ELTON Vale put in a spirited performance but were knocked out of the Murray Shield after league rivals Fives Athletic scored a last-gasp winner.

The closely fought tie could have gone either way.

Vale played into the strong wind in the first half and their defence stayed strong as they soaked up all the pressure.

Elton used the conditions to their advantage after the break and took the lead through a Tom Stubbs header just before the hour, nodding in a Lee Dickenson free-kick at the near post.

Fives Athletics wingers then started to come into the game and caused the Elton defence problems.

Their equaliser came when a Jake Hardman through-ball was met by Simon Grindley, whose snap-shot trickled in past the out stretched hand of Phil Kenyon.

With both teams seemingly preparing for extra time, Ben Beresford broke Elton’s hearts with an unstoppble strike.

Cutting in from the right, he smashed a driven shot into the roof of the net, giving Kenyon no chance.