Edinburgh University 4 - 1 Gala Fairydean Rovers

ON the surface, Jack Guthrie’s hat-trick was the difference between Edinburgh University and Gala Fairydean Rovers.

But in truth, the prolific student striker was handed his 22nd, 23rd and 24th goals of the season by Gala as the Netherdale side’s fragile defence was again exposed.

With trio Mark Wilson, Scott Main and Ross Aitchison missing, it could be argued that Gala’s lack of experience was the main reason for their fifth loss in six games.

But with Edinburgh University manager Dorian Ogunro revealing at full time that he had been forced to call up members of his under 20s squad due to a series of first team players heading home for Christmas, it was an argument that didn’t stack up.

And in fairness to Gala manager Stevie Noble, he made no excuses for his team's showing.

Noble said: “The first half was by far the worst performance of the season. We were embarrassing.

“We changed it around and were slightly better in the second half but in truth we were not good enough in any area of the pitch.

“We got nothing from the game and that is what we deserved.”

With Gala midfielder Dean McColm filling in at left back, the University pinned their visitors back throughout the first half with the strong wind in their favour.

Despite the pressure, there were few openings for Edinburgh, until slack defending in the 12th minute allowed Ross Patterson to set up Finn Daniels-Yeoman, whose neat pass saw Guthrie score from six yards out.

Gala appeared to have levelled the game when Jamie Gibson fired towards goal from a superb Stuart Noble pass, but his shot flew agonisingly wide.

Duncan Black was perhaps lucky to get away with only a yellow card when he cynically scythed down Gala’s Callum Jardine, who was substituted soon after due to the injured received from the challenge.

And Gala were cursing their luck again on 28 minutes, as well as the left foot of Paul Sutherland, whose well hit but wind assisted 30 yard free kick swerved viciously to the right to loop over stand-in goalkeeper Steven King.

Worse was to come for Stevie Noble’s men before the break when another mix up in defence gave Guthrie another easy chance to score, which he accepted.

Gala needed a goal before half time to stand any chance of saving something from this game but they were denied even that when Jordi Villa headed Gala sub Marc Berry’s corner against his own crossbar.

King denied Guthrie with a good save in an otherwise drab second half but the forward finally got his treble with eight minutes left.

This time Gala sub Ryan Clapperton mishit clearance dropped into the path of Guthrie, who was never going to miss his chance of scoring his second hat-trick of a season which has surely caught the eye of a number of more senior clubs.

Stuart Noble found the net in injury time for Fairydean Rovers, but the defeat means Gala head into their New Year derby with Selkirk in woeful form.

Stevie Noble said: “We will have to change the team for the Selkirk game and I am looking to get an experienced player in. We want to start the New Year with a bang and we can do that by beating Selkirk.”

Gala Fairydean Rovers: S. King, L. Stephen, D. McColm, B. Herdman, C. Galbraith, T. Hope, T. Aitchison (R. Clapperton 70), D. Bonnar, S. Noble, J. Gibson (R. Lamb 77), C. Jardine (M. Berry 28).