North Merchiston Vale 3 - 1 Links Utd

Vale got their season off to the best possible start with a home win against Links Utd, it was also the start of a new era for the club with numerous changes over the summer debuts were handed to 4 new players - Chris Reid and Blair Paterson in midfield, Marc Ritchie wide right and the versatile Fraser Seywright starting up front in the absence of Chris Keir and Neil Rankin.

After the first 20 minutes of both teams nulling each other out, the visitors opened the scoring after the Vale rearguard failed to deal with a free kick from deep. The Links striker was forst to react to a loose ball and was allowed time to pick his spot in the top corner past teh helpless Delso in the Vale goal.

Vale reacted well and were back on level terms 5 minutes later, Paterson found space in midfield and picked out fellow debutant Seywright who timed his run to perfection and calmly slot past the keeper to grab his first goal for the club.

Vale started the second half well and found themselves with a 2 goal advantage within 15 minutes of the restart. On 55 mins Gibbons burst forward from full back picking up a pass from Reid and drove at the Links defence, once in the area he cut on to his left and curled a left foot shot in to the top corner with the aid of a slight deflection leaving the keeper helpless.

Four minutes later Gibbons returned the favour, finding Reid in space. The young midfielder showed exactly why the club were chasing his signature in the summer by smashing an unstoppable left foot drive beyond the keeper from 25 yards.

Links continued to push for a goal to get them back in the game but the Vale defence held out and looked lively on the counter attack but were unable to add to their tally. Fraser Seywright picked up the man of the match award for his tireless display up front causing a constant nuisance to the Links back line.

A well earned 3 points to start the season off was exactly what was required with 4 league games in the first 10 days of the season.

Team: Delso; Gibbons, Millar, McDougall, Byrne (Banks); Notman, Reid, Paterson; Ritchie (Duffy), Seywright, Sproule.

Goals: Seywright, Gibbons, Reid

Assists: Paterson, Reid, Gibbons

Yellow Cards: Byrne

MOM: Seywright