Vale of Leven 7-2 Annbank United
SJFA West Region League Two
Millburn Park
Saturday 20th October 2018
It’s been slightly better weather than it was this time last week and that means there’s no waterlogged pitches hampering my Saturday plans. So it’s back to the Millburn for some more League Two action.
The Venue
Millburn park has been extensively profiled on this site a couple of times. You can see here, here and here for details.
The Teams
With last weekend’s trip to Muirkirk a victim of the weather, the Vale have played just once in the league since I saw them draw 1-1 with Ashfield. That was an impressive 3-0 win over Salcoats Victoria, although their Junior Cup run came to an early end when they were on the wrong end of the same score up north against Islavale. The Vale are in fourth place in League Two, just three points off leaders Lanark United.
Annbank United were formed in the eponymous former mining village in 1939. They reached the Scottish Junior Cup Final once, in 1953, where ironically they lost to today’s hosts. The two clubs have met several times in the cups, but today is the first ever league meeting between the sides. Annbank won the Ayrshire Second Division in the 1989-90 season, but have spent most of the recent years in the district leagues.
This season, the club – co-managed by Graeme Neil and Tom Robertson, started well with two wins in their Sectional group, although they failed to qualify for the knockout stages. They defeated fellow League Two side Ardeer Thistle comfortably in the Scottish Junior Cup, but are firmly in the lower half of the table on league duty with 11 points from nine games.
The Game
The game was barely 30 seconds old when Lee McGeachy sent the ball across the face of the Annbank goal to find the head of Greg Ross, who nodded in to give the home side an early lead. The early goal shellshocked the visitors, who took a while to get themselves into the game. Ross had a chance to double the lead with ten minutes gone when he headed wide from Craig Cowan’s cross. Annbank had their first chance in 13 minutes, but Andrew Campbell in the Vale goal was the equal of a decent effort.
With 20 minutes gone it was 2-0. McGeachy swing a corner into the box, and Ross scored his second of the day as he nipped in, in front of the keeper to knock the ball into the net. It was 3-0 just a few minutes later. Chris Jackson was upended in the box, and Cowan stepped up to slam the penalty past the Annbank goalkeeper. It was to be four before the half hour as McGeachy played in Robbie Dolan on the left hand side. Dolan’s low, driven cross was deflected into the net by an unfortunate Annbank defender, as the visitors saw the game slip out of their reach.
Annbank pulled one back with 42 minutes gone as a long ball deceived the Vale defence and allowed Stephen McLelland to latch on and finish well below Campbell. The scoring wasn’t done in the first half though, as just two minutes later, Andy Biddulph got himself on the end of Dolan’s back post cross and drilled the ball low into the net. And on the stroke of half time it was 6-1. Ross swung a free kick to the back post which was met by the head of Mark Butler, who headed it back across goal into the patch of Jackson who knocked it in for the simplest of goals.
The second half was to be a much tamer affair, although Vale were still creating chances, with both Biddulph and David McNaught coming close. Biddulph was sent off for a second bookable offence with an hour played, but the man advantage never really let Annbank back into the game to any great degree.
With 68 minutes gone, it was 7-1, as McGeachy’s cross was nodded in at the back post by Stuart Bryson. Two minutes later, Annbank reduced the defecit through a well taken penalty from Jordan Ryan. Both sides worked hard on the wet pitch but it was to be the last real action of a game that saw the home side’s first half dominance see them run out as comfortable winners.
The Pies
It goes without saying that the Vale’s steak pies are worth eating every single time. They are outstanding, and it’s no exaggeration to say they might be the best in football at any level.
Admission: £5
Programme: None
Pie: £1.60 (scotch) £2 (steak)
Bovril: 90p
Attendance: 53
Pies on the Terraces 