Gala Fairydean Rovers 1

East Stirlingshire 10

David Knox at Netherdale

GALA suffered their heaviest defeat since joining the Lowland League four seasons ago as rampant Shire staked the title claim with a sixth straight win.

Steven Noble’s makeshift team were torn apart by the Ochilview side.

And they were fortunate not to have conceded even more during a miserable afternoon for home supporters.

Manager Noble told us: “East Stirlingshire were totally superior.

“We didn’t defend well as a team and we were second to every ball.

“We lost every header and lost every tackle.

“It’s very, very disappointing for a lot of reasons.

“We were outclassed today by a good team and we need to up our game and start performing a lot better.”

It has become apparent that if teams aren’t at their best they are liable to be on the wrong end of humiliating defeats in the Lowland League.

Both Vale of Leithen and Hawick Royal Albert have already suffered 9-1 defeats this season.

And Selkirk also took a 6-0 hammering on the chin against East Kilbride.

The Fairydean Rovers were far from their best during a foggy Saturday with several players missing and a few more who’s been drafted into the starting line-up far from being match fit.

It wasn’t long before the gaps and hesitancy were being exposed by a rampant East Stirlingshire team.

Andy Rodgers fired home the opener on nine minutes after Gala had failed to cut out a corner.

Just two minutes later, after Ross Aitchison had tangled with Paul Sludden inside the area, Rodgers doubled the advantage from the penalty spot.

Connor Greene headed in the third from a 21st minute corner.

And within 90 seconds of the restart David Grant was on hand at the back post to convert a deep cross.

Jamie Glasgow made it 5-0 before the half hour after racing onto a through-ball to tuck away a shot beyond Kieran Wright.

A late rally in the first half saw Stuart Noble, Des Sutherland and Darren Smith all force good saves from Jamie Barclay.

But it was Shire who reinstated their superiority early in the second half with Grant beating the offside trap to make it 6-0.

Wright denied Rodgers his hat-trick with a fine save on 56 minutes but Sludden pounced on the rebound to make it seven.

Just a minute later Noble ran onto Sutherland’s pass to net the consolation.

But there was still time for Grant to grab a quickfire brace to make it 9-1.

And in the closing stages substitute Dylan McQuigan took the Shire tally into double figures with a back post header.

Gala Fairydean Rovers. K Wright, L Stephen, R Aitchison, L White, G Windram, S Paliczka, D Smith, D Simpson (A Common 29), S Noble, D Sutherland (D Bonnington 67) & D Bonnar (S Pringle 50).