Oakley United 4

Vale of Leithen 3

By David Morrison

at Blairwood Park

VALE of Leithen were involved in a seven-goal thriller in the Qualifying Cup in Fife on Saturday.

The Innerleithen side went 2-0 down in the first half, but despite some good attacking play after the break couldn't progress to the next round.

Oakley gave Chris Anderson's men very little time on the ball on the very wet Blairwood Park pitch.

So it was no surprise when the home side raced into the lead on 17 minutes courtesy of Ryan Stevenson after some poor defending.

And things got worse on the half-hour mark, when James McAteer doubled their advantage.

However Vale looked revitalised after the interval and pulled a goal back when Marc Berry broke free and slotted the ball past Sean Roberston.

But while in the ascendancy, the visitors suffered a some bad luck on 75 minutes when James Elliot slipped on the half way line allowing McAteer to charge in and make it 3-1.

However the Vale responded almost immediately when Sean Stewart directed his header into the net.

But Oakley struck again on the break when Jack Cowan beat the linesman's flag to break free and place his shot by Ross Gilpin.

The Vale never gave up, however, and managed to reduce the deficit once again in the 83rd minute, when defender Craig McBride hammered home from close range.

The visitors did have a few half chances in the closing stages, but none were good enough to beat the United stopper.

R Gilpin, J Elliot, C McBride, J Blaikie (R Brady 64), S Stewart, S Wilson, R Currie, L Smith (K Allan 69), A Smith, D Bonnar (A Hunter 77), M Berry. Subs not used: B Raiker, P Dickson.