2 minutes
later Academy should have taken the lead. Weir fed Davie Allan in on target but
with only the keeper to beat he sliced his shot wide of target.
Vale
started to apply some pressure and camped
Academy in their own box for a 3 or 4 minute period which ended in David
Smith smacking a shot off the under-side of the cross-bar before Gary Manson
humped the ball to safety.
The play
raged to the other end of the park as Allan hit the after-burners and ripped up
the right wing before crossing to Mackay but Blnchard saved his attempt with
his legs sending the ball for a corner. From the corner kick the ball fell for
McKiddie in the box and his right foot attempt was cleared off the line.
Academy
continued to attack but Blanchard again denied the Scorries the lead when Allan
shot on target from after Mackay headed the ball down onto his path. Blanchard's
save was a goal-saver as the ball looked certain bound for the top corner of
the net.
Vale had
the best of the final chance of the half. Rodger sent a dangerous ball right
across the Academy goal-line, but no-one in a red shirt was on hand to knock
in. That was followed by Scott Fraser, who was getting his head to every set
play and crossed ball, had a headed attempt tipped onto the cross bar by More.
From the corner Fraser again got his head to the ball but couldn't keep the
ball down and it went over the top of target.
Half time 0
– 0
Academy
should have opened the scoring straight from the kick-off when Allan was played
in on goal but Blanchard tipped his drive over the bar.
The
frustration continued for the Scorries when Mackay laid the ball on a plate for
Macadie and his shot was hacked off the line by Scott Henry.
Academy finally converted a chance with 56 minutes played. Allan had another
surging run up the right wing before crossing into the box and Sam Macakay ran
onto the ball. It looked to get caught under his feet but both Mackay and ball
crossed the line for the opener.
1 – 0
3 minutes later Gunn had another long range attempt at goal but the ball
rose as it approached the goal and went over the top of the target.
Vale didn't give up and in their next attack Fraser yet again got his head
to a crossed ball and he nodded it into the path of Smith at the back post but
the Vale striker couldn't turn the ball home.
Vale leveled the scores in the 68th minute. The ball broke into
the Academy box and was picked up by Chris Blacknall with his back to goal.
Although he was surrounded by black and white shirts he managed to turn, edge
out Grant Steven and fire home.
1 – 1
Academy again spurned another great goal scoring opportunity. David Allan had
terrorized the right flank all day and he went on yet another lung-busting run
before crossing the ball to the feet of Bryan McKiddie. He had space and time
to pick his spot but his attempt took a flick off a defender and spun just wide
of the post.
With 3 minutes left it looked as if Academy had sealed the win. Richard
Macadie delivered an inch perfect cross onto the head of substitute Craig
Shearer. He powered the header on target but Blanchard dived across his line
and blocked the attempt.
So a draw on the cards, but the sucker punch was yet to come. With only 2
minutes left Vale broke out of their own half with Kyle Rae punting the ball
up-field to Graeme Rodger who ran into space with the Academy defence backing
off and he launched a rocket shot from 25 yards which More dived and got a hand
too but the ball sneaked in at the right post to give Vale the win.
1 – 2
Full time 1 – 2
Sponsor's man of the match Davie Allan
Pictured receiving his award
from Maxine Whale and Emily Mackie on behalf of match sponsor Northern Sands Hotel
