Vale of Leithen 3

Preston Athletic 1

David Knox at Victoria Park

VALE’S winter of discontent finally ended on Saturday as Chris Anderson’s team played their way out of any relegation trouble.

And the 3-1 victory over bottom side Preston – which ended a seven match run without a win – certainly put a spring in the step of the manager.

Anderson told us: “It was always going to be a difficult game as Preston are fighting for their lives just now but we played well enough to get the win.

“We haven’t had much game time since Christmas and I think the break was good for us as it gave us a chance to regroup.

“We started well today and could have been further in front although we did fall out of the game for a bit.

“I was pleased with the amount of chances we created – there were plenty of positives to take away from today.”

It couldn’t have started much better for the Victoria Park team as Jason Stevens, deputising up front for the suspended Keith McLeod, slotted home a quickfire double inside seven minutes.

The first came on four minutes as he smashed a Sean Stewart low cross into the roof of the net from 10 yards out.

And less than three minutes later Stevens was again left unmarked to drill Blair Atkinson’s cut back beyond Bruce Callan.

There was a golden opportunity for an 11-minute hat-trick approaching the quarter hour as Stevens raced onto a through-ball but he opted to square towards Tommy Patterson instead of shooting, and the defence managed to scramble clear.

Despite Preston’s poor start, and their league position, they showed plenty of fight to play their way back into the game.

Only a terrific one-handed save from Andy McQueen prevented Jason Young pulling a goal back as the home defence was put under extreme pressure.

Some last-ditch defending and clearances kept Vale’s goal intact, and the home team almost sneaked a third just before the break as Atkinson broke away.

The on-loan Spartans striker was denied by a terrific smother-save from Callan as he attempted to find a shooting angle.

Stevens fired a foot over when through just three minutes into the second half as the home team looked to kill off the game.

The third goal did arrive just after the hour with Atkinson rifling a powerful, angled shot in off the post after sprinting through the right channel.

The home team looked like they were playing the game out comfortably when they gave away a bizarre penalty in the 87th minute.

Ross Brady and Preston substitute Stuart Ritchie tangled inside the area and as they wrestled their way to their feet, with the ball safely in McQueen’s hands, Craig McBride sprinted 10 yards to push over the striker.

Gavin Stevenson tucked the spot kick into the bottom corner for the consolation.

There was still time for one last twist as Atkinson was tripped by visiting keeper Callan during injury time – and another penalty was awarded.

Callan saved well to deny Atkinson.

Vale of Leithen: A McQueen, A Martin, R Brady, S Lynch, C McBride, R Manson, S Stewart (S Stevens 72), A Smith (R Lamb 74), J Stevens, B Atkinson & T Patterson (A Hunter 68).