Deveronvale 2 Forres Mechanics 1: Vale top good week with victory over Can-Cans
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‘DELIGHTED’ Deveronvale manager Craig Stewart felt his side were deserved winners in Saturday’s 2-1 success over Forres Mechanics at Princess Royal Park.
Vale came from behind in the second half, with goals from Innes MacKay and Horace Ormsby sealing the three points after Ryan MacLeman had opened the scoring for the visitors.
The victory put the seal on a good week for Vale, which also saw captain Harry Noble become the latest player to put pen to paper on a new deal with the club – signing on for a further two years until 2026.
“Over the piece we deserved the win,” Stewart said. “We had three or four good chances in the first half and played well.
“Forres never really threatened before half-time other than shots from long range and we should have gone in at half-time two to the good.
"Then they scored a well-worked goal and we were thinking ‘here we go again’ but credit to our lads, they dug in, didn’t stop and deservedly got back in the game with a great set piece.
“We were delighted to get back on terms so quickly and eventually got the breakthrough with Horace getting the winner for a thoroughly deserved and great three points.”
Harry Noble committing his future to Vale in the build-up to the game was a further boost, with more players set to commit their future to the club in the coming days.
Stewart added: “Everybody has at least a year but about 90 per cent of the squad have two or three years left on their contracts which is great.
“Harry signing a two-year extension, when he already had a year left, shows he is very committed to the cause. He is a great lad and a great example for the younger players.
“We have a young squad – our average age was 21 on Saturday with three teenagers in the back four, two up front that were 18 and 19 and Max in midfield who is 18. The aim is to progress every year and the young guys will be a year older and wiser next campaign.”
Things on the pitch are looking up for Vale – with seven points from five games moving them up above Wick Academy and Keith – and that could be in part due to the off-field improvement.
Colin Shirreffs, Grant Noble and Richard Davidson are all relatively new additions to a coaching team that Stewart believes is the strongest it has been for years.
“We have quantity, but quality too,” he said. “Grant is bringing a lot to the table in training and Richard and Colin are, too, so it’s all looking positive.”
Again away from the pitch, there was extra support for Vale on Saturday as local women enjoyed Ladies Day at Princess Royal Park.
In a small way, the event highlights improvements that are ongoing at the club, Stewart added.
“There’s something happening at the Vale,” he said. “It can be a slow process and we need to accept that but there’s a feeling that something is happening.
“Ladies Day was excellent and we need more events like these because they are successful and the players get a lift from it.
“That comes from having more helpers – and there’s talk of the supporters club getting back up and running, so things are definitely getting there.”
Deveronvale have four games left to play in the Highland League, but will not be in action this weekend. Next up is Formartine United away on April 1.
