Gretna and Vale hope to light up final

VALE OF LEITHEN and Gretna 2008, two of the clubs from the East Seniors Central Taxis First Division, will contest the final of the Image Printers East of Scotland Qualifying Cup at Albert Park, Hawick tomorrow (Sunday), kick-off 2.00 pm.

Both teams are vying for promotion and, just two weeks ago, Gretna were two goals ahead after an hour at Raydale Park when the floodlights failed.

Rab Paget, the Vale manager, said: "Contrary to popular belief, it was not me who turned them off! We will certainly have to perform better than we were doing that night and I am sure Gretna will still want to prove something after leading 2-0.

"It will be a difficult game for us because we are not playing particularly well and, after our 1-0 defeat from Preston Athletic last Saturday I had to tell a few home truths to some of the players.

"Playing in cup finals, especially this one, is nice and everybody connected with the club is looking forward to it because Vale have not won this trophy since season 1981/82.

"However, promotion is paramount and our game against Gala Fairydean in midweek is more important.

Vale have Paul Lee unavailable and Kerr Dodds is suspended.

Gretna boss Stuart Rome is also looking at the cup final as a bonus. "We will be judged on our performances over the period of our First Division campaign.

"Vale did not know what had hit them in the recent league game when we were leading 2-0. It will be nip and tuck between two teams," he said.

Gretna are without the suspended duo of Ian Cummersky and Steven Black, while Tony Nicholson is still recovering after a car crash.