Vale of Leven 1-0 Lanark United - Vale continue strong start to new season

Martin Connolly stepped off the bench to net the winner, as the Vale continued their impressive start to the season.

The winger’s strike, just five minutes after coming on as a substitute, secured a second win of the season for Brian Brown’s men - who have brought their fine form from the end of last season into the new campaign.

And the boss - who missed the club’s last two games due to a family holiday - was delighted to see his side make it three unbeaten.

He said: “It was a much tighter game than the last match I was at (the 7-6 defeat to Lesmahagow) but, to be fair, both teams had quite a few chances. Lanark had a few first-half especially. As did we through Ethan Furze who was denied by a couple of cracking saves.

“In the second-half it was one-way traffic. We could’ve made it look a wee bit more convincing, but I was happy.

“We’ve been sleeping for a lot of the goals that we’ve conceded. We said to the boys we needed to concentrate and make sure we’re switched on defensively.

“We kept them at bay and it’s good for big Evan Currie in goals to get his first clean sheet, as well as for the guys in front of him. The clean sheet is probably as important as winning the game.”

This week the Vale face a testing double header; as they travel to Port Glasgow on Wednesday evening, before making the long trip west to take on Campbeltown FPs in a Challenge Cup tie.

But the boss is looking forward to the challenge - and hopes the Campbeltown trip can continue to build the side’s strong team spirit.

He explained: “I’ve always struggled to get results against Port Glasgow, be that with the U21s or the juniors. So hopefully we can turn that around.

“There are always goals in the games, and we’re expecting a typically tough game.

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