Almondvale FC

Welcome to the official Almondvale FC web-site.

If you have come hear for informed debate, reasoned argument, well balanced journalism, unbiased opinion or any sort of comment that does not place the Vale at the top of the pile, then move on my dear reader, move on!!!

Other than that. Enjoy!!!

Almondvale FC extend an invitation to all their loyal supporters over this season to their end of season do in the Old Ship Inn on Saturday 6th June. It will be a special evening because it will also be the last official event under the Almondvale name before changing to Jeanfield Swifts Amateur Footall Club at the start of next season. So let's make it a great send off for the old name

tHE pRIZE gIVING BIT STARTS AT 8PM SHARP SO THE gAFFER CAN RETIRE TO THE BAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

C'mon the Vale.

Saturday 30th May - There will be two games. First up a wee challenge match between the Ship and WAGS and an Almondvale select, followed by a Challenge Match between Teams made up of former, current and some guest players. Everyone involved should be at Riverside Park for 1pm. 

Saturday 6th June - The 'End of Season' Do will take place in The Old Ship Inn with the Gaffer starting the Prize Giving at 8pm sharp. So be there in plenty of time.

Well let's get the game out of the way first. Good Luck to Roselea in the semi-final because they edged it. I am sure the scorer will say he meant to lob Stuart but then again Stuart shouldn't be getting lobbed on his line. They also wasted a couple of good chances and struck the bar late on but the Vale had chances but the final ball wasn't there. Some players plugged away and with the ball at the right feet in the second half then who knows. We had too many reactors and not enough creators today. That's pretty technical so I'll stop there.

Does anyone know the names of Trumpton Fire Brigade? I have checked the Roselea Team Sheet and none of them were on it. They could have been because they were obviously missing a few regulars. If that was the case then we had Chippy Minton and Windy Miller on the park. The latter being big Davie whose crossing was about as accurate as a P&O Ferry trying to get into Dover on a stormy day. The one ball in 100 he did get right ended up in a chance which disappeared into big Alfie's belly.

Roselea also gave the Vale a lesson in working a referee. There were one or two tasty wee encounters across the park. Nothing to call the SAS in for but the difference was that the opposition were far more experenced at working the referee. Call it street wise but we haven't got enough of it yet.

Anyway that is it for another season. Top Half of the Second and our first ever Trophy, and a good one at that with a couple of good scalps hanging from the handles. The thing is we are not solid enough as a squad to claim those scalps on a regular basis whether in Cups or a League. All the signs are onwards and upwards and I believe the whole squad is committed for the next push, next season. So if there any managers reading this, stop texting they have all signed. And of the players that have given verbal commitments they want to come, stick to that commitment, then we wil do okay.

Meantime on a sad note, that was the last game under the Almondvale name. It is just that though, just a name, a word, a few letters, and for the Countdown fans (Murrie!) 4 vowels and 6 consonants. Thats vowels, Alan not Bowels.

So the next couple of Saturdays need to be filled in. Next week (the 23rd) the whole squad will be at the Ship for the Annual Team photo, settle subs, sign next years papers, vote for players player, and have a few beers. The following week will be The Sponsors (and WAGS) against the Vale. Then the following Saturday (6th June) is the End of Season Do.

And finally the opposition today was Pugh, Pugh, Barley McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub with Kerso, Hutchy (2) and Captain Flak on the bench. Good luck in the semi's.

PS. C'mon the Vale.

After the early demise of Letham Utd, the long trip to Blair Atholl was to be the last league game of the season. It was a shame it had to be a mad rush effort on a Thursday night and not a more relaxed day out on a Saturday followed by a couple of sherries in the Roundhouse. So mad rush it was and it was just as well the kick off was knocked back to 7.

With one eye on Saturday's quarter final it was always going to be difficult to get anyone excited about this one, and playing against a team already relegated on a lovely sunny end of season evening added to the snooze factor. Having said all that, the gaffer tried his best to get some effort out of the team with an eye on finishing as high as possible. After this game we sit 5th and have finished only 3 wins off what would have been a promotion spot. It is easy from this perspective to look back and think 'what if' but you cant help yourself thinking that. That said every team will be doing the same thing. If you had offered me top half of the league and our first ever Cup win at the start of the season I would have been delighted to take it. And I am not forgetting the small matter of a quarter final re-match against Roselea this Saturday. I am sure they will be looking to exact revenge so it will require a big effort from everyone to extend the season beyond this game.

So c'mon the Vale. I am up for it. It is too early to finish the season.

And for the record it deserves mentioning a tidy little hat-trick by Scott Philips finished off with a neat strike from the edge of the box.

It looks like Letham United played their last game of this season (and maybe ever) against us in the Cup Final. If that is the case then it is a very sad end to a Club. Hopefully someone will pick up the pieces. Clubs folding does nobody any favours and I heard a rumour that both Gateway and Perth Royale will struggle to finish the season far less start next season.

On our own front, there is training this Monday at 6.30 at Riverside Park with the potential of a game away to Star of Atholl on Thursday and a Consolation Cup Quarter Final on the Saturday. Comrie host Roselea on Tuesday and I reckon we are at home to the winners.

The Prize Giving and Do by mutual players agreement is on Saturday 6th June. More Details to follow. The Gaffer will take texts now for Players Player votes. Give it some thought please. It has been a long season and there are many good candidates for many good reasons.

Also all season subs must be paid up to date by the end of the month. If not 6th June might not happen. Seriously.

It would be disrepectful to say Bridgeton couldn't be arsed, because there were some who could, but following on from the Vale Cup win, the fact it was pissing down and several I think would rather have stayed at home (or in the Pub?) on both sides, having already put the kick off back to suit folk watching the Old Firm game, it was always going to be difficult to get up for this one, so this was never going to be a classic.

Davie Stewart beat a very highly lined defense offside appeal and knocked it past the keeper inside a couple of minutes. He was taken out and on many other days the result would have been a straight red. It was yellow, and a free kick from which nothing came. Vale however tried to push the ball about and by half time had stretched away with a three goal advantage. It was difficult to control the ball and it zipped away on the greazy surface frustrating both sides.

The second half became a long stretched out slog with a couple of chances for the opposition which if they hadb een taken might have given them a wee spark and on the flip side the Vale had chances which they squandered. A couple of enforced changes through injuries to Kris Sime (just back from suspension and Davie Simpson) gave the President a run out along side Craig in the middle, with Toons just about making the hour mark before also making way.

For the record the goals were scored by Davie's Simpson and Stewart and Lammy.

Nevertheless it means we have another quarter final. If my calculations are right then it will be against Comrie or Roselea.next Saturday. 

