29/09/07 Vale of Leithen 3-1 Gala Fairydean
A superb team performance saw Vale through to the Scottish Cup Second Round draw. A double from Aaron Somerville, plus a Mike MacKale strike in the first half saw a shell-shocked Gala side go in at the break three down. Although a penalty award handed them a lifeline 12 minutes from time, Vale worked hard to limit their chances and ran out fairly comfortably in the end.
It took just six minutes for Vale to go ahead. Campbell Forsyth dispossesed David Catlin as the Gala keeper attempted to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick and knocked across goal, where Somerville scrambled it into the net. Vale's lead was doubled in the 21st minute, as Somerville ran on to a John Sanders pass to round Catlin and finish from a tight angle. The third, in 38 minutes, was courtesy of a slip by Gala's Shane Greene, who presented MacKale with an easy chance to poke the ball past an exposed Catlin. The penalty arrived when Des Sutherland attempted to get past Vale substitute Scott Johnston. The big defender appeared to do everything right, standing up to the wiry striker, but when Sutherland went to ground, the referee ruled that there had been a tug on Sutherland's shirt and pointed to the spot. You could argue about the award, but you couldn't argue about the spot kick itself, as Greene gave Vale keeper Mark Wilson no chance with a text-book penalty high into the net.
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Ronald Fleming, Ross McManus, John Sanders, Campbell Forsyth (Scott Johnston 67), Colin Smith, Ryan McManus, Raymond Fleming, Aaron Somerville (Lewis Montgomery 61), Mike MacKale (Greig Shortreed 61), Richard Edge.
Gala Fairydean: David Catlin; Scott MacKenzie (Kyle Collins 78), Gareth Wood, Laurie Dunn, Shane Greene, Paul Hossack, John Kayser (Grant Gass 73), Paul Mackay, Des Sutherland, Kev Mathieson (Welsh Curran 61), Jay Wilson.
• The draw for the Second Round will take place on Tuesday 2nd October, at Annan Athletic's Galabank Stadium.

24/09/07 Club Statement
"Vale of Leithen FC confirm the departure of Manager Stuart Robertson from the Club.
"After the disappointing start to the season, with five defeats in the opening Seven matches, the Club now feel it is time to move forward in a different direction.
"Stuart has been a loyal and hard-working servant in his two spells with the Club, and we thank him for his dedication and committment.
"Assistant Manager Robbie Clark and Head Coach Jack Diamond have been placed in charge for this weekend's Scottish Cup tie at home to local rivals Gala Fairydean.
"The Club are now considering options for a full time replacement manager."

22/09/07 Vale Part Company With Manager Robertson
Following today's defeat against Eyemouth United, the Vale management committee have taken the decision to remove Stuart Robertson from his position as team manager. Further details and an official statement from the club will follow soon.

15/09/07 Gala Farydean 1-1 Vale of Leithen
Like the famous episode of Faulty Towers where Basil tries not to mention the war, everyone tried not to mention the Scottish Cup at Netherdale, but it was never far away from anyone's mind. The fact that both sides got their First Division campaigns off to a start that saw them neither win nor lose, was not much of a surprise. But a generally poor 90 minutes merely threw up more intrigue about what might happen in a fortnight's time. Gala took the lead in the 20th minute, as Des Sutherland turned in a Johnny Kayser free kick and the home side were the better team for the majority of the game. But ten minutes from the end, Vale substitute Mike MacKale produced a moment of magic as he deftly chipped an Aaron Somerville cross over Gala keeper David Cattlin. Anyone looking at this game for clues as to how the Scottish Cup tie will turn out can only conclude that a replay looks highly likely.
Gala Fairydean: David Cattlin; Andrew McDonald, Gareth Wood, Paul Hossack, Laurie Dunn, John Kayser (Kev Matheison 69), Jay Wilson, Grant Gass, Des Sutherland (Grant Robinson 85), Paul MacKay (Kyle Collins 69), Welsh Curran.
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; Ryan McManus, Ross McManus, John Sanders, Campbell Forsyth (Mike Mackale 64), Raymond Fleming, Scott Johnston (Ronald Fleming 59), Colin Smith, Aaron Somerville, Greig Shortreed (Steven Whiteford 64), Lewis Montgomery.

