig Cowan to nod into the net from three yards out. Despite the early reverse Saints continued to impress against their semi-professional opponents and eventually got their reward for their first half exertions deservedly drawing level five minutes before the break. Myles McAuley threaded a perfectly weighted through ball for Donald Campbell's run through the inside left channel. In charge of team affairs for the day in the absence of Manager Alex Craik, Donald made no mistake calmly passing the ball into the bottom corner of the net past the Vale keeper's despairing left hand. McAuley was involved again at the other end when he was harshly penalised by Referee Litster twenty eight yards from his own goal. Lee McGeachy curled the free kick around the Saints wall drawing an excellent save from Thomas McCulloch diving full length to his left to send the teams into the half time interval on level terms. 

The second half saw a number of changes for both sides with Saints introducing youngsters Jay Cooper, Daniel Croarkin, Fraser MacFarlane and fifteen year old Lewis Buchanan to the fray. Notwithstanding the raft of changes made by both sides and the worsening weather conditions the second half maintained the high tempo of the first forty five. The Saints youngsters were certainly not overawed by the occasion and showed up well against their more experienced opponents with Jay Cooper coming close to netting a late winner cutting in from the left and forcing Vale keeper Morrison into a smart save at his near post. Referee Jimmy Litster, who had enjoyed an easy afternoon's work, brought a good natured contest to an end with honours even and plenty of positives for both sides to take into their next warm-up fixtures.


Saints still have a few regulars missing due to injury and holidays which will leave room in the match day squad for a number of the club's promising youngsters. Manager Alex Craik will be keen to give as many players as possible some valuable game time against experienced opposition. It is anticipated that the Vale will bring their full squad to Oban for the third of their five friendlies before their season kicks off in earnest with a Sectional League Cup tie away at Port Glasgow Juniors on Wednesday 2nd August.

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