30 Jul 2008 - Vale of Leven win friendly
Wednesday 30th July 2008 Pre season Friendly
Ardrossan Winton Rovers 2 – 4 Vale of Leven
Winton were dealt a serious blow in this game with the loss of player of the year Paul Brown to an Achilles injury. The home side were not at their best in this game but contributed heavily to their own downfall gifting Vale two goals in the second half.
The opening goal came in 5 minutes when their giant centre half steered a shot past O’Neill following a corner on the right and were on top in general in the first half giving the Winton defence a good work out. Winton did equalise in 25 minutes when McAvoy looked sharp to fire home. Vale missed out after this equaliser when a ball was missed by O’Neill but the visiting forward ran through and contrived to hit the post with the goal gaping. Winton lost Paul Brown to injury which is feared to be his Achilles heal when he went down after clearing a ball. Vale went on to go ahead on 70 minutes when a mistake was punished as a pass back was slowed as it hit a Winton defender allowing the Vale strikeforce to capitalise. On 82 minutes it was 3 -1 when a corner eluded the fingers of O’Neill and the ball was dispatched high into the net. Vale’s tails were up and they soon made it 4 when a glorious chip from 25 yards clipped the underside of the bar and the ball nestled in the back of the net. Winton’s best moment came at the very end of the game when Keir Milliken carved open the Vale defence and cut the ball back to Graeme Hamilton who slid the ball home.
Winton
O’Neill, Paton, Milliken,
Subs Monan,