Gala Fairydean Rovers 1

Edinburgh City 3

CITY gaffer Gary Jardine admitted he was afraid of dropping points as he brought his title contenders to Netherdale on Saturday.

Previous visits by the 2014/15 champions have seen the Meadowbank side struggle to overcome Steven Noble’s improving team.

But on Saturday, City showed the professionalism and appetite which will likely take them to another stab at promotion to the SPFL.

Jardine told us: “The players were well warned about how difficult this place can be.

“We’ve come here a few times in recent seasons and twice been lucky to get away with a draw.

“I thought we were good today. We played at a high tempo from the start and controlled the game for the first 20 minutes.

“The goals came at good times as Gala were getting into the game.”

Mark Wilson made two good saves inside the opening quarter hour to deny on-fire Ross Allum.

But only a goal-line clearance from the back-tracking Scott Main saved the keeper’s blushes on 17 minutes after Allum won the race to chip Wilson from 30 yards.

The Fairydean Rovers had defended well and gradually worked their way into the game with some eye-catching passes and movement.

Stuart Noble thought he was on his way to edge the home team in front after racing onto Taylor Hope’s through pass but he was flagged offside.

Despite some tenacious tackling and a lot of energy within the Fairydean Rovers ranks, they were guilty of giving the ball away at times.

And it was a loose pass from the normally reliable David Bonnar which led to City’s breakthrough on 36 minutes.

Ian McFarland collected the wayward pass and stroked a cross-field ball for Allum, who composed himself on the edge of the area before unleashing a magnificent low shot beyond Wilson.

Gala responded well after the interval with Hope forcing a good save from Andrew Stobie after being teed up by Noble on the edge of the area.

The home team for once were on the front foot with City pegged inside their own half.

But on 53 minutes they were caught out. A long diagonal ball to Allum saw the striker repeat his first-half masterclass in finishing with another crisp low shot beyond the outstretched Wilson.

Character is one thing the young Gala team don’t lack.

And they fought back immediately with Billy Miller rifling a dipping freekick inches past the far post.

On 68 minutes they were rewarded for their battling qualities with a fine goal.

Dean McColm picked out Hope with a telling pass and the full back calmly dinked the ball over the out-rushing Stobie.

Allum, who had been an effective outlet for long balls all day, restored some order for the champions-elect just three minutes later.

The striker managed to gather a pass and as he charged across the area he tripped by Lee Stephen.

Douglas Gair calmly tucked away the penalty to make sure of the points.

Although his team were second best for much of the match Gala manager Steven Noble was pleased with his side’s performance.

He said: “It was mistakes that cost us, but we showed great character to keep coming back.

“I thought when we pulled it back to 2-1 we had a chance but we conceded a soft penalty. For me it wasn’t a penalty but we have to take these things on the chin.

“We will learn from these games and improve.”

Gala Fairydean Rovers. M Wilson, L Stephen, T Hope, B Herdman, S Main, B Miller, D McColm, D Bonnar, S Noble, J Gibson & R Clapperton (T Aitchison 77).