28/05/08 Lothian Thistle 1-2 Vale of Leithen
Vale reached the final of the King Cup after beating Lothian Thistle at the Civil Service Sportsground. The Innerleithen men made a great start to the game, taking the lead after only six minutes as a Ross Alexander cross found Greig Shortreed in the centre. Although the cross was just behind him, Shortreed managed to twist his neck and direct a header into the net. Lothian's main problem was that they seemed almost too hyped up for the game, a succesion of needless fouls handing Vale a series of free kicks. But once the capital side managed to calm down, they started to play some great attacking football and it was no surprise when they notched an equaliser six minutes before half time. Kevin Craig did well to keep a pass down the right hand side in play and crossed for Phil O'Neil to glance the ball into the net. With Thistle on top of their game, things did not bode well for the second half from a Vale point of view, but Vale took control of play in the second period and had the ball in the net in the 61st minute, but Aaron Somerville was adjudged to have been in an offside position as he pounced on a Shortreed flick on from an Alexander free kick. However, shortly after Somerville did make it 2-1. Again Alexander was the provider, firing in a cross which was laid off by Steven Notman to hitman Somerville, who almost burst the net with a superb volley.
Lothian Thistle: Chris Clark; Kevin Craig, Martin MacCauley (Mark Boggie 73), Richie Wilkes, Kevin Sivewright, Gary Black, Douglas Blackley (Fraser Ogilvie 84), Mark Lothian, Scott Dickson, Craig Hume, Phil O'Neil (Chris Sommerville 78).
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Ross Alexander, Ross McManus, Creag Robertson, Colin Smith, Ryan McManus (Andy Hardie 89), Robbie Clark, Steven Notman, Aaron Somerville, Greig Shoertreed, Ronald Fleming (Mike MacKale 84).
• Vale now meet Spartans in the final on Monday 2nd June, in game that will be played at Ferguson Park, Rosewell. Eerily enough, the last final Vale played in was almost exactly seven years ago, also in the King Cup, against Spartans at Rosewell, having beaten Lothian Thistle in the semi final to get there. On that occasion the Edinburgh side triumphed 2-0, so hopefully Vale can go one better this time.

24/05/08 Tynecastle 3-1 Vale of Leithen
Vale rounded off their league campaign with defeat against an impressive Tynecastle side at Fernieside. Peebles victory over Hawick Royal Albert the previous evening had closed the promotion issue, so any outcome from this game was irrelevant in that sense, although victory for the capital side did mean that they leapfrogged Civil Service Strollers to finish the season in third place due to their superior goal difference. Team-wise, it was a story that has become familiar for Vale over the last few weeks, denied the services of several regulars due to suspension, injury and unavailability, hence two more players, goalkeeper Craig Bryce and centre-half Alistair Dickson were drafted in to take the number of different players Vale have used this season up to 35. Vale also had one eye on Wednesday's King Cup semi final with Lothian Thistle, with Creag Robertson and Steven Notman withdrawn at half time as a precautionary measure, perhaps due in part to the state of the Fernieside pitch with it's unbelievably long grass presenting a potential hazard. The home side took the lead after quarter of an hour, Dino Vita knocking home a Gary Cherrie cross. Tynecastle were looking the sharper side, but Vale's rookie keeper Bryce turned in a solid display, pulling off a great save as Cherrie let fly from just outside the area, before stopping an effort from Benji Antoni. The second half was virtually one-way traffic towards Bryce's goal, with Vita rattling the crossbar before Tynecastle grabbed a second in the 58th minute, as captain David Keough netted after his intial header from a Ruaridh Scott cross had been blocked. It was Keough's last contribution to the action as he was replaced by Scott Clapperton, and the sub made an immediate impact as he was brought down by Greg Young to win his side a penalty. Regular penalty taker Vito however, threw the ball to Ross Allum, who fired the kick over the bar. In the 70th minute though, Tynecastle were awarded another penalty as Vita was scythed down by Neil Nisbet. This time Vita wasn't of a mind to pass the responsibility to anyone else and gave Bryce no chance from the spot. Vale had rarely been seen as an attacking force in the match, but pulled a goal back ten minutes from time. Ronald Fleming, a player for whom no game is ever meaningless, had spent the match leading by example, and it was fitting that it was he who got on the scoresheet, collecting the ball on the left and cutting inside to curl a great shot in from 20 yards.
