Eastvale Amatuer Football Club

Originally this was to be an away tie for Vale, but due to severe rain recently, Kinross’s home ground was deemed unplayable and was agreed to be switched to Windygates. 

An evenly fought encounter was played at Windygates with Kinross producing the early chances. Eastvale held firm, a fantastic run from Wardy down the right wing with a lovely cross field pass for Jamie Armitt who skied it over the bar from no more than eight yards.  Gardner was on hand to save Vale with a fantastic double save after two kinross players managed to beat the offside trap and bear down on the Eastvale goal , two great saves for Gardner denied them this time.

Half time Eastvale 0 Kinross 0

Second half continued in the same vane with nothing to choose from either side .  A long ball from the kinross midfield to the advancing striker was met by a 50/50 shoulder challenge by Mike Laing for which the ref deemed unlawful and awarded Kinross a penalty which was nicely dispatched by the No.9 with Gardner choosing to dive the wrong way.

Kirk and Douglas came on for Wardy and McLeish, this seemed to give Vale extra motivation and with Kinross holding a high line it was only a matter of time before Kirk or Riddick broke the offside trap, it fell to Andy Kirk whose pace took him passed the defender to send over a lovely back heeled ball for Darren Riddick to level the match. Vale pummeled Kinross with the high ball over the defense and with virtually the last kick of the game another high & long ball from Gardner over the defenders head’s was met by Vales left back for the day,Tucker, who calmly slotted it past the Kinross keeper to wild scenes in the Vale camp.

After the restart the ref blew for full time. A very much needed result for Eastvale who can hopefully build on this victory showing character and desire to get a result today.

Eastvale: Gardner, Laing, Tucker, Winn, McLeish (Douglas), Beaumont, Riddick, Armitt, Ward (Kirk), Donnelly (Kerr), Allen, Subs not used Danny.

In terrible conditions, Bowhill and Eastvale produced a typical tough cup tie. Eastvale have been hit with lots of injuries just now and it was a weakened team that ran out to face Bowhill. That’s no excuse for a well fought game where Bowhill played some nice defence splitting football and left Vale standing, bewildered, on numerous occasions. Eastvale had to play 80mins with ten men after Wardy was sent off for a indisputable offence. This made the hard task for Vale even harder but it didn’t show for the majority of the game. On a great looking pitch that began to cut up from kick off due to the heavy rainfall, Eastvale played some nice attacking football, with Darren Riddick and Barry Winn making their first competetive starts. A lovely ball from the right into the box by Beau was met well by Callum who rose above the defenders and headed home to put Vale 1-0 up. Bowhill created a number of good chances and by the state of the Vale keeper you could see who had been the more busy of the two keepers. With half time nearing, Bowhill got another corner which was met at the backpost for the Bowhill player to header downwards and squeeze the ball between Gardner and the post.

Half Time Bowhill 1 Eastvale 1

Second half was similar to first with chances falling to both teams. But as can be expected in conditions like this, Eastvale began to tire and the extra man for Bowhill began to tell. Two goals in the last ten, sealed a place in the second round for Bowhill. The first of these was a Corner kick met by the unmarked striker who bulleted a header past the diving Gardner. The Second of these and Bowhill’s Third was the result from an Eastvale attack being cleared and the knackered players could just not get back quick enough to stop the striker sliding the ball past Gardner. Ten man Vale had played with spirit and passion but the extra man told in the end.

As the players trudged off the park, the sun came out, typical !!

Full time from “sunny” bowhill was Bowhill Rovers 3 Eastvale 1.

Eastvale took an early lead after the RAF goalkeeper failed to gather a comfortable save from Mike Laing with it somehow squirming into the net. Leuchars replied quickly when a deflected free kick wasn’t cleared properly, landing at the strikers feet who hammered it bottom corner. Leuchars then scored another after more sloppy defending allowed the striker to run through one on one with Gardner slotting low into the net. This sparked Vale into action and quickly replied with a second goal through a determined run from new boy Darren Riddick who beat several players and goalkeeper to knock it in off the post.

