DALBEATIE made sure Vale weren’t the stars at Islecroft on Saturday.

The home team dominated straight from the kick off and could easily have scored a handful of goals.

It was a tough afternoon for the Ian Little’s team but they deserve credit for digging in and staying in the match for the whole 90 minutes especially after going down to ten men in the first half.

Vale keeper Bleakley made a fanastic double save early on to prevent Sloan and Muir from finding the net.

Steele also went close with a 25 yard volley for the home side.

And Todd brought a good save out of Bleakley a few minutes later.

Just after the half hour Ainslie handled the ball on the line and Vale were reduced to 10 men.

Sloan stepped up to take the kick but Bleakley guessed correctly and kept out his strike.

But just two minutes later the striker redemed himself with a 30 yard stunner that flew high past the Vale keeper.

Ten minutes into the second half Todd rattled the crossbar as the home team continued to press.

And the second goal came on 75 minutes with Neill on his own at the back post to head home from close range.

A late rally from the visitors saw substitute Combe snatch a consolation.

Dalbeattie: Martin, Maxwell (Proudlock 86), Dunn, Wells, Anderson, Neill, Trialist, Todd (Fergusson 64), Muir, Sloan & Steele (Baxter 72). Vale of Leithen: Bleakley, Rixon, Brady, Gielty (White 58), Lynch, McLeod, Stevens, Hunter, Mitchell, Flanagan (Little 81), Elliot (Combe 46).