Strathspey Thistle 2 Deveronvale 2: Vale manager Craig Stewart frustrated by a flurry of missed chances in Grantown
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A STRING of missed chances by Deveronvale contributed to two points slipping down the drain at Strathspey Thistle on Saturday.
’Vale needed a late goal from skipper Harry Noble to rescue a 2-2 draw in Grantown, but manager Craig Stewart was frustrated at how many scoring opportunities his men passed up.
’Vale failed to clear a Jags corner and conceded a sloppy firs-half opener.
Dane Ballard ran through to fire home a fine equaliser, only for the visitors to get caught in possession in their own box to gift Strathspey a second goal right away.
After a long stoppage caused by a clash of heads, Noble equalised for ’Vale on 89 minutes and there was still 10 minutes of stoppage time left to chase a winner but ’Vale came up short.
“They have created nothing and scored two,” Stewart said. “We have made two errors, one from a corner and the other we failed to clear our lines.
“We were well on top, if it had finished six or seven they couldn’t have had any complaints. But if you don’t take your chances or get sloppy at the back it is going to cost you and that proved to be the case.
“The performance didn’t hit the heights of last week (2-0 win over Lossie) but we were still good enough to create a large amount of chances and that should have been enough to win the game.
“It’s disappointing not to take the three points. But at the same time we showed a bit of character coming back from behind twice, which is pleasing. We’ve kept going and we’ve got a point but it does feel like two dropped rather than one gained.”
Deveronvale have decent front options this season with Ballard joined by attacking pair Caiden Imbert-Thomas and Kyle MacKillop-Hall, as well as the threat of summer signing Horace Ormsby.
Stewart said the missed opportunities were shared out on Saturday.
“Caiden needs to do a bit more in front of goal. He is trying his best but needs to be more of a goal threat.
“Dane will be disappointed that he only got the one. He would normally back himself to score at least two of the other chances he had.
“The goal he did score was a great run and finish but he does have his own standards and will know that he probably should have had three.
“Horace should have had three as well. It’s not half chances we are talking about, it’s glaring chances. But they need to go in, and you just hope that these chances do start to go in.
“We will work hard at it in training and I’m sure they will start to go in. Somebody will take a hiding from us.”
He reserved praise for teenage full-back Jay Goldie.
“Jay has been outstanding. He was the best player on the pitch on Saturday and a few boys maybe need to take a leaf out of his book in terms of attitude, desire and hunger to do well.
Stewart is pleased that long-serving Grant Noble has taken on a player-coach role at the club.
“I think he’s got a lot to offer not just on the playing front but from the coaching point of view and I’m delighted he agreed to take on the role this week,” he said.
On Saturday ’Vale host high-flying Brechin City, who have three wins out of three under their belts.
“I fancy Brechin to be right up there this season,” Stewart added. “They will be determined to get out of the Highland League and they’ve got off to a flyer so it will be a tough one.
“But we can go into it with a bit of confidence and you just never know. It’s a home game and hopefully we can get something out of it.”