Second half started well with Eastvale knocking the ball around well adjusting more to the quick artificial surface. Some good play up the left allowed Calumn to make a dangerous run in the box who was then taken down and awarded a penalty. Mike Laing dispatched.
Leuchars again fought back with a third after a long ball caught the defense sleeping allowing the striker to header past the oncoming keeper. More good play from Vale ensued and was rewarded late on with a second debut goal from Riddick with the score ending 4-3 to Eastvale.

Cup days are special and today was no exception. Eastvale needed a result aswell as a good performance, which they delivered with passion and drive that had been lacking in recent weeks. This second round tie of the Scottish cup against Lomond Victoria was played with typical cup tie passion from both sides.

After 15 mins a lovely ball from the right by Mikey Laing was met by Jamie Arnitt, returning to Vale after a spell with Kennoway, to put Vale 1-0 up.  Vale took charge and another inch perfect through ball by Mikey Laing  found Wardy who got his head to the ball before the keeper to knock over the keepers head 2-0 Vale.

Vale kept pushing and a corner from Callum was met by Jamie Allan, 3-0 Vale, who was then promptly sent off for apparently making gestures to opposing players. A few mins later another corner was played by callum which Tucker connected with well to rifle home 4-0 to Vale at half time.

Ten man Vale reshaped for the second half with Callum playing up front with wardy. Vics mounted a challenge against the ten men and pulled one back with a fantastic strike outside the box from their No.9. As Lomond pushed forward a great ball from Callum put wardy through one on one with the keeper which he coolly slipped by the on rushing keeper.

Lomond Victoria were also reduced to ten men after their No9 got a second yellow for discent.

In the dying minutes a free kick from the right was met by Eck “Maradonna” Douglas at the back post to make it 6-1 to Eastvale who progress through to next round of the Scottish cup.

The match Sponsors, Taxi Centre, selected Wardy as man of the match.

Eastvale made the short trip to Kettle in this mid table encounter. Kettle started the better and within 5 mins went one up. This seemed to give Vale the kick they needed and within ten minutes, a corner whipped over from Callum was met by Mikey Laing to header home. An evenly balanced game in the first half with neither keeper tested.
Vale left themselves in the dressing in the second half, they seemed to lack the passion and drive and huffed and puffed on what is a very big playing surface. It was only a matter of time as Kettle made a few subs which seem to give them the boost. A stramash in the vale box was eventually cleared after calls from the home players and management that the ball had crossed the line. Kettle continued to push and took the lead with 20 to go. Eastvale pushed back with some good saves from the Kettle Keeper denying Wardy and Andy kirk. With 10 to go kettle broke and got another one. 3-1 to kettle. Vale had some greats chances towards the end but never got the luck today. Full time Kettle United 3 Eastvale 1. Heres hoping Vale can up the anti for next week in the scottish cup, with a home tie with Lomond Victoria.

Twice in two weeks, Vale made the trip to Duffus Park to face Cupar in the quarter finals of the Scottish Brewers Cup. It was questionable if the game should have gone ahead due to the gusting swirling wind that made the game a lottery.

Cupar faced the wind in the first and any clearance from Cupar defence was in cases blown right back. Eastvale started well and with the wind at their backs put cupar on the back foot. As Cupar would prove to do to Eastvale in the second half.

Midway through the first half the ball landed at Mikey Laing’s feet who rifled home a shot from 25 yards into the top corner, 1-0 Vale.

Vale kept pressing but fair play to cupar they played to the conditions. Eastvale had a thrown in which would normally be an easy throw back to the keeper but the ball got held up in the wind and the cupar striker stole the ball, rounded Gardner and evened up the game.

Haltime 1-1
With the wind at their backs, Cupar pushed for the winner and it came with 10 to go. Highs balls into the vale box where difficult to clear and the vale defence tried in vain to clear them.
The highlight of the second half was a fantastic save from Gardner, a cross from the right was met by the cupar forward who did well to header the ball down but a fantastic one handed save tipped the ball round the post, remenisant of Pele/Banks.
Cupar struck twice more running out 4-1 winners. But the score did not reflect the game. Only one winner today and that was the Scottish climate.