Love Is A Burning Thing
And It Makes A Fiery Ring
Bound By Wild Desire
I Fell Into A Ring Of Fire

Neil Ritchie rises high at the back for the first

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

Scott Philips misses a penalty

But makes amends two minutes later to make it two

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

Mark Townsley rounds the keeper for three

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

Letham peg the lead back to two

Before Lammy makes it four

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

Letham implode, a man is sent off

Before Toons makes it five

LetThe Taste Of Love Is Sweet
When Hearts Like Ours Meet
I Fell For You Like A Child
Oh, But The Fire Went Wild 

A toons hat-trick makes it six

And Letham go down to nine

 
I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

The Vale have won their first Cup

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

To The Ship to celebrate

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

Friday was a mystery but the memory of the game will live forever

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

And It Burns, Burns, Burns

The Ring Of Fire 

C'mon the Vale

To continue in the current theme of rollercoasters and the like, this game was the cups and saucers ride at Magic Kingdom which just occasionally reached the giddy, edgy pace of Buzz Lightyear. This was a no win effort where it was never going to reach the pace and effort of the previous St Johns and Roselea encounters but the job still had to be done.

On a sunny day, on the smaller pitch against a side with nothing to lose the Vale huffed and puffed and had to wait to the second half to go ahead through a Lammy penalty, gained through his own efforts.

Meigle deservedly got one back but once the Vale woke up and passed the ball about, they eased away with three more goals. Two for Scott Philips and one for Kenny Morrison - his first goal, his first booking, and a full 90 minutes.

So 4 - 1 it finished,

ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

THIS SATURDAY WE ARE NOW PLAYING AT HOME TO MEIGLE IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE CONSOLATION CUP.

THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER FIXTURE BEFORE THE CUP FINAL ON THURSDAY 7TH MAY.

Here we go again, with those Rollercoasters and nerve-racking, white knuckle ride kind of things where the only thing worse is being left in the shower with 'The Predator' and a blister on your foot. This was Dueling Dragons, Hulk and Kracken in the one eveniing. The St Johns game was a distant fluffy pussycat memory of toasted marshmallow proportions. This was play the best team in Perthshire last season and still one of the best on the back of a solid win against this season's long time front runners and defy the odds and suggestions of fluke results. This was play the game with limited team selection options. 14 players unavailable for a whole variety of reasons and start with 6 changes from the team that beat St Johns. I am sure that Roselea were suffering to a similar extent and the added ingredient of midweek madness never knowing who might turn up on time added to the fun.

In the tradition of 'They started brightly'-------------------it was Roselea.

In terms of the Vale set up, this was expected and the plan was to soak up a bit of this and look for something from set pieces and the break at pace. This all seemed to work. A bit of luck and a bit of good football engineered a one goal lead for the Vale through Mark Townsley on the end of good wing play. Roselea pressed, attempted to dominate the game with physical presence, and experience but it was the home side who led at half time.

Roselea again came at the Vale, and the shape of the home side was tweaked by the Gaffer who had limited options. The home side had a huge chance to double their lead on 70 minutes but Mark Townsley was seconds behind connecting with a drilled Lammy cross. Even then the Gaffer and Murrie looked at each other and thought this may cost dearly. With 10 minutes to go a wee bit of sleepiness crept in and the game was level.

Extra Time was now required.

The bookies must have wondered what the hell, because it was the Vale who edged ahead again with the combination of Lammy and Toons to the fore with the latter volleying a smart wee cross from the former into the net. The visitors pulled back again when a goal mouth scramble of epic proportions was poked home.

Surely this time the experience of Roselea would come to the fore but no, despite clattering the bar and other chances they could not convert them and with minutes to go Craig Hurrel had the Gaffer climbing the fence in frustration when he managed to shin a chance from two yards over the bar.

I have always believed you will always get one more chance but to be honest thought that was it, but there was to be one more. With a minute left the Vale got a corner. Scott Philips would later claim that he was trying to score with his inswinger. He didn't but Neil Ritchie came in at the back post and nodded the winner.

Vale are in their first ever Final. Some may say it is only the Perth and District Cup but to get their with the scalps of St Johns and Roselea has to count for something A huge amount of respect to Letham Utd for getting there at the expense of Letham and I am sure both Teams will put on a good show. Is this one of those Finals they bizarrely call the 'family final' or some sort of nonsense when none of the 'big' teams make it. Nah!! I dont think so. Roll on the Final. Good Luck to both Teams. But........................................................c'mon the Vale.

I was never a fan of rollercoasters, and absolutely hated the Waltzers. Come to think of it. Do you still get the the Waltzers?

If you ever get one of those then the least of your worries is losing by the odd goal to Burrelton. I went to update the web-site and got this message followed by loads of bells and whistles and a burning toast smell. It was not pretty.

Normal service has been kind of resumed through a different computer but you need to be patient.

The midweek madness continued.

Meeting players in the dressing room for the first time, checking the watch every minute, on the phone constantly for three days to try and get a team together is not the most ideal preparation for a match that still, maybe just maybe, counted towards a third place finish. In most seasons this would be falling short but there is still a possibility that 3rd will be a promotion spot because of the continuing saga over Coupar Angus. That said, in any other season finishing third might be seen as an indication you are not quite good enough to be promoted particularily into the first division.

If you had asked me at the start of the season (our fourth in existence) having just arrived in the Second Division we would be sitting third with four games to go (albeit having played more games than other contenders) but nevertheless with a wee chance of promotion I would not have taken you seriously. That is not meant as any criticism of the squad that have since worked very hard both at training and on match days to achieve what we have so far this season. Perhaps it is a criticism of myself more than anything in not assembling a strong enough squad to cope with the injury and unavailability problems we have had of late. Add to that the players that have left the Club for one reason or another.

The season is not over. We have still to play Burrelton this Thursday fighting for promotion, followed by Letham United and Star of Atholl both fighting for survival. We will endeavour to win all three games no matter the outcome for the opposition. We owe to ourselves and the Club's reputation to win all three games, and finish as high as possible in our first season in the Second Division.

There is also the small matter of St Johns at home in the Perth&District Cup next Thursday.

And the Consolation Cup.

It is after midnight now and am here with a laptop, my easter egg a large glayva and ice watching man utd scrape past sunderland wondering as a Liverpool supporter 'what the fu**?'.

It took me back to the car park at Jeanfield on Thursday night signing lads so we could put a team out on the saturday against St Johns. The mixture of Easter Holidays, Injuries and the Gaffer chucking some out of the club meant it was a last man standing job today. Then we lost our keeper 30 minutes before kick off because of a sudden family bereavement it puts a touch of perspective on the game but nevertheless you know it is going to be tough.

I feel for guys who today tried their best but on days like today you need a team performance across the park, a bit of luck and being able to look behind you on the sidelines and pickout a gamechanger. No disrespect but there wasn't one.

We were beaten by the better side on the day.

C'mon the Vale.

Bridgeton 3 The Vale 4

Let no-one doubt the spirit that runs through this Team. They do have their moments of bitchiness, bu those are usually borne out of frustration because they are always trying to play for the cause. Tonight the Referee sent off Ross Clunie after 8 minutes for striking out at an opponent. He completely missed the fact that it was a reaction to the opposition player standing on the side of his face. That is the fourth player the same referee has sent off in five of our games this season.

