Palmerston date for Abbey Vale

Feb 6 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

ABBEY VALE play Queen of the South in the first round of the Challenge Cup tonight at Palmerston.

The New Abbey players are looking forward to the match with great enthusiasm, having come close to coming away with something from their South of Scotland league match against Stranraer Reserves last time out.

Abbey Vale manager, Dave Clark, said: “We were all disappointed because we felt we should have taken something from the match after going two up early on.

“They play some good football but we stuck to our guns and made a couple of changes and when they went three two up we thought that was it but we then scored a cracker from about 35 yards and I thought that we were good enough for a draw.

“Their winner came in the 92nd minute so it was not to be, but I was impressed by the boys’ attitudes and a bit disappointed at the final result.”

Queens are expected to field a young side for this Challenge Cup match against Vale and Dave Clark said: “We were offered the chance of a night game at Palmerston so we accepted that and by playing on a Friday night it helps them as well with their youngsters playing on a Sunday.

“It’s supposed to be their under 17 side we’ll be playing with maybe a couple of under 16s added in but our boys are looking forward to the match as it will be the first time some of them will have played there.”

The Challenge Cup match was originally scheduled to be played at New Abbey but following the cup draw earlier in the season it was agreed between the two clubs that the match should be played midweek as Queens’ youngsters play their matches on a Sunday. The match kicks-off at 7.30pm tonight.