CELTS TO THE FOUR BUT STEVE IS REAL WINNER

Steve Dolan was rewarded for his Ten Years loyal service to Deveronvale Football Club on Friday evening when a bumper crowd saw a young Celtic side run out four nil winners against a Vale select in "Dippy's" Testimonial Match.
Dolan's squad for the match included former Vale stars Graeme Cadger, now applying his trade with local rivals Keith, Ritchie Singer who is currently playing for Banks of Dee Juniors, Barry Dolan, brother of Steve, who plays his football in the Dundee Junior League with Broughty Ferry and local lad Alan Mair, sponsor of Steve Dolan for many years, and is a regular with Banff Rovers and a well known face at Princess Royal Park.
A perfect evening for football saw both sides led onto the field by local Piper Ian Mackie in front of a crowd of around 1500 who had turned out to honour the Dundonian on his big night.
The visitors were coached on their journey north by former Scottish International defender Danny McGrain and included a couple of fringe first team players in their line up.
As the game got underway Mike Doyle was quick to show that Celtic meant business trying his luck from distance without troubling Fraser Speirs, in the Vale goal. Speirs was called into action minutes later but held Bonnes' effort comfortably as the Glasgow side broke up field at pace. It took the visitors just 18 minutes to break the deadlock when Doyle tapped home from close range after Speirs could only parry Beattie's volley into the midfielder's path.
The home keeper was called into action again moments later when he dived bravely at Beattie's feet as the big striker bore down on him. McParland should have doubled Celtic's lead when he latched onto a through ball leaving Montgomery in his wake but his attempted lob over the advancing Speirs dropped the wrong side of the post. Cadger replaced Craigie and was soon in the action when he played a neat one two with Murray only to see his clipped effort drift past the far post without troubling Celtic keeper, Michael Herbert.
Speirs pulled off a fine double save to keep Vale in the game diving low to his left to foil Bonnes and then was quickly down again to block the rebound, much to the dismay of the Celtic forward. Doyle then saw his flicked header cannon off the crossbar and fall to safety with the home defence caught ball watching. On the stoke of half time Murray forced Herbert into a relatively easy save from his tamely struck free kick.

Cadger's drive was just off target before Levi Stephen warmed Herbert's hands with a well struck shot which was a little too central to seriously trouble the visiting keeper. A nice move down the right by the home side ended with Murray blasting well wide of the target as Vale looked the more likely to score.
Substitute Ritchie Singer then had a decent chance when he met a McAllister cross from the right but the ex-Vale winger headed wide of the upright. Murray was caught in possession 25 yards from his own goal leaving Doyle in acres of space to hammer the ball past the helpless Speirs and put Celtic two-up.
Speirs saved well with his legs and at the other end McKenzie forced Herbert into a diving save after good work by Singer on the left flank. Bonnes scored a third for the visitors when he beat Dolan to a through ball and calmly shot past Speirs from 16 yards.
Barry Dolan almost brought the house down moments later when he latched on to a Stephen cross and sent a high shot goal wards but Herbert was equal to it, pulling off a flying save high to his left at the expense of a corner. Celtic completed the scoring when Fyfe lashed home from 8 yards following a mix up in the Vale defence.


Although losing the match Manager Gregg Carrol was more than pleased with his side's performance feeling that four nil somewhat flattered the visitors. Carrol was equally delighted that such a large crowd turned out to pay tribute to "Dippy" on the night.
Dolan, a man of few words, paid tribute to all the workers behind the scene who had made the night possible and such a success including the Directors & Management of Deveronvale Football Club, the Sponsors & Guests, the two Mascots (Kian Beaton & Grant Whyte), Ian Mackie the Piper and to Celtic Football Club. He also thanked the large crowd who turned up to watch and pay homage and would like to confirm to the Vale faithful that retirement from the game is not in his immediate plans.
Dippy singled out locals Billy Anderson and Nigel Montgomery as the influence behind his prolonged stay and love affair with Deveronvale Football Club.