Seaton strike earns Rossvale valuable win over promotion rivals

A goal after just three minutes was enough to settle the match in favour of Brian McGinty’s side.

Thorniewood forced Vale back early on and within two minutes fired a shot wide of the home goal.

But a minute later Seaton latched onto a short backpass and rounded keeper Barnes to score.

Higgins was the main danger man for Thorniewood and had an opening when a long ball caught Leadbetter and Doherty on their heels but his tame effort was straight at Donnelly.

At the other end a combination of passes between Osadolar and Forbes set up Baird but his effort was too high.

Baird had a chance to put Vale two up when he wad through on goal but his shot came off the feet of Barnes for a corner

Oslador the shot just over and Baird again closed in on goal to be denied by Barnes and Rossvale’s advantage remained 1-0 at the break.

Barnes was called into action again early in the second period, collecting a low O’Brien effort, before McGrath had an effort at the visitors’ goal blopcked for a corner.

McGrath came close again when some nice interplay by Osadolar and him up on the edge of the box but his shot was just wide.

Thorniewood had to try to push forward in search of an equaliser and substitute Bowie’s low drive from the left missed out everyone to sneak past the far post.

In the closing stages the Viewpark side threw a few of their taller players up front in the hope of getting some luck in front of goal.

However they were almost caught out when Krasniqi found himself one on one with a defender and managed to get in a shot but it wasn’t strong enough to trouble Barnes.

In stoppage time there was a scare for Vale when the ball broke to Bowie in the box but brave goalkeeping by Donnelly prevented any danger and Rossvale held on for a valuable three points.