Sproule keeps Vale in Cup with last-gasp equaliser

STAR man Wayne Sproule salvaged Vale’s Scottish Cup dream on Saturday after his team were thrown a controversial late lifeline.

Just seconds after Selkirk striker Jamie Gibson was red-carded for an innocuous challenge near the half-way line, the Innerleithen team managed to score the vital equaliser from the resultant free-kick.

In a pulsating end-to-end tie the goal was deserved.

While Vale showed the composure and passing ability it was Selkirk’s direct approach which led to the opener on 25 minutes. Jamie Aitken drilled a low cross into the area and Euan Pritchard managed to steer the ball into the net from six yards out.

Vale did find the net at the start of the second half but Scott Devlin was judged to have fouled keeper John Dodds as they challenged for Sproule’s cross.

Aitken almost doubled the home tally on 53 minutes with a dipping freekick which James Hudson managed to push round the post.

Referee Craig Napier had already booked six players, including Gibson, when he deemed the Selkirk striker had fouled Chris Inglis on 79 minutes and sent him off.

Sproule was first to react to the floated freekick and smashed home the equaliser from the edge of the area.

Selkirk: Dodds, Munro, Milven, Higginbottom, Pritchard, Pyrkosz, Holness, Stephen, Gibson, Aitken, Battle. Subs: Watt, Pepper, Butters, McManus, Connolly.

Vale of Leithen: Hudson, Gordon, Gray, McKenzie, Blakie, Inglis, Sproule, Dodds, Devlin, Paterson, Cairney.  Subs. Moffat, Draper, Smith, Thomson, Inglis.