Vale of Leven 4-1 Royal Albert
A dominant first-half saw Vale of Leven win for the first time since September, breathing new life into their hopes of avoiding the drop.
Goals from Danny Paterson, Lee McGeachy and Joe May had the Vale 3-0 up at half-time, with Leo Currie getting in on the act in the second-half.
And boss Brian Brown was full of praise for his side who could - and should - have won by more.
He said: “When you’re caught in a rut then you start to wonder if it’s going to be another one of those Saturdays.
“To get the early goal and then follow it up with two more before half-time puts you in a far better place.
“To be fair the boys have been playing some really good stuff and getting into some great positions. It’s just not been coming off for us.
“But in the tricky conditions to continue to try and play the ball on the deck is a credit to them. I just wish they’d play more like that when it’s sunny!
“I’ve been saying for weeks though that we’ve been playing fine. It’s just been a matter of keeping the ball out at one end and putting it in at the other end that’s been causing us issues.”
Brown reserved praise for his strikeforce of Joe May and Lewis King, who gave the Albert defence a torrid afternoon.
He continued: “I sometimes feel a bit sorry for Lewis because he’s been shifted about a fair bit. But we know what we get from him no matter where on the park we’ve asked him to play.
“He always gives us everything he’s got and he’s a big talent. If he can just add some goals into that then he’ll be a big handful.
“Joe is the same. He’s an absolute pest who doesn’t stop. The two of them give us a real physical presence and they must be a nightmare to play against. I was really happy with how they linked up.”
In hideous conditions it took the Vale just under two minutes to find a breakthrough, as Danny Paterson bravely headed in Lee McGeachy’s corner at the front post.
McGeachy himself then had an effort saved by the Albert goalkeeper, before Martin Connolly appeared to be hauled down after bursting in on goal - but referee Fraser MacAra was unmoved.
Lewis King was then denied by an excellent save from the visiting keeper, before Royal Albert had an effort of their own cleared off the line.
Vale finally doubled their lead with 25 minutes on the clock as McGeachy curled a superb effort in via the join of post and bar.
Two good Kyle Baird saves then denied the visiting side, before Vale scored an excellent third goal as the game neared half-time.
A slick passing move set Lewis King in on goal, and he unselfishly set up strike partner Joe May, who finished clinically from inside the area.
The second-half saw Vale continue to dominate, with King again finding his luck out in front of goal as he hit the side netting after opening up space in the area.
As the game hit the hour mark the Vale added a richly deserved fourth.
A corner was only half cleared, with substitute Leo Currie blasting home a vicious strike for his first top team goal.
A late scramble saw Royal Albert pull a goal back, before sub Scott Arthur was denied a fifth of the afternoon for the Vale after being sent clean through on goal, only to be denied by another good save from the visitors’ keeper.
This weekend the Vale are on the road, as they travel to face league new boys Finnart at Springburn Park.
And boss Brown has challenged his side to build on the victory.
He added: It’s important that we go and get the three points on Saturday.
“A few of the results at the weekend went for us which has let us claw back a couple of teams. The next few weeks will be vitally important.
“I think we’re in a false position, so anyone taking us lightly is taking their chances.
“Hopefully we can kick on and we’ll be back on track again.”
Kick off in Glasgow is 3pm.
