Gala Fairydean Rovers 1  Stirling University  0

SATURDAY will be remembered for the day trains returned to Galashiels, writes David Knox at Netherdale.
But just a stone’s throw from the celebrated new tracks, another slice of history was taking place at the football half of Netherdale.
For the first time ever Gala Fairydean Rovers beat a team from Stirling University – something their predecessors, Gala Fairydean, never managed.
Although the victory, thanks to a stunning Taylor Hope strike, may only have taken his team into the quarter-finals of the Qualifying Cup, the significance wasn’t lost on manager Steven Noble. He told the Border Telegraph: “Neither the Fairydean Rovers or the Fairydean had ever beaten Stirling University before today.
“I can’t praise the players enough for their effort. Stirling are a good team but we were every bit as good today and we deserved to win.”
Noble was without five recognised defenders for the second-round clash.
But back four stand-ins Daryl Burdett, Ryan Clapperton, Ross Aitchison and Ian Chalmers coped admirably with the student strikers.
Noble added: “Most of those boys were playing out of position yet they stuck to the task. We didn’t give Stirling many chances - I thought we defended really well.”
The threat of Stuart Noble and Jamie Gibson was evident throughout the first half as the Uni defence was regularly stretched.
Gibson ran onto a tremendous Noble through-ball on the quarter-hour to dink an effort inches past the far post.
Noble went just as close three minutes later as he volleyed inches over the bar.
And only a goal-line clearance from Oliver Monquel prevented Noble’s low cross being converted on the half hour.
Danger man Chris Geddes did find the net for Stirling during a rare attack but he was ruled offside.
Noble was also flagged by an assistant when he finally managed to beat Ryan Marshall five minutes later.
It had been a determined first half by the Fairydean Rovers, but they were caught flat-footed just before the interval when Daniel Ashe broke from his own half to sprint into the home box and fire inches wide of Mark Wilson’s far post.
Despite the late effort it was Stirling’s Shelley Kerr who would have been the most relieved manager to go in at the break goalless.
Ashe was denied by a fantastic reaction save from Wilson early in the second half as he stole in at the back post to head Lewis Bonar’s cross towards goal.
Gala responded with pressure of their own.
And they were rewarded with the breakthrough on 62 minutes. Dean McColm’s knock down was expertly curled into the far corner by outside of Hope’s boot from all of 25 yards.
The celebrations had hardly died down when a Geddes header was pushed onto the post by Wilson, and cleared by goal-hero Hope.
The Students enjoyed a lot of late possession but some committed defending and energetic closing down throughout midfield prevented any real chances being created.
And Gala could have doubled the lead in the final minute as McColm’s effort from 30 yards was cleared off the line by Ben Cuff with keeper Marshall committed on the edge of his area.
In the end it didn’t matter as the final whistle saw Gala go into the quarter-final hat – and also into the history books.
Gala Fairydean Rovers: M Wilson, R Aitchison, D Burdett, R Clapperton (R Grant 85), I Chalmers, T Hope, D McColm, D Bonnar, S Noble, J Gibson & C Jardine (R Lamb 82).