The Vale had sprinted out of the blocks and before Bridgeton could stop for breath they were two down. In two minutes Mark Townsley chased down a ball back to the keeper, won possession and prodded the ball home from a couple of yards inside two minutes, then Scott Phillips struck home from a narrow angle to make it two after 4 minutes.

Then the red card, and the need to change the shape slightly with Toons up front on his own for the rest of the half. That had not been the plan, but credit to him for a big effort in only his second start of the season.

Then Bridgeton were awarded a penalty. there was nothing in what was interpreted as a nudge in the back but you could also say Fraser Stewart stood his ground and the boy bounced off him. Stuart Simpson got a hand to it but it was 2 - 1. The home side drew level on 35 minutes, with a free kick which Stuart will be disappointed with. So half time 2 - 2.

Toons came off and Davie Stewart no longer burdened with carrying an uneccessary load of toys which he now leaves at home on match days pushed on up front to take over the lone striker role. Stevie Douglas came on to put in another solid shift in the middle. So much for easing him and toons back into things. 10 minutes in and the Vale went ahead again when a ball knocked back in again was met by Fraz who benefited from a defence that should have come out and left him stranded offside. They didn't and he nodded the ball neatly (well kind off of his shoulder and bit of ear) into the top left hand corner.

Kris Guild as usual in the thick of the action eventually had to admit defeat and hobbled off with sore ribs which he had been nursing towards the end of the first half. The Shag Star, Neil Sorrie camon and filled in at the back. Remember he played in goals on Saturday. Nothing fazes him.

Incredibly the Vale extended their lead when Kris Sime broke through the middle when the home side were pushing up a very high line. He had a very long run before a one on one with the keeper whereupon he drilled the ball home into the bottom left corner. Actually he sclaffed it and it took a long time to cross the line but it counted and would turn out to be very important because Bridgeton pulled one back with ten minutes to go. In near darkness the ball was struck across the box and met at the far post and put in to the back of the net. The only person that didn't see that fact it was a hand ball was the ref. Even the gaffer from 60 odd yards with his dodgy eyesight saw it. The home side could only smile, and rightly take the goal. We would have. The sclaff therefore became very important.

With Bridgeton loading up with more players up front there was some tremendous last ditch efforts in defense and a great run out of defence by Davie Simpson who had come on for Drew Macdiarmid the length of the pitch which ended in a corner in the dying seconds.

I have pretty much mentioned everyone but not wee George. Lammy plugged away down the unfamiliar territory that is the left midfield not because he likes it there but because his attitude typifies the team spirit on the night. When asked he will play anywhere without question and put in a shift.

It would have been a travesty if we did not take something out of this game, and the victory has left just a wee chink of light at the end of the promotion race tunnel. It may turn out that the light is a match being held by wee man who can't hold on to it much longer but the Vale will work away doing what they can.

With time added on we played 94 minutes, and 86 of those with ten men.

As Fergie would say. The Gaffer was pwoud, vewy vewy pwoud of his boyz.

Oh and Johnny G will have to explain to the beaks his summary of the ref's performance which the referee took exception. Strange because he didn't seem to take exception to similar language from others. 

All players should check the fixture list for the next few weeks.

In summary -

Tuesday 7th April - Away to Bridgeton

Thursday 9th April - Training

Saturday 11th April - Away to St Johns

Tuesday 14th April - Away to Wolfhill

Thursday 16th April - Home to Burrelton

Saturday 18th April - No Game

Monday 20th April - Training

Tuesday 21st April - No Game

Thursday 23rd April - Home to St Johns

And yes I know we have a daft bit where we play Tuesday, Thursday and then have no game until the following Thursday. I appealed and even asked for a free day on the Thursday but was refused by the Match Secretary.

The Annual Race Night is taking place on Saturday 2nd May in the Old Ship Inn.

The first race will start at 7.30 sharp.

Please support this fundraising event.

The Annual Prize Giving and Knees Up is on Saturday 6th June in the Old Ship Inn

More details nearer the time.

With a load of games coming up and a chance to bring back players that have been out for a while with injuries, and a wee breath of fresh air required after last weeks abysmal performance, there were changes made. Some took it better than others and understood the Gaffer's logic and appreciated the bigger picture. Others reacted like big prima donna teddy bears and threw toys all over the place. Nobody was impressed.

Mark Townsley came in for his first start of the season. He has had a difficult time of it, struggling to get back from the injury and having to work a lot from away from home but he has worked hard at training (when he could make it) and hopefully will have got a wee taste for the game and the Vale cause again. He delivered the goods, gave a good half and tucked a goal in the net. Hopefully there is more to come from him.

Stevie Douglas made only his second start of the season having also struggled to get back to match pace fitness along with the wee edge needed to commit to the cause. Again he put in as good a shift as could be expected over the first half, and was honest enough say he can do better but he shouldn't knock himself completely because he provided some quality 'out ball' when it was asked for.

The Shag-Star had to pull on the goalie jersey because of the failure to trap of Garry Stephen who had promised to turn up. What was the Queen tune again? Another one bites the dust! Sorry but no time for no shows. End of Vale career!

To the game - bright enough start and following a wee scramble in the box the ball broke to Kris Sime who hit a thunderous volley from 10 yards into the top right corner. (He paid me to call it 'thunderous' - a pint please Kris).

The Vale went two up in 10 when good play by Scott Phillips down the right was finished with a lovely wee cross away from the keeper and met by Mark Townsley at the back post. That's what good strikers do, toons. The hardest ones are those from a couple of yards because it is the art of poaching - good to see him back on the scorecard.

By half time the Vale were three up from a well flighted cross met by Fraz Stewart to cap another solid performance by our youngster - nice one Fraz!

It had to happen of course and the Vale who started the second half brightly and could have extended their lead had a daft wee spell. Drewski edged the yellow jersey with a looney toon moment and gifted the visitors a goal. He knows what. Then to be fair Kinrossie with their tails up a wee bit grabbed a second with a well taken free kick.

Steady the ship tactics were required and we did this and got the pace of the game back again. Scott Phillips who had moved up front worked some good interplay to grab a couple and take his tally so far to 18. The first involved Drew making amends for his blooper with a nice through ball for Scott's first. You can argue the other was an og but I don't do them so 18 it is.

So end result 5 - 2 but the mid-week games start now and all the craziness of trying to get a team on the park at kick off time.

You can accuse me of only singing or writing when we are winning if you want but I cant be arsed writing about what has to be our worst team performance since we lost to Burrelton way back in September.

A strong wind against in the first half causing problems.

The ball bounces. Guildy heads it up and above and beyond Stu who was caught half way between.

5 minutes gone. One nil down.

Couldn't get going.

Dug our way back into the game without getting any reward.

Drew up ends a lad a couple of minutes before half time. The penalty strike is ballooned over the bar. We are still in the game.

Wind behind in the second half. Got on the front foot but Alyth to their credit shut up shop well. Their keeper had some saves to make. He had a safe pair of hands and most strikes were straight down his throat. It was one of those games where we could have played for another day or so and not scored or got an early goal and went on to score several.

So we lost by an own goal and Alyth not having a single strike on goal.

