Vale ready for cup clash after eight-goal win
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DEVERONVALE'S 8-0 romp at Fort William was perfect preparation for their Scottish Cup tie this weekend.
Winners over highly-fancied Bonnyrigg Rose at the last stage, Vale welcome Keith's conquerors University of Stirling to Princess Royal Park on Saturday, bidding to reach the third round of the cup.
Thrashing bottom-of-the-league Fort in Lochaber was the ideal way to warm up for the big match, and assistant boss Craig Stewart is relishing the visit of the student side.
"It's a tie where we've got to be confident going into it but certainly taking nothing for granted," Stewart said.
"They will be a decent side and they have had some good results this season.
"The Scottish Cup is always one to look forward to. I've had some great times in the competition as a player and we are trying to instil into our players how important it is, not just from a club point of view but from a personal point as well.
"These games can put you in the shop window. For anybody that wants to progress as a football player there's an opportunity to do that by playing well in the cup Scottish Cup so it's a big game for us. It's one we are quietly confident of winning without being over-confident."
Stewart was delighted to see Vale rain in eight unanswered goals in a torrential downpour at Claggan Park.
The visitors survived an early scare when keeper Errol Watson saved a penalty, before Matty Wallace, Leszek Nowosielski, Harry Noble and Robert Scott fired Vale 4-0 in front at the break.
Scott again, Grant Noble, Sam Robertson and Lewis Dunbar netted after the interval to make it seven different Vale scorers on the day.
Wing back Dunbar scored for the third Saturday running and Stewart said he was happy to see a good spread of scorers, particularly with last season's top scorer Dane Ballard out injured.
"Eight-nil didn't flatter us at all and some of the goals we scored were really exceptional. You miss Dane up front but there's the likes of Lewis playing in a more defensive position and getting another goal.
"We looked at games earlier in the season where we were pushed back a bit so we're trying to get Lewis and Harry (Noble) to get forward and push the other teams back. Both of them scored on Saturday."
Vale went out of the Aberdeenshire Shield last Wednesday, losing 5-1 to Formartine United with Grant Noble getting their goal.