Tynecastle: John Gilbertson; Darren Aird, Ruaridh Scott, Steven Sives, Garry Lothian, David Keogh (Scott Clapperton 59), Steven McCormack, Gary Cherrie, Ross Allum, Dino Vita, Benji Antoni (Craig Downie 62).
Vale of Leithen: Craig Bryce; Greg Young, Neil Nisbet, Creag Robertson (Robbie Clark h-t), Alistair Dickson, Andy Hardie (Greig Shortreed 52), Ronald Fleming, Steven Notman (Frank Harrison h-t), Mike MacKale, Ryan McManus, Raymond Fleming.
Referee: Paul Hanlon.

20/05/08 Vale of Leithen 1-0 Edinburgh Athletic
Vale's last game of the season at Victoria Park saw them edge a victory which condemned Edinburgh Athletic to the unwanted distinction of bottom place in the East of Scotland set up this term. Plenty of chances were created by both sides, but finishing was lacking, with neither keeper particularly overworked. The only goal of the game came in the 69th minute, and followed an incident where Vale's Aaron Somerville had executed a deft drag back and turn to fire a shot at goal, which Athletic keeper Alan McIntosh touched onto the bar and over. From Steven Notman's resulting corner, a well worked set piece saw Creag Robertson head into the net. Vale had a great chance to put the game out of sight five minutes from the end, as a Ryan McManus cross found Notman on his own a few yards from goal. But the midfielder's effort, like so many others during the game, was straight at McIntosh. Vale had to endure a nervy closing few minutes as the capital side searched for the goal that would lift them away from the foot of the league. They almost got it two minutes into injury time, as former Vale captain Neil Ewart, who had pushed forward during the closing stages, got on the end of a Mark Scott cross. But Ewart's powerful downward header was cleared off the line by Greg Young, and the final whistle sounded seconds later.
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Neil Nisbet, Ross Alexander, Colin Smith, Creag Robertson, Raymond Fleming (Andy Hardie h-t), Ronald Fleming (Greg Young h-t), Steven Notman, Mike MacKale, Aaron Somerville, Ryan McManus.
Edinburgh Athletic: Alan McIntosh (William Turner 79); Mark Scott, Ross Middlemiss (Leighton Thomson 80), Mike Black, Dale Robertson, Neil Ewart, Chris Black, Darren Lockhart, Ian Cartright, James Welsh (Chris Barclay 74), Craig Fisher.
Referee: David McGeachie

17/05/08 Civil Service Strollers 4-0 Vale of Leithen
It was a bit of a bad day at the office for Vale at the Civil Service Sportsground, as they slumped to a deserved defeat. This was Strollers last league game, and one they had to win to give themselves any chance of a promotion spot. As it is, although they now sit second, Peebles need only three points from their last two fixtures against Kelso United and Hawick Royal Albert to clinch second spot themselves. The first half was fairly even with both sides creating chances, but it was Strollers who made the breakthrough on 19 minutes, as Craig Dickson's opportunist strike from the edge of the area flew in. On the stroke of half time it was two, as Bobby Reid took advantage of a defensive mix up to roll the ball home. Vale seemed to have big problems in defence as slack marking at a Kevin Fettes corner presented Dickson with a free header for number three. In the 57th minute, Dixkson made it a hat-trick against his former club, receiving a pass from Reid to finish well. The fourth goal was probably the only one of the afternoon that hadn't been gifted to the home side by Vale, and they could have ended up on the wrong end of a real hammering, as Strollers Daryl Devlin had two 'goals' disallowed for offside in the second half. The closest Vale came to scoring was when home keeper Liam Hanson contrived to punch a Greig Shortreed corner against his own bar, but it ended up a day best forgotten by the Innerleithen men.
