McBookie Championship

ROSSVALE 3

WHITLETTS VICTORIA 1

HIGH-flying Rossvale took the honours in this first ever competitive meeting between the clubs at Huntershill.

With Isaac Kerr suspended, caretaker boss Scott Clelland played with a flat back four formation and the visitors took a while to get used to that change as Rossvale forwards found plenty of space in and around the penalty area but it was not all one-way traffic as Vics themselves created a number of opportunities.

The first came from a low cross whipped in by young Andy Kerr that Thomas Donovan couldn’t quite get enough on to direct goalwards but the hosts took the lead in six minutes when a pass into the box found Stephen McGladrigan in acres of space and the former Petershill striker picked his spot past Marty Fraser.

Full-back David Leadbetter was unlucky with a free-kick which went inches wide and McGladrigan fired into the side netting, but not to be outdone the Vale striker scored his second in 33 minutes when his deft touch onto a low cross beat Fraser.

Vics responded well and Donovan had couple of headers that went wide while Adam Forsyth forced a fine save from Vale keeper James Donnelly.

In the second half a rejuvenated Vics took the game to their hosts and peppered the home goal. Bobby Colligan was involved in most the Vics play, while Forsyth led the line superbly as Rossvale struggled to deal with the Vics forward play. The visitors created good opportunities and Donnelly again denied Vics with a fine save at full stretch to foil Donovan.

In 57 minutes Whitletts made the breakthrough. After a spell of pressure, Callum Ogston carved open the home defence with a through ball to Forsyth who gave Donnelly no chance to reduce the leeway.

Vics were in the ascendancy and looked the more likely side to score but in 61 minutes they were reduced to 10 men after skipper Raymond Buchanan received a second yellow card for a challenge on Griffin

Vale took full advantage of having the extra man and three minutes later restored their two-goal advantage as Griffin was released clear down the right to net.