Deveronvale 3 Clachnacuddin 3: 'Vale lead three times before Clach draw
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DEVERONVALE took the lead three times and were pegged back three times en route to Saturday’s six-goal draw with Clachnacuddin at Princess Royal Park.
Dane Ballard gave ’Vale the lead inside six minutes, knocking in at the back post after good work from Matt Jamieson, but James Anderson equalised after 25 minutes.
Ballard bagged another after being set up by Michael Watson, but Anderson was just a few steps behind him yet again – making it 2-2 on 40 minutes.
Max Stewart’s strike just before half-time ensured ’Vale were 3-2 up at the switch of ends.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Anderson wasn’t finished at two – nabbing his hat-trick in the second half to seal a 3-3 draw.
Manager Craig Stewart wasn’t sure whether it was a point gained or two dropped against a side just one point ahead of them in the table.
“We have been urging the boys to get their noses in front and we did that on Saturday,” he said. “We played really well in first half but got a bit sloppy with the goals we lost.
“We more than deserved to be 3-2 up and should have been further ahead with the amount of possession we had and the areas we got into.
“Here’s me grumbling about three goals in a half when we have found goals hard to come by this season, but ultimately we have not kept the door shut at the back.
“We were playing well and wanted more of the same but didn’t get it. Clach changed a couple of things tactically which made a difference.
“Clach will think they deserved a draw. Is that right? I’m not sure given how on top we were. They scored three from four chances and we scored three from a lot more.
“It feels a bit like two points dropped but it might prove to be one gained at the end of the season.”
’Vale are third bottom of the Highland League, but Stewart believes they are more competitive than they were last campaign.
“We are playing well in patches but we are still looking for a complete performance,” he said.
“There’s still over half a season to go and I feel we are more competitive this year than we were last.
“It’s a case of keeping on going. We have a very, very young team and sometimes there’s a naivety and slackness that comes in as a result of that.
“It’s strange because people will look and see the score in black and white and it’s never nice to lose – but I’m OK with where we are at.
“I’d like to have more points and our play has justified more but we are getting there.
“If we can keep this squad together then the future is bright.”
’Vale have a weekend off coming up, before hosting high-flying Formartine United next Tuesday.
“We gave them a good game earlier this season and there’s no reason we can’t again,” Stewart added. “We will go in with confidence.
“We have lots of good home games to come and there are lots of points still to be won and lost.”
