Vale of Leithen 3

Preston Athletic 0

David Knox at Victoria Park

VALE manager Chris Anderson pulled on his boots for the first time in over a season on Saturday to ease a player crisis at Victoria Park.

The 29-year-old former Berwick Rangers and Gala Fairydean Rovers striker was without nine of his squad due to injuries, suspensions and holidays.

But the Lowland League club still made easy work in reaching the third round of the Qualifying Cup with strikes from Tommy Patterson, Sean Stewart and Jordan Finnie.

Anderson told us: “I was running out of options due to so many boys being unavailable so I set the team up to make sure we had plenty of pace around me.

“I was pleased with the way we played and we could have won by a few more with the number of chances we created.”

It was the manager who twice went close in the opening stages with a shot which deflected just wide and a header which flew round the wrong side of the post from a corner.

Despite the absentees Vale were on top for much of the first half.

And they deserved the breakthrough on the half hour as Patterson played a neat one-two with his boss before drilling a powerful shot beyond Craig Pennycuik.

The teenager could have doubled his tally just two minutes later after being threaded through by Ainslie Hunter but he blasted the ball inches past the near post.

Preston almost grabbed an equaliser before the break but Greg Binnie narrowly failed to get his toes onto a low cross at the back post.

Vale secured their passage to the third round just two minutes into the second half.

Stewart stole the ball 20 yards out and charged into the area to chip the Preston keeper.

Regular substitutions and an unhealthy dose of yellow cards prevented much football of note as the second half wore on.

The East Lothian side did have a shout for a penalty and substitute Jack Gilchrist flashed a shot across goal, but Vale commanded much of the play.

Jack Hay twice went close before winning his team a penalty in the final minute.

And Finnie made no mistake from the spot to make the final score 3-0.

Vale of Leithen. R Gilpin, A Lewis, R Brady, E Saunderson, A Imlah, A Hunter, S Stewart, N Doherty (C McBride 77), C Anderson (J Hay 74), J Finnie & T Patterson (J McInally 63).