Vale and Spartans all square

This end-to-end Premier Division encounter finished all square mainly thanks to both goalkeepers. Chris Flockhart tipped a drive from Vale’s Scott Moffat over early on, while at the other end James Hudson pulled off two brilliant stops to deny Jack Beesley.

The Capital side however made the breakthrough in the 19th minute when Chris Gray was penalised for a push on Donal Henretty and Beesley tucked the resulting spot kick away. In the 36th minute, Beesley saw another effort met with a good block by Hudson and Vale broke upfield. Moffat and Kevin Sivewright collided in the area going for a cross and the ball fell for Danny Noon to slot home the equaliser.

A frantic second half saw both teams push hard for a winner, with Flockhart saving well from Noon. Vale’s task became more difficult 12 minutes from time as Noon was red carded for dissent but both sides held firm.

Vale of Leithen: Hudson, W Sproule, Gray, McKenzie, Blaikie, C Inglis, Smith, Gordon, Moffat (Devlin 72), Noon, Cairney. Subs: J Paterson, Thomson, Draper.

Spartans: Flockhart, McCuish, Cennerazzo, Sivewright, O’Donnell (Wringe 72), Whatley, Beesley, Manson, Henretty, Finnie (Martin 57), Anderson (Grant 57). Subs: Irvine, Gilpin.