Civil Service Strollers: Liam Hanson; Darren Nicol, Lofti Barbirou, Russell Hogarth, Tony Currie, Kevin Fettes, Daryl Devlin, Danny Wheelan (Marc Antoni 63), Bobby Reid (Michael Dwyer 73), Craig Dickson, Graeme Newall.
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Ross Alexander (Frank Harrison 77), Ross McManus (Ryan McManus 49), Colin Smith, Creag Robertson, Robbie Clark (Neil Nisbet 63), Greg Young, Steven Notman, Greig Shortreed, Aaron Somerville, Ronald Fleming.

13/05/08 Heriot-Watt University 2-3 Vale of Leithen
Vale fired their way into the semi finals of the King Cup with a fantastic victory over First Division champions Heriot-Watt University at Riccarton. It wasn't just the fact that Vale played some great football in doing so, it was the character they showed after the students had pegged back an early two-goal lead to grab another and the gutsy defending towards the end of the game, as Watt pressed hard to try and take the tie into extra time. Vale's opening goal came in the 26th minute, when Steven Notman curled a superb free kick round the wall and into the net. It was two five minutes later as Watt's Scott Sutherland was adjudged to have pushed Aaron Somerville in the box and Somerville himself placed the spot kick into the bottom corner. But back came the home side, and an incisive run by Lee Manderson ended with him slipping the ball through to Banji Koya, who shot home. Seven minutes into the second half, it was all square as the game's second penalty was awarded to Heriot-Watt following Ross Alexander's challenge on Manderson. Big striker Koya took the penalty and found the corner of the net, despite Mark Wilson getting a touch to it. The way the game was going, you wouldn't have bet against Watt going on to edge themselves in front, but Vale dug deep and conjured up a third. In the 55th minute Somerville embarked on a superb run through the defence before squaring the ball to player/manager Robbie Clark, who hammered home his first goal of the season. The remainder of the game saw Watt pile on the pressure, but Vale defended stoutly, and a few breakway moves could have resulted in goals, most notably four minutes from time as Notman broke clear before a backheel set up Somerville, but the striker's attempted lob fell just wide of the upright. Vale now go on to face either Lothian Thistle or Ormiston in the semi final.
Heriot-Watt University: Murray Scott; Jamie Brown (Michael John Henretty 20), Jimmy Rae, Scott Sutherland, Stewart Cairns, Simon Ferrie (Luke Cassidy 58), Gilbert Patterson, Oliver Antoni, Banji Koya, Lee Manderson, Craig Gillon.
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Ross Alexander (Ronald Fleming 86), Greg Young, Colin Smith, Creag Robertson, Ryan McManus (Andy Hardie 58), Robbie Clark, Steven Notman, Aaron Somerville, Greig Shortreed (Mike MacKale 72), Raymond Fleming.
• Heriot-Watt University were presented with the Tyreman East of Scotland First Division trophy prior to the game. Congratulations to John Young and his management team and players on their well deserved success. Once again, on what was our third visit to Riccarton this season, the hospitality afforded to Vale was excellent and everyone at the club wish Watt well in their Premier Division campaign next season.

