Yoker Athletic…1 v Rossvale…2
By Steffan Coutts
Rossvale stand on the cusp of making history after defeating Yoker but gaffer Gordon Moffat stayed relaxed and just wants promotion confirmed before the celebrations kick off.
David Leadbetter and Stephen McGladrigan put Vale two up but Rory McKinnon halved the deficit making the visitors sweat out the result.
With Forth Wanderers nicking a last minute winner against Neilston it helped Vale in the standings and he told GMS:
“We’re nearly there but we’re not there yet so we’ve said to them afore the game that it’s like a cup final and with St Roch’s not playing it was important we went out and did our job.
“It’s difficult to say just forget about everyone else and concentrate on our results and we did that until Yoker scored in which it was a composed performance until then.
“I was keen not to talk about titles until a couple of months ago as it wasn’t the right time and we’re now in a position where we win two games of football and we’re there.
“First and foremost when I came it was to get the team up and we’re nearly there but if we win the title as well then it’s a brilliant bonus.
“We were composed up until the goal went in but when there’s so much at stake it’s a natural thing to defend and drop into your box and I was saying to them there was no need for it.
“Have a wee bit of confidence and composure as a defensive unit rather than fall deep but I can understand that in injury time but not with 15 minutes to go – that was the only small negative of an otherwise good day for us.
“I’m delighted with the result as this is one the other teams were probably looking at as a tricky one as Yoker are a decent side but to come away with three points is excellent for us.”
Vale were ahead on four minutes as Gary McGrath nodded into the path of Leadbetter who outmuscled his man and fired past Liam Campbell for the opener.
Liam McGonigle was next up with a long range freekick that troubled the car park wall more than Yoker keeper Campbell.
Although moments later McGonigle was unlucky after collecting a Peter Bradley freekick and making space but fired right at the Holm Park custodian.
Next up was Matt Niven rising high above the hosts defence to head straight a McGonigle corner at Campbell for an easy collection.
Vale could have felt aggrieved after Kirk Forbes’ defence splitting pass found Jamie Hunter whose deft touch set him on a plate just as whistler Ryan Oliver blew for offside.
McGladrigan should have done better after Anton McDowell set him free but instead of rounding Campbell outside the box he forced a smart save from the keeper’s feet.
But on 55 minutes McGladrigan got lucky when McDowell sent in a cross from the right that deflected off Andrew Rankin and fell kindly for him to nudge in.
Yoker then shuffled their deck and brought on two subs that injected a bit of life into their performance and it paid off on 79 minutes.
Ryan Hynes led a charge into the Vale box and after a bit of body tennis forced a save from Jamie Donnelly, that fell to McKinnon to make no mistake from close range to halve the deficit.
Vale immediately closed ranks and lost their brio allowing Yoker to carve them up at will, and they came close to a late leveller with only the strong hands of Donnelly holding Kerr Allan’s effort from distance.
Yoker: Campbell, Rankin, Cole (B19), Henry, Allan, Bissland, Cree, Howie, Hynes, Young (B61, Maxwell 67), Haddow (McKinnon 67)
Subs not used: Gaddi, Carson, Mulholland
Rossvale: Donnelly, McDowell, Leadbetter, Niven, Bradley, McGrath, Seaton (O’Hare 68), Forbes, McGladrigan (Fernie 77), Hunter, McGonigle (B15)
Subs not used: Tough (SGK), Moffat
Ref: Ryan Oliver
GMS MoTM: Kirk Forbes (Rossvale FC)
GoalmouthScramble 