Colin Spence reckons it took a goal of Champions League quality for Darvel to see off Irvine Meadow.
The Medda co-boss watched his side let a half-time lead slip against Mick Kennedy's men as they went down 3-1 in their final home game of the season on Saturday.
But he believes they were still in with a shout of a point in the WoSFL Premier Division clash until Vale subsititue Lewis Morrison produced a moment of sheer quality to wrap up the scoring with 11 minutes left on the clock.
The former Hurlford United and Kilwinning Rangers frontman killed a long, diagonal pass dead with one exquisite touch, then rifled an unstoppable shot into the faraway corner of the net to give Meadow keeper Marc Waters no chance.
Spence said: "We knew we’d have to give up possession and suffer a wee bit at times because of the quality Darvel have.
“But we created five really good opportunities, just as many as Darvel – possibly even more- we just couldn’t take them.
“We had a good chance just before their equaliser but I have to say their first two goals were really poor from our point of view. I think the heads went down a wee bit after the second one.
“Their third was a Champions League goal - the pass, the touch and the finish were first class and there’s not much you can do about that.
“But I think looking back, it was a missed opportunity for us. I thought we did really well and could have got a draw out the game.”
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