08/05/08 Vale of Leithen 4-1 Gala Fairydean
After the high of Tuesday, it was the low of Thursday as Vale crashed back to earth with defeat against local rivals Fairydean in a Tyreman East of Scotland League clash. Known for being something of a controversial fixture, the controversy started before the game, as referee Andy Rooney ruled that the black and white stripes of Gala clashed with Vale's navy blue, hence Fairydean lined up for the match clad in Vale's all-red away strips. Perhaps this had fired the visitors up, because they made by far the better start to the game, and took the lead after 37 minutes through Jamie Gibson. They added another three minutes before half time when some Vale defensive calamity saw an attempted clearance by Ross McManus canon off Raymond Fleming into the path of Jay Wilson, who quickly dispatched the ball home. It looked like a Vale rivival maight be under way as Aaron Somerville grabbed a goal back for the Innerleithen side twelve minutes into the second half, but in the 66th minute former Vale favourite Des Sutherland dispossessed Steven Notman 30 yards from goal and executed a deft chip over the head of Mark Wilson and in. In a bad tempered game, Vale didn't help their cause by losing their discipline badly, culminating in a red card for Vale's Ross Alexander in the 79th minute for raising his hands to Gala's Wilson. Down to ten men, it looked a lost cause for Vale, and Gala added another through substitute Robert Hewittson in the 86th minute.
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Ross Alexander, Ross McManus, Colin Smith, Campbell Forsyth (Scott Johnston 87), Andy Hardie (Robbie Clark 74), Mike MacKale (Greg Young h-t), Steven Notman, Grieg Shortreed, Aaron Somerville, Raymond Fleming.
Gala Fairydean: Gavin Watson; Andy McDonald, Liam Hardie (Robert Hewittson 81), Gareth Wood (Lawrie Dunn 60), Colin Riddle, Paul Hossack, Jay Wilson, Grant Gass, Des Sutherland (Grant Robinson 74), Jamie Gibson, Kev Matheson.
Referee: Andy Rooney.

03/05/08 Peebles 0-2 Vale of Leithen
Vale's recent good form continued with victory in the final Peeblesshire derby of the season. Vale were out for revenge after Peebles had won the fixture at Victoria Park a couple of weeks ago, and got it thanks to a superb double from ex-Peebles player Greig Shortreed. The opening quarter of an hour was typical derby stuff - fast and furious, with some rough and ready tackling and a couple of yellow cards for Peebles' Paul Devlin and Paul Lee. But Vale made the breakthrough after 17 minutes of play, as a Raymond Fleming cross got stuck in a melee of players, with the ball eventually knocked into the air for Shortreed to head across the line. The goal calmed the game down and Vale started to play some good football, and Ryan McManus was unlucky not to add a second as he got to a Steven Notman through ball ahead of Peebles keeper Darren Walker. But the grounded McManus could only watch in agony as his effort rebounded off the inside of the post and across the goal mouth before being cleared by Kevin Robertson. Peebles' Kerr Dodds tested Mark Wilson as he did well to get a header in from a Paul Devlin corner, but Vale were in command and Peebles suffered a blow as they found themselves a man down ten minutes into the second half. Centre-half Robertson clattered Ryan McManus with a wild tackle on the edge of the penalty area, both players ending up prostrate on the ground as an angry group of players surrounded them to debate the issue. McManus was able to continue after treatment, but referee Kenny Rogers had ruled Robertson to be the last man and flashed a straight red card as the defender limped off. Once again the game started to get a bit scrappy, but in the 69th minute Shortreed produced his second to kill off the Peebles challenge. As Raymond Fleming played a pass through, it looked like Peebles' Gavin Tainsh was favourite to mop up the situation, but sheer determination got Shortreed to the ball ahead of him, before letting fly across Walker and into the far corner of the net. Disappointingly, Vale picked up three avoidable bookings in the latter stages, as Colin Smith for dissent, Shortreed for time-wasting and Notman for a foul made their way into the referee's notebook, but it couldn't dampen the delight of the result.
Peebles: Darren Walker; Gavin Tainsh, Aaron Paterson, Paul Lee, Kevin Robertson, Kerr Dodds, Michael Osbourne, Paul Greenhill, Glen Harley (Paul Russell 55), Paul Devlin, Mark Brown (Chris Graham 61).
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Ross Alexander, Ross McManus, Colin Smith, Campbell Forsyth, Robbie Clark (Greg Young 59), Ryan McManus (Mike MacKale 70), Steven Notman (Jack Diamond 87), Greig Shortreed, Aaron Somerville, Raymond Fleming.
Referee: Kenny Rogers.