30/03/2019  |  League

Cumbernauld Colts   2  v  1  Vale of Leithen

COLTS returned to winning ways in the Lowland League ending a run of seven games without victory by claiming maximum points against Vale of Leithen at Broadwood.

Goals from Craig Murray and sub Craig Henderson either side of Marc Berry�s spot kick for the visitors were enough to secure the win which gives the Cumbernauld men fresh hope of a top six finish.
Both teams took time to settle into the game in what began like a typical end of season affair with clear cut chances very few and far between in the opening exchanges.

The Vale of Leithen defence were well organised from the start and they limited Colts to efforts on goal from distance. Arnault Bembo went close in 12 minutes with an audacious attempt from 40 yards which went narrowly over the bar with visiting keeper Ross Gilpin stranded.
And then both Craig Holmes and Jordan Pirrie also had efforts from the edge of the box which scraped the outside of the post and bar respectively as Colts looked the more likely team to edge in front.

The Broadwood men began to step up the pressure and in 27 minutes they broke the deadlock with the best move of the game. Murray collected the ball on the right side of midfield and released Stephen O' Neill who skipped past full back Craig McBride before showing great composure to roll the ball back into the path of Murray who delightfully clipped the ball into the top corner over keeper Gilpin's head.

Colts looked determined to extend their lead for the 10 minutes following their goal, but in 44 minutes the visitors hit back when Brad Rixon was pulled down in the box by Jordan Pettigrew, and Berry made no mistake from the spot to level the game at half time.

Again in the second period there were long spells of the game where chances were very hard to come by as neither team were able stamp their authority on the game.
However, in 78 minutes both teams had a glaring chances to take the lead firstly for the visitors when Liiam Ireland watched his goal bound snap shot from 10 yards brilliantly by Pettigrew.

And then at the other end after a sweeping Colts move following Pettigrew's save trialist Daniel Fitzpatrick was found inside the six yard box unmarked but the tall striker headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
And then in 80 minutes skipper Greg Pascazio had a great chance to potentially win it for Colts with a header from Henderson�s corner but his effort crashed back off the bar with Gilpin beaten.

But in 87 minutes Henderson came up trumps for the hosts when O'Neill was the provider once again picking out Henderson at the edge of the box and man on loan from Livingston drilled the ball low past Gilpin to secure the points for Colts.