Vale of Leven get season off to perfect start with Glenvale victory

Glenvale 1-4 Vale of Leven

Brian Brown hailed his Vale side as they got off to the new league season off to a dream start.

First-half goals from Greg Ross and Greg Thackrey had the Vale 2-1 up at half-time, with Martin Connolly and Ethan Furze on target early in the second-half to secure the win.

And boss Brian was delighted with his side’s showing against the Division Four champions.

He said: “The scoreline probably makes it look a wee bit easier than it actually was. Glenvale are a decent side who I fully expect to go on and have a pretty good season.

“So to get a 4-1 against such a strong team is something I’m really happy about.

“The goals early in both halves were a good sign, and I think we’ve got two early contenders for goal of the season in there as well. Greg Ross has scored a cracking strike and Martin Connolly scored a cracker from the edge of the box.

“We got the goals at good times with Glenvale scoring just before half-time. We got right at them from the start of the second-half. So I was really happy with all four.”

Vale took the lead with 11 minutes played as Greg Ross volleyed in Danny Paterson’s cross.

It was 2-0 when Greg Thackrey found the net from Ethan Furze’s cross, before Sean Daly pulled one back for the hosts just before half-time.

However Martin Connolly’s superb effort from the edge of the box restored the Vale’s two goal advantage five minutes into the second-half, before Ethan Furze found the net from a tight angle.

The match also saw popular defender Ross Gallacher make his 100th appearance for the club - with Brian full of praise for the academy graduate’s showings at Millburn.

He continued: “I’m really proud of Ross. He’s another great advert for the pathway we have at the club. He