On-form Deveronvale striker Cameron Angus is gunning for Highland League derby rivals Buckie Thistle after scoring three times in his last two matches against Brora Rangers and Inverurie Locos
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Cameron Angus wants to keep his Deveronvale scoring run going for Saturday’s derby trip to Buckie Thistle.
The 21-year-old celebrated his first two starts since September by notching twice in last Wednesday’s 3-3 draw at Brora Rangers, then netting again in Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Inverurie Locos.
That victory stretched the Banff side’s unbeaten run to four games since manager Craig Stewart left the club and interim boss Grant Noble was placed in charge.
With the first three of those games finishing in a draw - Vale denied victory by a last minute goal in two - Angus was thrilled to see Ryan Park’s 88th minute strike on Saturday put three points on the board.
He says caretaker manager Noble, assisted by former Vale team-mate Graeme Watt in a coaching capacity, have kept morale high following Stewart’s exit.
“I can’t praise Grantie and Wattie enough since they’ve come in,” he said. “ You saw when the winner went in and the buzz on the sidelines what it meant to everybody.
“To finally get over the line on Saturday, it will do us the world of good and we are really looking forward to Buckie this weekend.”
Noble’s first game at the helm saw Vale lead 3-1 at Lossie only to lose two stoppage time goals.
They followed that up with a 0-0 draw at home to Saturday’s opponents Buckie, then at Brora came back from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 with Rogan Read’s goal and Angus’ second half double turning the tide before the Cattachs nicked a point at the death.
“The Lossie result was disappointing, we could have nicked it at Buckie and then we lost another equalising goal at Brora, but Saturday was well-deserved and hopefully we can keep it going.
“The whole buzz on Saturday, the noise at PRP was one of the loudest I’ve experienced and it’s almost like we don’t want the season to end now.”
Angus is the eldest member of a three-strong Vale attack at present, playing on the left side with Park (19) through the middle and Jack Mitchell (17) on the right side.
“We are slowly beginning to build a relationship, I haven’t played very often with parkie because it has either been me or him but we are learning how each other plays now.”
Angus was sorry to see the departure of former boss Stewart, the man who gave him his first opportunity in Highland League football after many years in Elgin City’s youth ranks, and a torrid time with injury.
A serious knee injury kept him out for two years at the end of his teens, and as part of his comeback he was initially loaned out to Vale, before making the move permanent in the summer of 2022.
Angus has found it tough to break into the starting line-up at Vale but knows if he keeps up his scoring form, he can hold down the regular place he craves.
He described the three goals which made it a memorable week for him, taking his tally for the season to five.
“In midweek against Brora for my first goal, Jaydan Bradford put the ball in, I went in early and Innes (McKay) went deep and he knocked it back across and I headed it in.
“Against Inverurie it was almost a carbon copy except Innes headed it across the goal line and I managed to get my thigh on it.
“They all count, I don’t care how they go in as long as it’s in the back of the net. But my second one against Brora, I was delighted with that one - definitely my best one so far.
“I think I’ve watched it about a thousand times. Jacko (Jack Mitchell) put in a deep cross and I saw it come to me in the air. It was like a half scissors kick off the ground a little bit, into the bottom corner.”
As difficult it will be to keep his scoring streak going at Buckie, Angus says his team can go there with confidence.
In his early days at Vale, he was part of a squad losing 9-1 to their coast neighbours but has seen far closer encounters in the past year.
“I remember that 9-1 and that must be up there with my worst days in football.
“But last season we lost twice in the closing minutes and this season we’ve taken them close again, so we believe we can get a result if we keep working hard.
“I just want to keep the goals coming, another goal or two this season would be great and give me confidence going into next season.”
