Vale of Leithen 1

Edinburgh University 1

David Knox

at Victoria Park

VALE couldn’t move off the bottom of the table for Christmas despite a vastly improved performance against fellow-strugglers Edinburgh Uni.

Despite going behind against the run of play, Chris Anderson’s team came storming back in the second half to equalise - and almost grab a late winner.

Anderson was pleased with his players.

He told us: “I thought we were the better team for long periods of that match which is pleasing.

“It was a blow to concede when we did as we were well on top but we came back well and more than deserved the draw.

“It was difficult for both teams because of the conditions but I thought the effort from every one of my players was excellent.

“We need to now take that performance forward for the derby with Gala next week.”

Despite their record 11-0 defeat to Kelty the week before, Vale opened confidently against the Students.

A Ger Rossi strike from the edge of the area was blocked in front of goal after only two minutes.

And just before the quarter hour player-manager Anderson was unfortunate as his backwards header was cleared off the line.

Vale continued to enjoy plenty possession but, apart from Liam Ireland’s 25-yard freekick in the 26th minute, they struggled to trouble keeper Jack Wills.

And just before the half hour they were hit with a sucker-punch as a long clearance allowed Abdul Yusuf to open up and win the race with Calum Hall to fire the ball beyond Andrew McQueen.

Only a couple of timely interventions from Paul Thomson prevented the striker racing onto similar long balls before the interval.

But with a reshuffle at half time Vale looked much more threatening in the second half.

And they were back on level terms just three minutes after the restart.

Hall’s diagonal freekick was fired into the net by Alex Imlah.

The equaliser, though, spurred the Students into action with Mark Waters twice testing McQueen with powerful drives from just outside the area.

Although Vale were creating more chances with Brad Rixon and Robel Dent causing problems with their pace, Wills wasn’t called into action until the closing stages.

With six minutes remaining Uni centre half Danny McBeth was shown a straight red card for pulling back Rixon as he attempted to race clear into the box.

From the resultant Ireland freekick the visiting keeper saved well and he followed up by bravely blocking Rixon’s close-range attempt with the rebound.

Rixon almost grabbed a late winner after latching onto Dent’s cut-back but his shot struck the heel of a defender in front of goal and deflected wide.

There was almost a last-gasp twist as Ross Waters picked out his fellow Uni substitute Daniel Winter deep in injury time inside the area but McQueen made a terrific save to earn his side a deserved point.

Vale of Leithen. A McQueen, M Robertson, C Hall, P Thomson, A Imlah, A Smith (J Wishart 80), B Rixon, L Hall (L Smith 64), C Anderson (R Dent 46), G Rossi & L Ireland.