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Deveronvale Football Club will need to show even more character to overcome Haddington Athletic in the Scottish Cup says manager Craig Stewart


By Craig Christie

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CHARACTER and team spirit is strong in Deveronvale's ranks as they begin their Scottish Cup adventure on Saturday.

Vale captain Ross Aitken moves in on Clach's Liam Taylor. Picture: James Mackenzie..
Vale captain Ross Aitken moves in on Clach's Liam Taylor. Picture: James Mackenzie..

Vale play host to East of Scotland League First Division Conference A side Haddington Athletic, who are unbeaten and joint-top of their league after eight wins and a draw.

The Banff side themselves are unbeaten in four games, three times coming back from notable deficits to earn crucial league points.

Manager Craig Stewart believes his players are showing the right qualities to serve them well over the course of the campaign.

And he says those same qualities will be needed tomorrow against their East Lothian opponents.

"I keep using the word character with this team and there’s part of me that doesn’t want to be speaking about character because when you do, its normally when you’re a goal or two down and come back to get results," he said.

"I would much rather be in a different position and be ahead.

"But it says an awful lot about the team that there’s a growing team spirit.

"The commitment and character throughout the squad is brilliant."

Those elements came to the fore when Vale twice came back from two goals down to gain draws against Huntly and Wick Academy to start off their undefeated streak.

A 3-0 success over Strathspey Thistle was followed by last Saturday's 3-2 win at Clach, after twice being behind.

A rare Kevin Adams goal got Vale back to 1-1 and after trailing again, sub Dane Ballard levelled and Michael Watson struck his first Highland League goal for the winner.

Deveronvale put on the pressure in their 3-2 win at Clach. Picture: James Mackenzie..
Deveronvale put on the pressure in their 3-2 win at Clach. Picture: James Mackenzie..

“We thoroughly deserved it because we dominated virtually from start to finish,” Stewart said."I couldn't believe we were losing at half time."

Stewart is a great believer in the rich heritage and incentives of Scottish Cup football and will make his squad know the importance of tomorrow's home tie.

"I had some good times in the Scottish Cup and Mo (assistant manager Mike Morrison) is the same.

"It is a special competition and one you want to get through a few rounds and hopefully get a big team. Not just from a financial point of view, it gives you that extra bit of coverage and it's certainly exciting.

"I’ve got no doubts that our boys will be up for it on Saturday."

The manager says his squad will need to be on their game against very strong opponents in Haddington.

"They've have had a fair start to the season, unbeaten and scoring a fair few goals and not letting in many.

"They will be very good and flying high with the start they’ve had, that breeds confidence.

"But it's a home tie and again if we work as hard as we have been doing and play as well, if we take our chances as well and get that right we will be fine.

"We do need to cut out the silly mistakes as well. We are going to have to work hard and I think it might be a good game."


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