Whitehill Welfare 6
Vale of Leithen 3
EoS LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND
DAVE RYCE reports from Ferguson Park
LIKE the television adverts for the Guardian newspaper that demonstrate how a story can be viewed very differently when seen from another angle, such was the case in this game.
From a neutral point of view, this was a rip-roaring cup tie that never let up in terms of goals, incident and excitement, while Whitehill were satisfied with a display in which they were clinical in front of goal and showed plenty of character.
But from a Vale perspective it was not so positive, with defensive frailties all too apparent.
Whitehill made a blistering start, taking the lead after only three minutes when Wayne McIntosh squared the ball across for Aaron Somerville to find the net.
Two minutes later, Welfare had the opportunity to double their lead as Jamie Paterson impeded McIntosh in the area, but Mike Herd saw his effort saved by Chris Hill.
It only delayed Whitehill’s second for a few minutes, though, Herd making amends by finding the net, and in the 19th minute it was three as McIntosh was allowed plenty of space in the area to fire home.
But Vale amazingly hauled themselves back into contention courtesy of two penalties awarded in the 32nd and 39th minutes, Wayne Sproule being upended, first by Gareth Thom and then John Hall, and both spot kicks converted by Jordan Hall.
Four minutes into the second half the turnaround was complete when Sproule latched on to a ball and ran through to slide an equaliser past Walker.
Referee David Somers was handing out a few cards – too many for him to keep track of apparently – as Vale’s Paul Lee was penalised for a foul and shown a yellow and then red, but it transpired that the official had thought he had already been booked, so the red card was withdrawn.
Whitehill now had to win the game all over again and in the 54th minute Andrew Kidd put them back ahead and 13 minutes later, home substitute Scott McCulloch slipped a ball through for McIntosh to round Hill and slot home.
Vale’s task became all the more difficult in the 72nd minute when Lee clipped Scott Gormley and was shown a second yellow, followed by a red, that this time stood.
In the 77th minute, Gormley blasted a shot high into the net to seal it for the Rosewell men.
Vale of Leithen: C. Hill, J. Paterson, R. McKenzie, R. Miller, P. Lee, P. Greenhill (C. Beaton), A. Martin, J. Lauder (R. Gaylor), S. Moffat, W. Sproule, J. Hall.