Vale of Clyde gaffer 'frustrated' with his side's start to season

Aug 24 2009 By Fraser Wilson

JOHN Crooks has voiced his frustration after watching his Vale of Clyde side throw away a two goal lead - and all three points - against Kilbirnie Ladeside.

The Tollcross men have one point from their opening two league matches after drawing against Bellshill on the first day of the campaign.

But player-boss Crooks feels it could be so much better.

Adding to his ire is the fact the Fullarton Park men have a mini injury crisis on their plate already.

Defender Jamie Wilson (medial ligament), midfielder Steven McDevitt (shoulder) and frontman Aldo Mackin (cartilage) all face long spells on the sidelines.

And to top it all off Crooks himself is set to undergo surgery to clean up an old cartilage problem in the next fortnight.

The fledgling manager admitted:  "We have taken a point from the first two games but it could have been a lot better.

"I'm frustrated that we were 2-0 up on Saturday and lost the game not through conceding good goals but through poor defending and poor marking in the box.

"It's also frustrating that I have not had my strongest pool available to me at any stage yet this season.

"There's been times when I have been missing five or six players at a time and it doesn't look to be getting much better soon.

"On the plus side though we are no worse off than we were at this stage last season.

"And I feel when the new boys get to grips with the level they are now at then we will come good."

Vale were leading 2-0 against Kilbirnie thanks to goals from Robert Dunn and David Meechan but threw it away after midfielder Craig Halliday picked up his second red card in as many games.

"I felt Craig was unlucky," said Crooks.

"He was sent off for raising his hands but it was more like a coming together of two players committed to the tackle.

"He is new to this level and maybe he has to understand that he won't always get it his own way.

"But I'm sure he will learn."

Vale of Clyde are at home to Arthurlie in the Stagecoach Super Premier League this Saturday with a 2pm kick off.