Even though Stanley got beat again, it now leaves us 8 points off the top, with Burrelton still having games in hand. There was a wee glimmer of promotion hopes but that is pretty much extinguished. That said, the Vale will soldier on and I am sure still shape the end of the season.

I sat looking at a blank screen for half an hour trying to find the words for this weeks match report. It is not easy because the score suggests that Vale humped Fairfield. And to a large degree and not to disrespect Fairfield's efforts, it was a solid victory which Vale overall never looked like losing. But like a lot of results like this, you have to scratch below the surface and deconstruct the game into key moments which made up the overall result. When you do that it is possible to see that Fairfield had chances to take something out of the game. That said, the Vale dealt with the pressure and eased the pressure by increasing their lead when they had to.

Add to that several versions of interpreting the referee's performance and you never know what might have happened.

The Gaffer's options in picking a squad were fairly straightforward. Dave Simpson, Drew Macdiarmid and Stevie Douglas all made themselves unavailable so there had to be three changes in the squad from last week's draw at Pitlochry. So in came Dav, Toons and a jersey for Craig who has been training with us for the last month or so. It demonstrated however unintentionally an attacking plan by the Gaffer as he started with three strikers on the bench, and some tweaks to the formation with one surprise with Blair handed the No.9 jersey.

With a strong wind behind them the Vale got right into their stride and took all the good things from training into the game. Within 15 minutes they were three up through goals by Lammy, Blair and Scott and a Fairfield defence at sixes and sevens trying to cope with Blair as a target and various options being fed off him. Fairfield who had been absolutely knocked out of their stride had to shake themselves up and showed signs of why they are a hard side to beat and had a couple of chances just wide of the post at two down and then three down with good pace being shown by the young lad Gilruth up front, before they were awarded a penalty. The ball glanced backwards struck Shaggy on the arm. He was really unlucky. Stu pulled off a superb save. And again. A superb save from the on-coming striker on the rebound followed  by do or die defending by Shaggy to clear the danger.

 Vale went a further goal up with Blair's second. and had to be well pleased with their efforts to go into the break four goals up. You had to think Fairfield would come at the Vale in the second half even more so with a strong wind behind them. So the tactics had to change and the plan was to take the sting out of the game. To a large extent this is what happened. Although the home side got another penalty. I thought Del got the ball but hey ho. It was one of the Gaffer's old players, Noeley who slotted home to reduce the deficit to three. As the home side pushed they took more chances at the back and Scott added another. Late on Fairfield who were playing route one into a loaded box from every set piece got a second but Scott who had gone quietly about his business all afternoon got his hat-trick to make the final tally 6. It could have been more and Dav, Del and Scott all had good chances but lets not be greedy.

I would imagine there is a Rules of Journalism, and somewhere in there will be one which states 'Don't do Match Reports the morning after a night on the sauce'.

I would also imagine the reason is because you therefore cannot remember half of the game or in anyway make sense of the other half. In a funny kind of way it sums up the game. In bits forgettable and in other bits making no sense.

I will fill the rest of this report with random recollections of the day which started with the amazing sight of a whole squad meeting on time and the effects of back to back wins for all to see.

To Pitlochry.

Goalkeeping Dilemna. Garry. Solid performance last week following Stuart's late call off. Stuart the regular number one.

Problem solved. Garry complains of calf strain.

Stevie Douglas in the squad. Getting the fitness back. Getting the taste for a game back.

Overcast. A huge pitch. I think it is actually too big. A constant drizzle which gets heavier as the game goes on.

Surface not bad though. Except for the long jump pit in the middle. Seriously it is a long jump pit.

Atholl better start. Re-cycling the ball across the park better.

Take the lead. Not clearing our lines. Defence fell over.

Picky refereeing. Not many breaks.

Gaffer says he will be happy with one down at half time.

Atholl make it two nil. Again not clearing out from defence gifted the ball, too much space. Long range punt. Stu knows he should have done better. Caught on his heels.

We pick up the pace of the game and finish the half brighter without taking chances created.

Second half we are now in the game but continue to waste half and full on chances.

Gaffer has said many times that every player on the team sheet is vital to the game. A player may play only ten minutes but be the most important player on the day.

20 minutes to go. Davie Simpson on for Davie Stewart. Straight swap.

10 minutes to go. Blair up front as a target. Shaggy on for Rossko. Draw Del in through the middle. Back 3.

8 minutes to go. Stevie Douglas on for Lammy. Now playing 3-4-3.

The game is now pressed in to home last third.

Take Chances at the back one on one defending.

Two Goals. Back to Back. Stevie Douglas on to the loose ball from 8 yards. And Blair from a similar distance. He later assures me as the story matures the distance will not stretch but the level of skill might. And Scotty P has paid me to say he assisted in both.

A couple of hairy moments at the back. Tired Legs and a dodgy almost back two.

In time added on, the gaffer heads of on a Murinho'esque run up the touch line after watching a Del left footed curving strike which had goal written all over it before it was touched round the post.

It seemed like a win. It was certainly not a defeat.

Rabbits!

The problem with the pitch at Dunkeld is that it struggles to free itself from a winter of wetness only for the rabbits to arrive when it starts to dry out. The evidence of their early spring tunnelling contributed to the Vale's nervous start with a few burbling wee bouncing passes in defence and midfield who were trying to settle into a passing game when actually the big punt was required. So it was the home side who had the brighter start with some early indications of the solid defending the Vale would require as the game developed.

Once we strung some passes together however we came into the game and Del and Davie started to get the width from the better ball out. Lammy and Scotty P dictated the required urgency from the front and pressed for the ball all the time. It was from this that Vale took the lead in 25 minutes through a strike from Scott which took a big deflection off the defender and forced a reaction save from the keeper. He did well but could only parry the shot for Lammy to tap home from a couple of yards. Vale with their tails up could have extended their lead with a strike off the bar by Lammy and some good crosses which troubled the home defence. They did however extend the lead 10 minutes later with a nice through ball met by Scott who neatly slotted passed the keeper.

The two - nil lead was shortlived when Blair was penalised on the right edge of the box at the bye-line for 'obstruction' in his efforts to usher the ball out for a goal kick. It was a bizarre decision and later explained by the ref who said it would have been okay if Blair had not stepped back into the player. I still don't get it because all he did was stand his ground. The result however was Vale went into the half-time break 2 -1 up.

It was important that Vale kept up the pace and did so into the second half. On 55 minutes Lammy got on to a nice pass and was bundled off the ball inside the box. The Gaffer maintained his tradition of admiring the scenery whilst Kris Sime slotted home the Vale's third.

We defended very well and dealt with a series of long balls in from free kicks and corners as the home side increasingly loaded up the front of their attack. This left them exposed at the back and the Vale had various opportunities to extend the lead. Lammy at one point knows he should have lifted the head and spotted Scott in space. He struck at goal at the narrower angle and did nothing to smooth the Gaffers increasing cigar intake. Davie Stewart latched on to a ball and from a good thirty yards caught it on the half volley. It was a very good save by the keeper who touched it around the post.

