Spartans coach David MacDonald was as mystified as everyone else at Arboretum this morning as to how the home side never won at least a replay from this game. Time and time again Spartans Colts were clear through on goal only to be thwarted by a combination of good goalkeeping and missed chances.

Visiting coach Neil MacRae will, on the other hand, be delighted to see the young Hutchison Vale boys progress to the next round after losing their goalkeeper at 1-0 down but still finding enough to come from behind to win this game with 2 goals from G Dunn.

Quite how this very entertaining cup tie only produced 3 goals is astounding. Chances galore at both ends went a begging but in the end it was fitting that the best football player on the pitch, G Dunn, secured Hutchison Vale Colts' passage into the next round.

The Arboretum pitch was in magnificent condition, in contrast to the quite awful changing facilities that the 2 teams and referee Len Blackie had to endure. Perhaps these metal containers had an effect on the teams as they took to the pitch as it was some 10 minutes before there was any real meaningful action. Spartans red-haired right winger Ben Dempsey gave early notice of his menace by wriggling free on the right and sending in a low cross come shot which was only just out of reach of the industrious Jamie Clark.

At the other end Hutchison Vale got their first shot at goal away with K Hamilton testing out the excellent Spartans goalkeeper, Joe Jones, from the edge of the box.

The game had now sprung to life and Spartans swept straight upfield and should have gone 1-0 up after Jamie Clark side footed over the bar from 8 yards after good work on the right once again. Clark was again put in a great position to open the scoring after he was sent clear with a long ball from inside Spartans own half. He raced in on goalkeeper D Petrie and this time he made no mistake as he drilled a low shot into the bottom left hand corner after 16 minutes.

The game was swinging from end to end and whilst Hutchison Vale were perhaps showing better touch and control it was Spartans that were more effective with their final balls.

In 25 minutes Hutchison Vale's keeper Petrie collided with Spartans big captain, Fraser Cullen, in a race for a 50/50 ball and it was the young keeper who came off worse. After some lengthy treatment to his knee he was able to continue but it was clear he was having difficulty with movement.

Shortly after the re-start Vale had a good chance to equalise when J Dickson was played in on the left. His initial shot was saved by Joe Jones and the big Spartans keeper reacted quickest to the loose ball before Dickson could poke home.

Immediately, at the other end, Clark should have had his and Spartans second when he was sent clear again, this time by Mathew Smyth, but the injured Petrie saved well at point blank range. Then it was Dunn's chance to score as he was put clear on the left for Hutchison Vale. He ran on well with the ball but screwed his shot agonisingly just wide of the keeper's left hand post.

Vale were now pressing hard for an equaliser with Spartans reduced to more sporadic attacks down both wings. Dunn, Semple and Hamilton were starting to cause all sorts of problems for Spartans with their control and trickery and it was great to see such skill on display.

On 34 minutes there was a blow for Hutchison Vale, though, as goalkeeper Petrie was unable to continue and B Brown swapped the black and gold for the number one jersey. The green haired keeper looked the part as he set out to keep Spartans at the one goal for just over a full half of this match.

But just as Spartans must have felt the match was theirs for the taking, Hutchison Vale equalised. K Hamilton showed some lovely skills on the left flank teasing and turning the Spartans defence before sending over a terrific cross into the front post. First man there was little G Dunn who stole in ahead of keeper Jones and the Spartans central defender to nod home and close off the half at 1-1.

B Brown

It was Hutchison Vale who started the second half the stronger with early chances for both G Dunn and K Hamilton. The pair were showing some lovely control and touch around the edge of the box but at this stage Spartans were holding out fairly comfortably. Then in 45 minutes goalkeeper Jones let a high ball slip from his grasp and Dunn was on hand to lash his, and Vale's second, home. It capped a very good come back for Hutchison Vale, particularly after having lost their goalkeeper just before half time. It was an unusual error for the big Spartans keeper, whose handling up until that point had been quite brilliant, and which indeed continued to be so for the rest of this match.

Spartans had started to lose their shape a little following this as Hutchison Vale went looking for a third. Their first half success down the wings and with channelled balls seemed to have deserted them and they were struggling to cope with the guile and movement of the Vale attack. Slowly but surely however they started to turn the game back in their favour. Substitute Darren Thomson was linking up very well with Ben Dempsey on the right and this pair started to cause the Hutchison Vale left hand side all kinds of problems.

First Dempsey was put through but replacement keeper Brown reacted well and raced from his goal to collect. Then Thomson surged through on his own from midfield and hit a terrific shot that whistled past the left hand post with the keeper beaten. Shortly afterwards, it was the turn of substitute Craig Gunderson to test the Hutchison Vale rearguard after more great work by Thomson and Dempsey and this time Brown was the hero with a fine save which was turned around the right hand post. From the resultant corner, Spartans captain, Fraser Cullen curled in a lovely dead ball which bounced off the top of the bar and was cleared to safety.

It was now all Spartans as they went in search of an equaliser to take this match to extra time.

But they were always susceptible to the breakaway and when Turnbull was played in by Dunn it looked like Vale would be out of sight but the forward shot into the side netting. Then Dunn almost secured his hat-trick but keeper Jones saved well high to his right.

With just minutes to go, Darren Thomson, almost took the match into added time with a terrific shot that somehow evaded the Hutchison Vale left hand post. The Spartans lads had given their all but it wasn't to be and as referee Len Blackie blew for full time it was the boys in black and gold that raised their arms aloft in celebration (and probably a little relief) at progressing.

This was a terrific match of end to end attacking football with both sides giving their all and playing the game in the right spirit. There were several good performances. Spartans huge left midfielder Mathew Smyth had a good first half before being replaced and captain Fraser Cullen was always in the thick of things, driving his team on. At the back, Chris Gilfillan, marshalled his defence very well and the young sweeper showed good composed footballing skills when under pressure. Right winger, Ben Dempsey, tormented all day and Darren Thomson made a very telling contribution in the second half with his fresher legs.

Best for Hutchison Vale were their three "wee men", Dunn, Hamilton and Semple. Their green haired hero in goal, Brown, was quite brilliant in the 36 minutes between the sticks and Petrie had a fine game at the back for them.

The Pink Man of the Match, however, goes to wee G Dunn. His goals apart, he showed some really terrific skills. Always comfortable with the ball, his first touch and movement were excellent and it was fitting that his goals won the match.

Vale coach, Neil MacRae said, "I though we played well especially after having lost our goalkeeper. We have had the same bunch of boys now since they were playing soccer sevens and they are a great group. I'm pleased to report that goalkeeper, D Petrie is OK although he may need to miss goalkeeping school tomorrow."

Home coach David MacDonald was understandably bewildered at how they never scored more in this game, "We had an awful lot of chances and we missed our centre forward. We've played the Vale Colts a few times now and all the games are similar." He then went on to praise the opposing team's man of the match, "I thought the wee Hutchison Vale number 7 (Dunn) had a great game. He was so good with the ball at his feet."

G Dunn