Douglas delivers as Spartans leave it late at Leithen

Posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2015

Errol Douglas hammered home an 83rd minute header to earn Spartans a point on the road in their 1-1 draw at Vale of Leithen’s Victoria Park.

Spartans looked to continue their recent undefeated run however they had to make do with a single point rather than three as both sides kicked-off in the early evening Borders sun.

The first clear chance of the encounter arrived at the head of Keith McLeod who couldn’t direct his attempt into the net after flinging himself in the box at a Kevin Motion cross.

McLeod was on target in the 20th minute however he could only watch as his shot hit the base of Andy McQueen’s post after being fed into the penalty area by a defence splitting Paul Sludden pass.

Youngster Dean Horribine continued to impress in the midfield area, both with the ball at his feet and in his tough tackling style.

With the recent dry spell across the country, the hard and bumpy surface proved difficult for players to put on an evening of fast flowing football for the spectators in the stand.  The unpredictability of the bounce – in terms of direction and height – proving a challenge to all 22 players on the pitch.

HT Vale of Leithen 0-0 Spartans

Seven minutes after the restart and fine attacking play by Sludden saw the striker pull the ball back to Bremner who couldn’t only find the grateful gloves of McQueen.

With neither side finding the route to goal a positive journey, the home side were awarded a free kick in the Spartans ‘red zone’.   The resultant dead-ball set piece was headed back across goal before Shaun Stevens got the final touch to nudge the ball home to give Vale a 58th minute lead.

On the hour mark, John Grant & Errol Douglas, back from his recent loan spell, came off the bench to replace Stevenson & Bremner as Manager Dougie Samuel looked to press for a way back into the game.

A thumping left foot volley from the edge of the box by McLeod certainly had plenty venom behind it as the talisman searched for the equaliser.  Unfortunately on this occasion, his attempt whistled over the bar and out of play.

The Umpires at Lord’s would have offered the batsmen bad light as the game entered the final ten minutes as the sun finally dipped behind the neighbouring hill.

With seven minutes to go, a Kevin Motion corner found the towering colossus that is Errol Douglas on the penalty spot and the substitute powered his header home to earn Spartans the draw.

Full Time: Vale of Leithen 1-1 Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Kevin Sivewright