Vale made a great start to their week by beating local rivals Yoker at Millburn last Wednesday evening. Star of the night was striker Bryan Boal who grabbed a double as Vale raced to a three goal lead at the break. With goal difference likely to decide the section it was important that Vale scored as many as possible to give themselves a chance to pip Greenock on the last day.

Vale started with Boal in attack in preference to youngster Meechan and with Gentile returning from holiday to take the place of the injured Fox in midfield.

Boal took just three minutes to justify his inclusion in the starting eleven with a stunning left foot drive from the left hand edge of the area that gave Rogers in the visitors goal little chance.

Vale could have added to their score 7 minutes later when another powerful shot from the industrious Boal was dropped by the keeper and Wardle sliding in could only put the ball into the side netting. A couple of minutes later Maclaurin in the Vale goal produced a couple of excellent close range saves as Yoker began to pose a threat.

After 33 minutes Vale went further ahead when Bryan Boal pounced on a slack pass back from Yoker captain McGuire to slot the ball past the advancing Rogers for his and Vales second.

On the stroke of half time Vale added a third. Deeley played a corner short to Gentile and after taking a return pass he crossed the ball to Wardle who knocked the ball on to Alan Brown on the edge of the area. His rising shot cannoned off the crossbar only for the keeper to produce a super stop from Jim Meechan. The defender was up first to head the rebound over the keeper and into the net.

The second half was very much a non event as Vale threw on all three subs but they became casual and failed to create anything, even when Yoker were reduced to 10 men with 14 minutes remaining.

Team: Maclaurin, Lacy, Wardle, J.Meechan, Dalrymple, Hunter (Wilson), Brown, Gentile, Deeley (Renton), Ward, Boal (D.Meechan).