Into the last few minutes and a solid keeping display was nearly marred when Gary dwelled on a back pass in an effort to show off his dribbling his skills. He got away with it and knows the Gaffer will be discussing this tactic further.

A minute into injury time and the home side got one back. This was followed by the Gaffer doing Rafa impressions slappimg his watch and waving at the Ref.

It wasn't required and the Vale had the win.

Horrendous wind, with an icy edge. No. That's not the Gaffer after the game although it might have been. 

I seem to start every match report with the phrase, 'The Vale started the brighter side................'

So.

Why change it.

The Vale started the brighter side and were one up in 5 minutes with a well taken free kick from the left edge of the box by Graham Watt.

To use another well worn phrase, 'the Vale should have been three or four up but failed to take chances created by good passing football'.

Let's go for the hat-trick of worn phrases.

They were punished for the missed chances, and a combination of poor defending 'across the team', and being unable to cope with the very strong wind. The Vale found themselves three - one down at half time through three long ball punts and not a lot else.

Again they started brightly but shot themselves in the foot when a nothing situation was not dealt with and the Kinrossie striker took full advantage to make it four - one.

The Vale (in my opinion) thereafter dominated the second half, spurned loads of chances but only managed one more goal. Ross Clunie got it from one of the many goal mouth scrambles that took place.

You would have to check but they may still be playing.

I would not put a lot of money on the score being any different than when I left.

Kinrossie 4 The Vale 2.

 It was not for the lack of effort or desire to get the game on but there was no way the pitch was going to be playable. So the right decision was made - game off - pitch frozen.

That said, there followed a good training session with the whole squad putting in a shift. A clear winner for the yellow jersey and a clear winner for the cross-bar challenge. Congratulations to Dave Stewart and Kris Sime.

And the gaffer beat Murrie in the penalty shoot out. Hee Hah.

The weather has turned to our advantage. Whats this? A game of football two weeks in a row, and with the sun coming out it was almost a shame we didn't take the barbecue.

Again the Vale were down to the minimum because of suspensions, injuries and work commitments, and a late, and I mean late call up for the new keeper when Stuart Simpson couldn't cope with the combination of sunshine, and the atmosphere of these northern climes and went down with a last minute bout of swamp fever.

It might be possible to suggest it was the sunshine that brought him out, but I think it was some crazy detox plan from somewhere in his back catalogue of scud jotters, but the Looney Toon days were back again. Mark Townsley got his kit off and pulled on the jersey for his (first) appearance of the season. Albeit he warmed the bench for a good chunk of the day.

I think the Vale started the brighter and had early chances amongst which Rossko should have done better if only he had realised the time he had to shift the ball to his right foot. On 35 minutes, it might have looked a fairly soft penalty but you could also argue it was a credit to Scooty P who drew the tackle in although he then didn't make a meal of it. Deano stepped up and slotted home his first goal of the season.

Rossko made amends on the stroke of half time with a well placed strike to the bottom right hand corner.

Early in the second half - never take a lend of dafties - someone tell the keeper where the ball is. ITS BEHIND YOU!!!! IN THE NET!!!.

Okay we will give him that one to even up the other wise solid display. And we won which made it funny.

On 60 minutes, Lammy crossed or struck the ball into the top left corner. You Choose!

On 85 minutes, Lammy made it 4 - 1 with a header/falling into the ball sort of thing from a half decent cross. Game Over. Not before two things happened. Deano missed a penalty after Lammy had been brought down. And.....................................

Toons made an appearance. To be fair he had two good bits of play in his ten minutes, but would be the first to admit a sharper Toons would have done better and stretched the score even more. A wee taste of what could be for him. Spare a thought for wee Sean G who came on late up front never got a touch although would have if Toons had squaed the ball to him in front of an open goal. Mind you Toons had been on the park for ten minutes. A long time without his medication.

You never know maybe we will see Stevie Douglas this season again. Are you reading this ya auld Arab?

And the animals went in two by two.....................................

I am not sure which is worst - sitting about waiting for a game or enduring horrendous conditions which went well beyond a lottery only to get a game. I would imagine under any other circumstances where both teams were not in desperate need of a game, any game, then this one might have not gone ahead. I would say that of course because we lost. 3 - 1 to two late goals in a game where we had enough chances to win it. To be fair, the conditions under foot were not to bad, although in some places no player was moving with great confidence.

Brig started the brighter, Vale came into it. Brig took the lead, and Vale equalised. Not before missing the several chances to do so. The scorer, well we will give it to David Simpson.

The second half saw the worst of the weather, when the rain arrived in bucket loads, and in horizontal lines. It stretched the game with neither team able to lift the heads without running the risk of being blinded permanently by the driving rain needles and play much football. With Vale having the wind at their backs they should have made better of it but it was Brig with 10 minutes to go, and the horrible thought of another 30 minutes looming who got their sodden noses in front. They added another to seal the game. The Stuart one of Simpson clan will not class that one in his memoirs.

Plus points - No injuries. A game under the belts. Some good performances particularily by players getting more of a run because of injuries and suspensions. and one less game into those suspensions. And finally no more red cards from a ref who has not missed us recently when dishing out the cards.

Almondvale 2 Wolfhill 2 The Referee 3

Sorry folks but that is all you are getting this week. Wolfhill posted a reasonably fair account of the game, I am told because I wasn't there. I was lording it up in old London town.

There hasn't half been some pish written about our games recently and it has always been something that I have tried to rise above and will continue to do so. Although the reports on this web-site will always be ever so slightly biased to the Vale, they will try to be reasonably fair.

The PA had us 'rejuvanated' but 'dominated' last week. The Ammie web-site said we had pre-season title aspirations. Neither true. In fairness the paper only reports what it is told by whoever supplies the reports.

The Vale aspirations this year are to continue in an upward direction but the gaffer is no doubt that it is not a sensible aim to think it can be achieved overnight. I recall Bill Bennett of St Johns telling me it took them about 13 years to get out of the second. I hope to hell it doesn't take that long, but a degree of patience, and humility is required and both should be used to temper an absolute and determined ambition to be better, and maybe just maybe one of the best. If it doesn't happen then it won't be for the lack of effort.

So it was to todays game, where the Gaffer urged the team to show the same spirit and determination that had seen better performances of late.

There was a strong wind at the Vale's backs in the first half and although they didn't start with any great tempo or purpose, some good passing moves and off the ball running caught the Alyth defence flat and the Vale were two up inside 5 minutes through Scott Phillips and George Lamond getting his first for the club. Vale maybe should have stretched the lead further before they were gifted a penalty just before half time. It was a complete andrex moment by the ref but nonetheless a well taken effort by Kris Sime who had been the player seen by the referee to be 'up-ended!!!' and this made it 3 nil at half time.

The Gaffer urged caution at half time with the wind now against them and an away side who had to be smarting after the first half topped off by the penalty. To be honest they hadn't turned up and could only play better in the second half although that shouldn't take anything away from the Vale efforts.

