But, against all odds, depleted Vale of Leithen weaved a gutsy victory which took them above their Broomhill opponents in the Lowland League.

Vale manager Mark Lamb said: “We were down to the bare bones today.

“Ian Little, my former boss at Berwick Rangers, played up front at the age of 41, Scott Devlin played his first game in a year and I had to sign three new players before the match.

“We also had to bring Jordyn Gill off the bench when he really should not have played because of an injury.

“As a result, I am delighted to win the three points. The players deserved it.” Vale’s lack of numbers was due to a variety of reasons – captain and top scorer Josh Morris was injured, Ewan Saunderson was suspended and player/coach Chris Anderson left the club earlier in the week.

It meant Little, Devlin and Brydon Fairgrieve – a former Linlithgow Rose midfielder – all started for the Victoria Park side, against a Broomhill team featuring ex-Motherwell man Ross McKinnon.

The Glasgow team have also recruited Andy Goram as a goalkeeping coach but he would have struggled to have kept Vale going 2-0 up within ten minutes as Broomhill’s defence was cut open.

Jason Stevens put the homesters ahead on five minutes thanks to a bit of luck after the winger saw his initial shot blocked, only for the ball to land at the winger’s feet again to fire home.

And then Kenny O’Brien added a fine finish to one of his trademark mazy runs to double the lead.

McKinnon does not yet look fit but the midfield man’s delivery from set pieces was superb throughout the match and he almost pulled one back with a curling 40 yard free kick which flew inches beyond Mark Wilson’s back post.

Ainslie Hunter really should have made it 3-0 when he scooped over a Devlin free kick after McGinley made a hash of catching the ball, but it mattered little as Stevens slide in the third on 35 minutes.

McGinley was soon substituted due to a leg injury to end a horror first half for the shocked visitors Broomhill brought on David Cameron at half time – he ironically formerly played for East Kilbride amateur side Rolls Royce – but he was unable to swing power back to his team.

Although Broomhill pulled a goal back on 54 minutes when Craig Duncan bundled in McKinnon’s vicious free kick, they never really threatened Vale’s lead.

Fine defensive performances from Ryan Sclater and James Elliot helped to thwart the visitors efforts, along with horrendous driving rain which made playing conditions extremely difficult.

But Lamb’s delight at three points was tempered by the loss of Jack Blaikie and Stevens to injuries in the second half which could further slice Vale’s already wafer thin squad for this weekend’s trip to Craigroyston.

Vale of Leithen: M. Wilson, R. Sclater, B. Fairgrieve, J. Elliot, J. Blaikie (J. Gill 49), J. Stevens (R. Stewart 87), R. Brady, K. O’Brien, I. Little (D. White 82), S. Devlin, A. Hunter