07/09/07 Vale of Leithen 2-3 Selkirk
It was another defeat as Vale rounded off their League Cup section fixtures, but the Innerleithen men rediscovered their fighting spirit. With Annan Athletic beating Heriot-Watt the previous night at Riccarton, Selkirk had to win by four clear goals to have any chance of progressing in the competition and duly committed themselves to an attacking game. With Vale trying hard to restore some pride, it meant an open, entertaining game for the large Friday night crowd. Due to the absence of regular goalie Mark Wilson, Vale had to go through the process of signing Penicuik goalkeeper Robert Hall for one game, thanks to the rule that disallows trialists in cup competitions. Selkirk took the lead on 17 minutes when Craig Livingstone followed up after Hall had parried Ryan Pritchard's shot. Two minutes later, Vale were awarded a penalty after Selkirk keeper John Dodds had clattered Aaron Somerville while punching the ball clear and Scott Johnston tucked the spot kick away. Selkirk took the lead again in the first minute of the second half as Livingston shot home his second and Alan Jackson grabbed their third on the hour mark. In the 63rd minute, Lewis Montgomery pulled one back for Vale, bringing down a high ball into the box and slotting past Dodds. Vale picked up a number of yellow cards, with Greig Shortreed, Robbie Clark, Aaron Somerville, Scott Johnston and Colin Smith all walking a tightrope and five minutes from the end, Clark walked for a second yellow after illegally halting Livingstone's progress. Going down to ten men didn't seem to make much difference to Vale as play continued to swing from end to end, but no further goals came.
Vale of Leithen: Robert Hall; John Sanders, Ross McManus, Robbie Clark, Campbell Forsyth (Raymond Fleming 57), Lewis Montgomery (Steven Whiteford 75), Scott Johnston, Colin Smith (Ryan McManus 75), Aaron Somerville, Greig Shortreed, Richard Edge.
Selkirk: John Dodds; Kyle McCulloch (Lee Stephen 64), Andrew Brown, Gary Lothian, John Waldie, Ryan Pritchard (Ian Potts 68), Alan Jackson (Craig Evenden 75), Chris Anderson, Craig Livingstone, Craig Tyson, Michael Romanes.
• Due to a an problem at the printers, there was no match programme available at the game, but it can be downloaded here.

01/09/07 Vale of Leithen 1-3 Easthouses Lily
Vale slumped to their third defeat in a row of what is fast becoming a dispiriting League Cup campaign. With Easthouses now tied on points at the top of the Section with Annan Athletic and Selkirk, they will no doubt be furious with themselves for passing up the opportunity to give their goal difference a boost by converting a few more of the barrell load of chances they created during the 90 minutes. Lily took the lead in the 20th minute, when a free kick played into the area eventually fell to Stuart Love, who volleyed home. Although second best in every other respect, Vale's equaliser in the 28th minute was the best goal of the game, Greg Shortreed playing a delightful pass into the path of Richard Edge, who finished superbly. But Easthouses regained the lead within two minutes through Scott Borthwick and could have gone further ahead a minute later as Love headed wide from a good position. Captain David Edgar saw a header come back off the post, before another two efforts from Borthwick failed to find the target. At the beginning of the second half, things started to get a bit ridiculous as Easthouses laid virtual seige to the Vale goal with Darren McGlashan, Love and Kenny McMillan with a trio of chances, somehow failing to find the net. Lily did grab a third on the hour mark through McMillan, as he swept Love's cross into the net. Despite more chances, the visitors failed to find the target again, and indeed it was Vale who almost pulled one back a minute from time as a Steven Whiteford shot took a wicked deflection off Shortreed, bringing a fantastic save from Craig Weir, the keeper stretching brilliantly to claw it away from the top corner.
Vale of Leithen: Mark Wilson; John Sanders, Ross McManus, Scott Johnston, Campbell Forsyth, Richard Edge, Robbie Clark (Mike MacKale 77), Ryan McManus (Paul Knowles 53), Aaron Somerville (Lewis Montgomery 61), Greg Shortreed, Steven Whiteford.
Easthouses Lily: Craig Weir; Euan Smith (James Currie 77), Ross Cameron, Craig Gow (Brian McEwan 82), David Edgar, William Kidd, Darren McGlashan, Ross Gaylor, Stuart Love (John Hunter 77), Scott Borthwick, Kenny McMillan.