Breadalbane travelled to Crieff to play in what promised to be an intriguing Ashleigh Cup quarter final against newly crowned second division champions Vale of Earn.

The home side have swept all before them in the league this season and started the match brimming with the confidence of a side used to winning. Their quick and youthful midfield dominated the early stages as their first division opponents laboured to get to grips with the game. Having served early notice, when the crossbar kept out a stunning 30 yard volley, it came as little surprise when they took the lead in 20 minutes. A ball into the box was flicked on by the Vale striker to his unmarked team mate, who nodded home comfortably from close range.

At this point it looked as if there would be only one winner in this match, but the experienced heads in the Breadalbane side eventually began to assert themselves on proceedings. Robertson and Jacobs started to get a measure of their midfield counterparts and Chucky Carr began to find himself more space down the left flank. Vale of Earn, however, showed stubborn resistance and Breadalbane were unable to create any clear cut chances.

The second half continued in much the same fashion as Breadalbane continued to dominate, but showed a frustrating lack of composure in front of goal. On the hour mark, however, they made the breakthrough. Laing burst into the box and his well struck effort was parried by the home keeper as far as Gavin Price, who instinctively hooked home the rebound.

Minutes later Breadalbane took the lead. Carr’s pace and trickery took him away from the home defence and his pinpoint cross found da Silva lurking at the far post to squeeze a header over the line from an awkward angle.

Breadalbane continued in the ascendency, but failed to kill off the home side, despite the best efforts of Carr, who cracked a trademark free kick off the inside of the post. A late rally from the Vale threatened to take the tie into extra-time, but Menzies and his defence coped admirably with a series of crosses and thankfully saw the game out inside the regulation 90 minutes.

So, the season remains very much alive for Breadalbane, who now face a tough trip to Letham if they are to reach their first Ashleigh Cup Final since 1998.

Breadalbane:
Menzies, McAdam, Smith, Veitch, Cromb, I Robertson (MacDougall), Jacobs, Laing, Carr, G Price, da Silva

Subs (not used): Klatschak, D Robertson, C Price