Deveronvale 1 Forres Mechanics 1: Vale boss Craig Stewart 'never doubted' commitment of players
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
DEVERONVALE manager Craig Stewart never once doubted the commitment or dedication of his young side as they bounced back from a 9-0 loss to Fraserburgh by picking up a creditable 1-1 draw with Forres Mechanics.
‘Vale were thrashed in the cup by the Broch – who they had lost just 3-2 to in the league a week earlier – but reacted well to pick up a point against Forres, who went into the game at Princess Royal Park having won six of their first seven games this season.
The Can-Cans took an early lead through Calum Frame, but Rogan Read’s equaliser 20 minutes from time ensured a share of the spoils for Vale.
Manager Craig Stewart said: “At the start of the season I said that we would have some indifferent results. We have a young squad and that’s football.
“Bad days at the office happen, no matter who you are, and last week was a bad day.
“What I don’t like is people questioning the commitment of our players because that group of players are committed to the cause. I used some of the comments as part of the team talk and that’s worked.
“They play for little wages, the lowest in the league.
“Commitment has never been a question for the management team and the team proved that again on Saturday. It would have been easy after losing an early goal for the heads to go down, but they didn’t and we played really well against a Forres team with six wins out of seven so far.
“The players have responded to poor performance in the past so I was quietly confident.”
The point picked up against Forres takes Vale to six in six matches ahead of a trip to Formartine United on Saturday.
On the season overall, Stewart said: “I’d say I’m satisfied.
“The disappointment comes with the fact that we were 2-0 up in two games that we drew, and those could have been a different story.
“It’s going to a tough season, no question, so every point is a good point. We need to make sure we stay clear of the bottom for a start and see where it takes us.”
Formartine on Saturday provides one of the toughest tasks yet for Stewart’s side, with the Pitmedden side pushing for the title.
“It’s always a tough game there,” he added. “We gave them a good game there last year and very much hope to give them a game again.
“At some point we are going to get a point versus these top teams, we need to turn these ‘nearly games’ into points.”
Vale will be without Innes McKay, who has a hamstring injury.
