Border Telegraph | Sport | Table-toppers 'Dean keep feet firmly on the ladder

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 15th October, 2008 09:00

Table-toppers 'Dean keep feet firmly on the ladder

By Ally McGilvray

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GALA Fairydean co-manager Derek Hancock revealed the club is enjoying its best start to a season for years.

The Netherdale side moved top of East of Scotland League Division One following their weekend win at home to Border rivals Kelso.

However, they will be aiming to avoid crashing back to earth with a bump when they tackle Ormiston away in the league on Saturday.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph this week, Hancock said: “This is the best start to the season we have had since I joined the club. We are three points in front of Gretna at the top of the table, although they have three games in hand - all we can do now is keep trying to win our games.”

But he joked: “We have never been here before… we’ll all be getting nose bleeds.”

Gala languished at the bottom of the table when Hancock and co-manager Bryan Templeton arrived to take charge three seasons ago.

However, despite being broke, the management duo have helped transform the fortunes of the club around both on and off the park.

And their focus remains on winning promotion to the Premier Division come the end of the season.

The club have a full squad to choose from for the trip this weekend. While striker Rob Hewitson has left to join amateur side Stow after being frustrated by a lack of first team action, forward Craig Middlemiss has signed as back-up to top goalscorer Des Sutherland, who is fighting back to fitness following injury.

Ormiston, meanwhile, are still recovering from an 8-2 defeat away to Tynecastle last weekend.

Hancock said: “We seem to do well against them but they will be hurting from that result. We expect to win but we can’t just turn up and expect to win – we have to go out there and play.”

Elsewhere, Selkirk – who are struggling in the league – are aiming for better luck when they tackle Easthouses Lily at home in the SFA Regional Cup Third Round on Saturday.

The Premier Division club, who are being propped up by fellow Border sides Coldstream and Peebles, welcome back five players missing from the 3-0 defeat away to Lothian Thistle last weekend – including captain John Waldie, defender Barry Milven, and the suspended Michael Mair.

Assistant manager Davie Main said: “We are looking at the cup as a bit of a distraction this year because the most important thing is staying up in the league.”

But he added: “We still want to do well because it gives the players the motivation to keep going.”

Selkirk defeated Easthouses 1-0 at Newbattle Sports Complex in August – their only league win so far this season. But their visitors trounced Peebles 5-0 at the weekend.

Main said: “They are a big physical side and bombard us for the full 90 minutes every time we meet so we may well have a game on our hands.”

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