Bens Draw A Veil Over Cup Defeats

After last week's West of Scotland cup exit to Troon, Bens were back on league business facing Vale of Clyde at Tinto Park this afternoon.


The East End side headed for Govan having conceded an average of over 3 goals a game in their six outings to date while Bens were hoping to get their home record back on track following their loss to the Ants in the league and the two cup defeats.


The Bens opened spritely and even although their final ball wasn't perfect, exposed the shakiness in the Vale backline with each attack.


The opener came on the half hour mark after a Bens free-kick on the right hand side. The cross in was cleared towards the halfway line where a Bens defender intercepted and fed a ball low into the box on the right side. Shane Jackson was quickly onto the pass, slipping the ball past the advancing goalkeeper from a tight angle and into the net.


A well taken goal from the Bens' newcomer who displayed a lot of energy buzzing around the midfield area in the opening stages.


Into the second half, Bens knew they'd need at least another goal to settle the match and guard against any Troon style comebacks.


They'd no problem taking the game to Vale with Gibson and Mackenzie playing wide, giving the midfield outlets and stretching the visitors' defence. It was from a move on the right on 57 minutes that Bens' second came: Gibson was tight on the byeline but twisted and turned to work the opening he required to flight a perfect cross in for Max Asante to head high past the Vale keeper.

Six minutes later the match was over as a contest when Shane Jackson grabbed his second and Bens' third. The eager midfielder made another of his runs into the box getting on the end of the pass to convert from a tight angle and cap an excellent afternoon's work.

The Vale must have realised their efforts were in vain on 75 minutes when hesitation in the Bens defence allowed the unmarked centre to get on the end of a cross only to see his header beaten out by Quinn and in the closing minutes when the same player got on the end of a rifled cross only to see his six yard, point blank header blocked once again by the Bens' keeper.

A good performance from Bens moving the ball well in forward areas, particularly in the second half while there is still room for improvement defensively but today's efforts were rewarded with a clean sheet and three valuable points.

Next week is the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup but Bens travel to Shettleston for one of the few league matches scheduled.

BENBURB: Quinn, C Jackson, Lavery, McInnes, Baikie, Wright, Gibson, S Jackson, Asante, Waddell, Mackenzie.