Vale of Leven Football Academy marked a successful first season - with three teams taking home silverware.
The Alexandria side started up their academy last year, offering youngsters a pathway from mini-kickers to senior football - and then on to walking football with the club.
And a succesful first season on and off the park, saw the club’s 2005, 2006 and 2007 teams all lift silverware.
There was Paisley and Johnstone League (PJDYFL) plate success for the 2006s and 2007s, whilst 2005 skipper Adam Daly lifted the PJDYFL Division Two cup after a comprehensive victory against Linwood Rangers.
Recap
Vale of Leven 2005 6-0 Linwood Rangers
By Jason Hewins
Vale travelled the short distance over the Erskine Bridge to Parklea in Port Glasgow to play Linwood Rangers in the Division Two Cup Final of the Paisley And Johnstone District League.
Linwood had beaten Vale on three previous occasions this season, despite the matches being close contests, and this had been a concern in the build up to the game.
Vale went with their new attacking formation which worked well in the semi final and the team selection to fit was a real headache, with all players training and playing very well.
The Vale arrived at the grass pitch ready for action, despite the pitch being long and unfitting of a cup final.
From kick off it was clear the Vale side were keen to dominate and their work rate was exceptional in the morning sun.
Vale took the lead following a brilliant through ball by Eggington which split the Linwood defence. Running through was Kerr who brilliantly finished for 1-0
Vale, who had led on every occasion against Linwood this season only to see it slip away, knew they needed to score again whilst on top.
The second wasn’t far away as Pilkington hunted down the defence in his usual manner and created and finished his chance for 2-0
The third goal then arrived much to the Vale’s delight as Kerr beat the entire Linwood defence single handed and fired the ball home to put the Alexandria side in dreamland.
Linwood then knew they needed to score next to get into the match, however the Vale defence were nothing short of flawless through the game - with Gemmell, Mitchell, Mulvenna and McEwan winning every battle and Daly saving every shot from distance.
The Vale’s fourth goal was also a thing of beauty. A brilliant corner was headed home with furious power by Fisher to put Vale 4-0 ahead at half-time.
As the second half started, Vale knew Linwood would again throw the kitchen sink at them.
The Alexandria side weathered the storm brilliantly and when the time was right, hit on the counter attack.
Next to score was Pilkington as he raced through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He showed great composure to toy with the keeper and the scrambling defender before blasting home a fifth.
As Vale then passed the ball and held their shape one more opportunity was to arise.
Swift intercepted a pass from the Linwood goalkeeper and passed the ball into the open net whilst calmly acknowledging his achievement with the large Vale support.
Full-time arrived and the celebrations were fantastic to see.
Vale’s Man of the Match was Dominic Burns who controlled the midfield, won every header, ran the ball from safety to attack and generally had the greatest game of the season. A performance saved for a cup final.
Vale lifted the trophy in champagne-soaked celebrations and now look forward to next season.
All at the club would like to wish Linwood all the best. Good people and good sportsmen.
Vale of Leven 2006 3-0 Ardencaple
By Gary Mullen
The Vale travelled to Linwood for their final against a team who they have struggled against in previous encounters.
Under a very strong sun, the Vale kicked the game off.
It was a nervy start for both teams as expected and it was Ardencaple who came close first.
A set-piece whipped in was headed low towards goal, but Gardner made the save and pounced on top of the loose ball.
That was an early wake up call for the Vale who then started to take control of the game.
James Beggs made a great run down the left side and put in a great cross which was met by Jack Mullen who saw his headed effort clip the crossbar.
It was close to the 20-minute mark when Vale opened the scoring.
Aidan Clifford picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and curled the ball into the top right corner. It was a great strike and well deserved.
It was all Vale from this point and it wasn’t long before the second goal arrived.
Some great passing and movement from the Vale saw Aaron McGrorry find space some 35 yards out, he lined up and fired a fantastic strike into the top left corner for the second top drawer goal.
The second half saw Ardencaple come out fighting, and the Vale lost their rhythm and allowed the opposition time and space to play.
Vale keeper Gardner was forced to make two great saves after a wave of corners and free-kicks, but between him and the Vale defending they couldn’t find the back of the net.
It was a great 15-minute spell for Ardencaple but they failed to take advantage of it and the Vale then took the game back in control.
Hughes and Beggs were a constant threat for the Ardencaple defence but just failed to convert.
The third goal came from a free kick won by Euan Tillery.
The position of the ball was more like a corner than a free kick, Aidan Clifford stepped up and looped the ball over the goalkeeper into the far side netting, for the third wonderful strike of the match.
James Beggs could’ve added a fourth, but he lashed over the bar as Vale held on to secure the silverware.
Vale of Leven 2007 3-0 Langcraigs
By Darren McEwan
The game started with the Vale edging the midfield battle but failing to create many clear-cut chances.
Conditions were very hot with the firm ground and bounce of the ball taking both sides a while to get used to.
The kicking of McEwan in goal as well as the danger of the front three in-behind the opposition defence caused the opposition to drop deeper and left space for the Vale midfield of McKenzie, McIlmunn and Murie to start to dominate the ball.
A change in formation, almost reaped an instant reward.
Murie broke down the right hand flank to drill a low cross across the face of the opposition goal, alluding Capon attacking the back post as the ball ran out for a goal kick.
The game continued in that pattern, with both defences holding firm and Vale shading possession and territory until 10 minutes before half-time.
Carson managed to get in on goal only for the goalkeeper to make a great save from the one-on-one, but the rebound fell to Mellis at the edge of the box only for his goalbound shot to also be excellently saved by the opposition keeper.
A third rebound quickly fell to Capon, who couldn’t sort his feet out in time to direct the ball on target as it agonisingly spun wide of the far post.
This triple chance seemed to lift the confidence of the Vale team further, and two minutes later excellent work from McIlmunn in the middle of the park saw him switch play out to Murie on the right flank.
Full-back McLaughlin offered the overlap and was played into the right channel, his excellent low cross across the six-yard box found Carson who this time wasn’t to be denied prodding past the opposition keeper for a 1-0 half-time lead.
In the second-half the pattern of play remained the same.
Vale edged possession and territory with their opposition offering glimpses of an attacking threat which was being excellently shepherded by McGuigan and Kelly at centre-half with everything in behind being swept up by McEwan in goal.
Langcraigs main threat was down their right flank but Vale left-back Muirhead dealt with everything thrown at him.
Vale’s midfield continued to offer the threat of playing attackers in behind.
Murie managed to escape the left back to fire a shot from a narrow angle at opposition keepers near post, only to catch the keeper out, hit the base of the post, rebound off keeper and dribble inches wide for a corner.
Set pieces were becoming a big threat for the Vale.
A Mellis free kick from the edge of the box took a slight deflection to leave the keeper rooted to the spot and relieved to see the ball go inches past his near post.
Murray, who came on for McLaughlin at RB, added to the aerial threat the Vale were posing.
This threat finally led to 2-0 when the smallest player on the park, Hedley, found space at a corner from seven yards out to plant his header into the net.
The threat from corners would then lead to the team’s third goal when Hegarty’s goal bound effort was blocked by the opposition centre backs arm and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Up stepped Capon to coolly send the opposition keeper the wrong way and widen the lead to 3-0.
A great all round team performance was confirmed when the Vale boys saw out the remainder of the game, without McEwan in goal having to deal with a single shot on target.