As it was, the Vale struck again early into the second half through George Lamond getting his second to make it 4 nil. That should have been that and when the Alyth centre half lashed out out at Fraser Stewart and got a straight red the game was effectively over. A wee bit of the Vale 'canny play against 10 men' syndrome kicked in. This was helped by the ref evening things up for the Vale's first half penalty by gifting Alyth one. Stuart got a hand to it but the pace beat him. Then a few moments later a daft sleeping defensive moment narrowed the gap to two.

Unlike previous encounters against 10 men though the Vale got back into a reasonable stride and returned to pushing the ball about. A further goal by Scotty and a well met corner headed in by Guildy made it six.

Nothing to Fear said the title. Well what I meant by that is we having nothing to fear from anyone except ourselves. That is not to say we will not meet many other teams in the future who are better than us and we will lose other games but if we continue to try and play football which we did in parts today then we will do okay.

C'mon the Vale

I was going to call this piece the Muddy Cheesecake Blues but there isn't a tune with that title. It would have been a more appropriate one because the largest percentage of the surface at the Bowl was like this at the weekend. It never has been the best place for drainage and a bit of credit to Thistle for getting the pitch looking like it was playable. The ref spent a lot of time inspecting it and hummed and hawed chucking balls up in the air before deciding to let the game go ahead. It would be sour grapes to suggest otherwise but many refs would have decided other wise and the pitch will take a while to recover.

It was the home side who seemed to adapt to the conditions better in the early exchanges playing down the slope. Vale got into their stride and were matching Thistle with their own chances but it was the home side who struck first and then twice in a couple of minutes around the 40 minute mark. To be fair Vale had not coped well with the Thistle threat from good wing play but we should have done better with the ensuing crosses. So it was a deflated team that squidged and squelched off the pitch two nothing down at half time.

A couple of changes were made. One tactical. One Forced. Deano made way for Drewski with Rossko moving into a more comfortable berth in the middle of the game and Drewski sitting in his normal left back berth. Blair had to come off with the back problem that his dogged his season so far which was good news for Shaggy who slotted in at right back for a much deserved run out.

Of course this is the Vale web site so the version of events will always be from that perspective. That said, I think it is fair to say the Vale had the best of the play in the second half and had plenty of chances to get one if not three points out of this muddy waterey encounter. Dave Stewart did a lot of hard work in creating positions where goals should have come from it but he will be the first to admit he could have and should have scored two or three goals on top of the chances that could have come out of his efforts. Both Scotty and Lammie plugged away but neither had many clear cut chances.

You get days when a keeper can do nothing wrong and the Thistle keeper had one against us. He made saves from long range to point blank, some for the cameras, some for the end of season awards I would imagine but none for the Vale cause. His man of the match award on the Thistle web site was justified.

Thistle will be happy with the three points. Vale should be happy if nothing else but with the effort and spirit that remained right to the last kick of the game. On this performance we will win more than we lose........................................................with better luck, and no Thistle keeper.  

The Team is movin' on.

In terms of the Team's performance, it is movin' on in the right direction.

A game against Fairfield at any time is always going to be tough. On this occasion the Vale were on the back of a solid win against Star of Atholl and although a bit of momentum had been lost with the previous Saturday's game being postponed, the efforts and spirit at training during the week appeared to keep the momentum up.

Fairfield had an incentive that they would go top or thereabouts if other results went there way and they won and although they had some players missing through suspension, so did the Vale. Kris Guild was the acting 'Waterboy' for the day, and with others with work, university and other commitments, and the longer term injuries to others made a fair dent in the officially available squad number of 25. That said, new signing George Lamond (Lammie) was given the nod to see what he could do.

Then Graham Watt managed to tweak a hamstring before the game had even started. Yellow Jersey?

So to the Game.

The Vale started very brightly and could have been one up after two minutes when a Rossko effort clattered the bar, the rebound did the same and a further effort was blocked by the keeper. Lammie waited until 5 minutes in to show what he could do, when he sconned an effort from the edge of the box on to the bar. The rebound cleared the box on its way back out. It wasn't long before Vale got the first through Scotty Phillips when his pace caught the keepr out and his effort at a clearance was blocked by Scotty who walked the ball into the empty net.

Fairfield had a couple of chances and created some nervy moments in the Vale box but further goals by Kris Sime with a back post nod in from a Deano cross (?) and Del Mathieson with a cool slot home to finish good build up play made it 3 nil at half time.

The Gaffer's biggest job at the break was to get the team to take a deep breath and for him to take a long puff at a cigar. He smoked 5 during the game in total (!!!).

Fairfield are an organised side who never give up and were expected to come out fast in the second half but early on they went further down when Blair connected with a well flighted corner to kill the game off. Two goals from corners in two weeks. Who said practice doesn't work.

On 70 minutes Fairfield kind of imploded when they reacted to a foul. Fully Loaded Handbags were drawn and the outcome was one of their players shown a straight red and another a second yellow. Our bit was Deano getting a yellow but praise from the Gaffer for not reacting more than to hold on to his nuts which had just been booted. In fact I am not sure why he got a yellow card.

Anyway. The end result was 4 nil to the Vale. A very good result against a team who will have a big say in the league this year. Meantime we just need to keep training hard and work on playing and enjoying our football.

The usual prize to anyone signing the Guestbook with the correct band and song title.

Tay Thistle declared their pitch unplayable on the Thursday night and the Vale agreed to switch the tie to Riverside Park.

The Vale Groundstaff (?) were in early on the Saturday and although one of the goalmouths needed a bit of forking and a wee drop sand the rest of the pitch was in good condition with no sign of any standing water. 10 am - Game On.

It started to chuck it down about 11 and didn't stop. By 12 there were large puddles all over the pitch where the ground could take no more. Game Off.

What it did show was the pitch can take a fair amount of water  before it eventually becomes waterlogged. Neveretheless it was the right decision. Every effort was made to get the game on but to no avail.

Its that time again.

Time again to look out the lucky pants, the shagging shirt and the five bob sliders.

The Christmas Party is on Saturday 20th December at the Ship. More Details Later.

Following a good week of training where the spirit and effort was spot on, it was a pleasing outcome to see such a bright start to the game against Star of Atholl and the Vale found themselves three up after 25 minutes. It was one of those games where it may have gone either way. Star had no points and the Vale only one. Maybe its a bit early in the year to be talking about 6 pointers but it had that kind of feeling before the game. Either way the Gaffer made sure the squad knew the importance of getting a result and making the best of the fact this was the only 2nd Division match being played.

So. Three up after 25 minutes; two on 15 and 20 by Scott Phillips from albeit close in, but never the less firmly struck, and then a scrambled effort but no less important by Kris Sime. They were all examples of good build up play which in the last few games has ended with nothing but this was different. There was spirit and determination in the play.

Then a daft ten minutes and the score came back to 3 - 2.

A free kick, player not picked up, an unlucky bounce under Stuart.

A corner. Not set up to defend as well it should have been. That said, what followed was a clear foul on our keeper which was not seen that way by the ref.

Second Half and after 46 minutes Scott got his hat trick. A good release into space down the right, a drive into the box and a cool finish.

