Dalbeattie Star 2

Vale of Leithen 4

VALE of Leithen headed to Islecroft Stadium on Saturday knowing their fate was in the hands of Cowdenbeath.

The Innerleithen side twice surrendered a three-goal lead last Wednesday meaning they couldn't catch their opponents Dalbeattie Star.

But despite only having two substitutes on the bench, Ross Brady and boss Chris Anderson, they got off to a flying start.

It took them just five minutes to take the lead when a Sean Stewart cross was knocked home by Jordan Finnie.

However the visitors were pegged back in the 28th minute. After some slack Vale play on the left a cross from the right was headed home by Star's Tommy Muir.

Gaffer Anderson made his first change at the interval – bringing himself on for Andy Martin.

And with 55 minutes on the clock he was put through on goal only to be denied by the keepers' outstretched legs.

But the Vale regained the lead in the moments later when a 20 yard-shot was fired home by Finnie, who grabbed his second.

With Anderson showing some good touches Star were struggling to contain him and with 10 minutes to go he was brought down in the box.

Tommy Patterson stepped up and hammered the ball home from the penalty spot.

With Vale in command another move resulted in Sean Stewart being brought down by the Star goalie.

Finnie took this penalty to complete his hat-trick.

In the last minute of the game Star got a consultation goal when Hugh Cameron headed home.

Vale remain second from bottom. The first leg of the playoff between Cove Rangers and Cowdenbeath finished goalless.

The Innerleithen side now need the latter to defeat the Highland League side in the second leg to avoid dropping out of the Lowland League.

That match will take place at Central Park on Saturday.