Cumbernauld Colts 1-1 Gala Fairydean Rovers

By Callum Hodgson at Broadwood Stadium

GALA Fairydean Rovers ensured they finished the season as the highest-placed Borders team on Saturday, after securing a point at the Broadwood Stadium.

Steven Noble’s men can finish as high as ninth, providing Whitehill don’t win their game in hand with Gretna on May 13.

It was Noble’s brother Stuart who opened the scoring 41 minutes in, but his effort was cancelled out on the stroke of half time when Jonathan Black fired past Kieran Wright.

The Gala gaffer told us: “Cumbernauld are a good side and it was always going to be a tough game. Although I felt we could have played a bit better, we created some great chances.

“Stuart scored a good goal and I thought let’s just hold out to half time, but we conceded a few minutes after, so that was a bit disappointing – but overall it’s a good point.

“I would have liked to finish in the top half of the league and I think we’re a better team than our league position suggests. The players are disappointed with the result today, which shows the standards we are setting. We have seen players improve and develop this year so it bodes well for next season.

“We have got Edinburgh Uni in the cup on Saturday and we want to go and win that cup. We have shown that we can compete with the best teams in the league and I would love to get to a final to give the supporters, committee and everybody connected with the football club something to look forward to.”

The Fairydean Rovers could have taken the lead on the half-hour mark when Kieran Ainslie headed a Darren Smith corner of the crossbar.

And just 10 minutes later they did break the deadlock. Noble picked up the ball around the 18-yard line, turned the two centre halves and drilled his effort past Chris Fahey who couldn’t palm the ball away to safety.

But just three minutes later the home side were level. Andy Hunter burst down the right-hand side and played in Black, who placed his shot in the left corner.

Gala struggled to find their rhythm in the opening minutes of the second half. Stephen O’Neill caused a few problems on the left for the Colts and Black and Fraser Sheridan both missed chances.

But the Netherdale side created some good play at times. Smith caused problems out wide, and George Windram and Kieran Ainslie both played well all afternoon.

And on the 81st minute Lewis Swaney was denied by the bar after a Smith corner was headed onto him by Windram.

Cumbernauld could have taken the lead shortly after when O’Neill picked out Black, who was unmarked on the right, but he fired wide.

But then it was Gala’s turn. And they could have snatched it if it wasn’t for some quick-thinking from Fahey in the Colts goal.

The best chance fell to Noble, but the goalkeeper managed to pull off a great stop with his legs to keep the game at one a piece.

Border Telegraph man of the match: Kieran Ainslie

Gala Fairydean Rovers: K Wright, L Stephen, L Swaney, G Windram, K Ainslie, D Bonnar (D Brown 59), D Smith, B Miller, S Noble, S Paliczka (G Brown 86), R Aitchison. Subs not used: J Temple, J Krones, S Bonnington, J Shiel.