On 50 minutes, Kris Guild finished a well taken Del corner with a solid header.

John Tainsh struck the ball off the underside of the bar and the lack of a Russian Linesman meant the score stayed at 5 - 2.

He thought he got the last word with a solid strike from the edge of the box to make it six but he added some further comment with the ref who then got the last word by booking him.

Ross Clunie was getting closer with his efforts and after a superb low strike that skimmed past the right hand post he had the ball in the net only for the ref to blow the final whistle.

Some good passages of play, good quality finishing, a couple of defensive blips, but all in all the right result.

Star were poor, but the old saying is true. You can only play what is in front of you and then you still have to do the business.

The training at Auchterarder has been stopped.

As of now all training will take place every Monday and Wednesday under floodlights at our home grounds.

It will start sharp at 7pm so all players should be at the Riverside Park in plenty time to start at 7pm. If you arrive late then you will not miss any fitness training you will just have to make it up.

All players will attend. All players should come prepared with various layers of clothing and footwear.

It would also help greatly if players would settle their subs on a Monday rather than the Saturday habit that has crept in. Please!

If a player is injured he is still expected to turn up because there will be tactical discussions which they should not miss.

There is a squad of 25 players and non-attendance without a reasonable excuse will effect the player's chance of playing on the Saturday.

That is not to say there is a rigid policy that if you don't train you won't play. Players working, on holiday, or genuinely ill will still be considered but................

The Cow sat in her deck chair at the back of the opposition goals strumming away on the banjo that was handed to her by theVale because they didn't need it after failing to come close to scuddin her arse for most of the game.

And the first rehearsal for Christmas went well, and Vale of Atholl seemed quite happy with their presents.

They were not too greedy just taking two.

And Vale coped with a the bad news the Gaffer handed them at the end.

They never were going to win the Scottish Cup anyway.

Star of Atholl next week.

No Messing About

No Presents.

Banjo Practice and Scrooge Auditions start at 7pm on Monday.

Almondvale 1 Vale of Atholl 2

Josh Miller has moved on, fancying a return to Under 18/19's. Good Luck to him.

Dean Sinclair has signed for the Vale, Good Luck to us.

For all sorts of reasons , changes were made the trip to Pitlochry. From Del, Blair and Scotty carrying injuries to Fraz and Davie away on holiday it meant opportunities came up for other players to step up to the mark. And by and large evrybody did. There were positives on the day, Ross Clunie got out of his sick bed to play, Stevie Douglas made his first appearance since the pre-season set back to his ankle injury, new signing Dean Sinclair got a pleasant surprise and found himself in the starting 11 and it was also good to see Andy Sorrie, one of the Vale Originals back now that his Uni Life has settled back into a routine that frees him up for Vale duties on a Saturday. Last minute efforts to bolster the ranks from the Junior Level failed as the club would not release the player in time. The player and Vale are still keen so the next few days will hopefully sort that out.

So to the game. The Pitlochry pitch has always famously been a big bugger and with the consistent rain, and plenty growth it was always going to be a tough 90 minutes with fitness certain to be a factor. The local side maybe just edged the first few encounters with possession in the Vale half without much actual threat on goal but it was Vale who opened the scoring. They had threatened a couple of times, once involving a goal mouth scrambled clearance but a well weighted pass by Graham Watt through the inside right channel was latched on to by Davie Simpson who still had a little work to do. The keeper hesitated and Davie placed the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

Half Time - One - nil to the Vale.

The second half was a pretty even contest with both sides having good chances but Vale extended their lead when Graham Watt curled his free kick into the right side of the net from 25 yards. The home side should have scored almost immediately from close in and also hit the bar before a drilled strike was stopped by Stuart in goals but the striker was quickest to the rebound. 2 -1

The game was opening out and Vale had a couple of glorious chances to finish the game off. It was not to be and the accumulation of effort, soft ground, big pitch, injuries a bit of bad luck and to be fair the efforts of the home side meant with the almost the last kick of the game from a corner the home side equalised. The ref blew the final whistle staright from the restart.

So any plans to watch the Scotland v Norway game are now scuppered. Personally I couldn't care less. The Vale are more important.

The music - well I am disapointed in Shaggy and the Poussin who usually get them. But its there loss.

The first training session at the all-weather pitch at Auchterarder is on Tuesday 7th October 2008. All players must be there ready to start at 8.30pm.

Scotland v Norway

The Vale have a free day on Saturday 11th October, 2008.

There may be training that day followed by a duty parade at the Old Ship Inn for the whole squad to watch the game which has a 3pm Kick Off.

Dear Readers,

and I do mean both of you since I don't count myself or those that log on to look at the coloured pictures, or listen to the music.

First of all my apologies for not posting anything in the last couple of weeks. The web site was not taking updates for the first week, and then there was a little matter of me finishing up my job which bizarrely meant I was busier than I had been for ages. I was supposed to be winding things down but imminent departure was winding things (and mostly people) up.

Did you know that today is the anniversary of the first 'Bobbies' on the beat on London in 1829. That's Bobbies, by the way Murrie not Boabies which although some might suggest otherwise is subtedly different. And no I was not one of them.

Almondvale have played a couple of games.

First they lost 2 nil to Stanley/Dunkeld. They can have all the possession in the world, be consoled by spectators who say nice things about not understanding how they got beat but the bottom line will always be 'they got beat'. It will always be that way if the opposition take the chances presented to them through mistakes, through refereeing decisions or through their own endeavours. It will always be that way if we try to walk the ball into the net, or fail even from close range to strike the cows arse with a banjo.

Then on Saturday just past, Vale travelled to Alyth.

Considering the previous few weeks, the Gaffer would have walked away far happier even with a loss because the spirit was back.

The mistakes were less, but the refereeing decisions still influenced the outcome.

The cow even had to flinch a few times as the banjo got closer, and on one occasion made its eyes water.

Good football, good team spirit on the park, chances made, and okay some mistakes made but the team spirit remained. Even when the referee sent Blair off the team spirit remained. We dug in and levelled the game. Extra Time, away from home, crap weather, a picky referee, a biased home support (no argument there) and although we created chances, it was always going to be difficult. This time last year we never had a sniff at getting to the quarter finals of the League Cup. This year we did.

We are moving in the right direction. Some days it doesnt seem like it, but we are moving in the right direction.

Tomorrow is the 43rd anniversary of James Dean's death so in tribute I have backed this letter with a little tune that is kind of a tribute. If you have no idea who Jimmy Dean was then ask the President. He will know.

If you have read down to hear and can tell me the name of band and the song, the usual prize of a free pint is at stake

Of course you do realise that this is not the place for a completely unbiased opinion on any match that the Vale are involved in. If you want that then don't visit this web-site. That said, I think this was one of these games where given all things remained equal Vale might have got something out of it.

On the hour mark, big Fraz who had been drafted in at the last minute for Blair Mac who had pulled out with a back strain, was shown a straight red. He was deemed to have shown his studs in a tackle and gone through the other player. I think it was an incredibly poor decision (but then I would), but I do think it was extremely harsh and it did in all probability affect the result.

