Gers pick up full points

THIS wasn't a classic game by any standards but it was another valuable three points for Kilsyth.

Kilsyth had debutants Gary Livingstone and Keith Hogg, new signings from Linlithgow Rose, in their starting line-up.

Vale of Leven came close to opening the scoring in ten minutes when Brown's 22-yard free-kick was well saved by Duke.

Kilsyth then had a great chance on 34 minutes when McGinty headed wide from six yards.

The home side started to exert some pressure on the Kilsyth defence and their little midfielder, Brown, was the man that looked most likely to have an influence on the game. He came within a lick of paint of opening the scoring when his scuffed shot grazed the base of the post with Duke looking on. Goal-less at the break but the home team could have and should have been ahead.

Neither manager made any changes for the start of the second half.

Vale almost went ahead within a minute of the restart when Gourley drove into the Kilsyth box and fired a low shot across Duke, but the big keeper was equal to it.

The visitors then began to take control of the game and started to carve out some chances of their own. Flannery and Livingstone both come close to breaking the deadlock, but there was still no goals in the game.

It was looking like one goal was going to win it for either team.

Again it was Flannery who almost scored when he lobbed Carr from well over 30 yards, but his shot was just over the crossbar.

Kilsyth brought on McAteer for Kelly with 20 minutes to go and the young sub would prove to be the match winner with just five minutes left. Livingstone picked the ball up on the right wing and drove at the Vale defence, beating three players before slipping the ball to Joe Barclay. He fired an inviting ball to the back post where McAteer slid in to score. That's two in two games for the young lad.

Kilsyth went back to Duncansfield with all three points.

VALE OF LEVEN: Carr, Wilson, Drain, Cavana, Gourley, Brown, Fishie, Buchanan, Berry, McNaught, Bowie. Subs: Ward, McKenzie, Russell, Pawsey, Lacy, Cowan and Grindley (GK).

KILSYTH RANGERS: Duke, McPeake, Carr, Doyle, McGinty, D. Barclay, Livingstone, Hogg, J. Barclay, Flannery, Kelly. Subs: McAteer, Waters, Smith, Tough and Tait (GK).