It was 3 - 2 Burrelton at the time. To be fair, Burrelton were playing well as a team, were organised and showing good fighting spirit, so they may have come out on top at the end of the day. The ref's decision on the hour mark did make it very difficult, and of course Burrelton took full advantage to go 2 up.

The Gaffer is offering a prize to anyone who can explain why we seem to have to almost suicidally wait until we are up against it before we pick up our game.

As expected, Vale did pick up their game and made life difficult for the home side, pulled a goal back but were always going to struggle to get anything out of this one.

One decision.

That is all it took.

Burrelton 5 Almondvale 3

Almondvale FC have accepted an invitation from Jeanfield Swifts Community Sports Club to take the slot that required to be filled for an amateur football side. This means that from now on the Vale's home will be at the Jeanfield complex off Bute Drive, in Perth where they have access to the changing facilities, space for training and a sound basis for future growth of the Club.

The Club retains its own Committee structure, its own finances and importantly the relationship with the Club sponsor, The Old Ship Inn is unaffected.

It means a move away from the North Inch and away from using St John's Rooms in Rose Terrace. Vale will always be extremely grateful to all of the lads at St Johns for making them so welcome and in particular thanks to Bruce McGregor and Bill Bennet.

How many roads must a man walk down, before they call him a man
How many seas must a white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand
How many times must the cannonballs fly, before they are forever banned

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

If you can make sense of that you can make sense of the game against Bridgeton.

Wind

Almost Unplayable.

Vale playing into it, but the better team.

It's niggly. There are early bookings. David Stewart again needing the last word. Kevin and Perry all over again. Kris Sime with not his best challenge of the season.

A first goal of the season for Josh. Hoorah! He needed it.

Bookings for Bridgeton and two for the same player. Ten Men. Scotty P is getting booted about the park.

End of Half. Wind drops. There's a surprise.

More niggles. The Ref stops the game. Says he has had enough.

United Nations. Game Starts.

Vale get a penalty. Last Man, Nine Men. Penalty Saved.

Unthinkable. Two Minutes to go. Penalty to Bridgeton. Stuart gets a hand to it but it creeps in off the post.

A draw. Felt like a drubbing.

Everyone there and those not there need to ask themselves what they have contributed and can contribute, and what they want out of this club because today was simply not good enough.

On paper there is a squad of 24 players, today I struggled to put 14 out.

First Day at the Big School.

New Boys, full of enthusiasm and expectations, but fortunately with no sign of Coach Murrie wearing grey flannel shorts and a school blazer.

A good run in the League Cup section with three wins on the trot against fellow division 2 sides gave some indication that the Vale would able to compete and that is how it turned out in this first encounter with some folks pre-season 2nd division favourites. It was however the Pitlochry team who edged it and I am sure would be cheering all the way back up the A9 and may even feel they nicked what might have been more like a draw.

Although Almondvale had their chances throughout the 90, had started brightly and struck the woodwork a couple of times, they just couldn't make anything of the chances they were either presented with or created. That said, although they had plenty possession but the final 'quality' delivery was not there . The lone goal came from a well struck free kick which was matched by a well crafted save by Stuart Simpson. He was justifiably annoyed to see the ball come off the post back on to him and into the path of the Vale striker.

If somebody out there wants to make a lot of money then they could by writing a book entitled, 'How to get a squad togther and then aTeam out on to the pitch, ready and prepared for a game during the week, and maybe do a job during the day'. The Club Uniform for the game away to Alyth was on average dungarees/workies trousers, big clumpy bitts with the odd shirt and tie thrown in. It was a subtle blend of mystery, luck and some organised planning that put a Vale Team out in time for the kick off at 6.45 with the Gaffer holding on to the team lines as long as possible to make sure what went went out could do the job and that a little bit was held in reserve.

It was probably a bit of this pre-match rush and also perhaps a little bit of over-confidence spilling over from the excellent display on the Saturday but Vale did not start the way they left off from the Star game. Alyth were organised and although they did not pose a huge amount of threats on the Vale Goal, they did take an early lead through one of their few chances. That said, Vale created even fewer chances in the first half and had to take a positive approach at half time in that they were only 1 nil down and had not played well as a team.

They started to pick up the pace in to the second half and got the equaliser through a Del in swerving free kick met well by Neil Ritchie. Vale went to sleep a short time later and went a goal down again. To add to the pressure Kris Guild was sent off for a second bookable offence. Not one of his best tackles but with no hint of malice.

So with 30 minutes to play things did not look good. The Gaffer had toyed with a back three just before Kris got sent off but events dictated a rethink.

One of football's mysteries is the effect on a team when they lose a man. On this occasion it seem to give Vale the kick up the proverbial they were needing and their tempo changed. It produced an early result when Davie Stewart's cross took a subtle deflection, wrong footed the keeper and Vale were equal again.

With ten minutes to go the Alyth defence got themselves into a hellish mess assisted by determined and presistent closing down by Dav Lynch and Scott Phillips to such an extent one of the defenders undercooked a pass across the back line which was intercepted by Davie Simpson who deserves credit for slotting home what would turn out to be the winner.

Vale defended well for the last ten minutes and rode their luck a couple of times but the win was theirs, and at least a play-off slot in the League Cup guaranteed. 

Vale started brightly 'doon the slope' at Blair Athol and were moving the ball across the park well. They took the lead in 10 minutes when Del Mathieson found himself in space through the middle and tucked the ball away nicely. Vale had several chances to increase their lead but paid the penalty for a daft wee slip up on 30 minutes and they were pegged back at 1 -1. Into the second half and Vale continued to plug away with some good passing moves from back to front. They took the lead through one of those moves with big Davie Stewart forcing his way into the right edge of the box and swinging in a cross....................................oh sorry it was shot on goal then Davie? Either way it beat the keeper. Vale then stepped up a gear and Star couldn't live with them. The game was sealed again through strong running by Davie Stewart finished with a cross dropped on to Scott Phillips' head on the 6 yard line. 3 - 1.

Not a great start to make an apology from the start but I have had trouble getting into the web-site that allows me to edit the Vale site.

But I am here now.

The story so far..............

Wolfhill 3 Almondvale 2

Excuses first. We had to give up home advantage because the North Inch was not ready. We then had three players suspended and a bunch of injuries from pre-season.

That said, we started brightly and were twice in the lead but we lacked the depth of squad in certain areas and therefore ran out of bite and steam in those areas. A few positives and an early indication of a tough season ahead.

Almondvale 4 Burrelton 3

Now we managed to get a game at home. That said, I can tell you even then it was a struggle to get the pitch ready in time.

Burelton started the brighter and deserved their lead on ten minutes. Vale got back into the game on 35 when Graham Watt shot from 25 yards into the bootm right corner. Honours even at half time. Burrelton then struck twice in ten minutes and should have been away and gone but all credit to the Vale for pegging them back firstly through Fraser Stewart up for a corner and then a superb edge of the box effort from Scott Phillips. With ten minutes to go Scott grabbed the winner and Vale with their tils up could have extended that lead and finished in high spirits.