Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

BSC Glasgow 1

By Callum Hodgson

at Netherdale

GALA secured their second win at Netherdale in as many weeks with a dominant win over BSC Glasgow.

The Fairydean Rovers opened the scoring through Darren Smith in the 36th minute and doubled their lead on 50 minutes courtesy of skipper Billy Miller.

Substitute Paul Keys managed to pull one back for the visitors just two minutes before the end, but it wasn’t enough to deny the home side their deserved win.

Delighted gaffer Steven Noble told the Border Telegraph: “It was dramatic at the end. We were looking very comfortable for a lot of the game having scored two great goals.

“After a slow start we took control and felt we were on top at the tail end of the first half and the first goal settled us.

“We were on top for a lot of the game and restricted them to very few chances. But they scored with five to go and there was a bit of nervousness, but we had to see it out and the boys did that.

“We’re happy because it’s been tight the last two weeks but we’ve managed it and showed a bit of resilience.

“BSC are a very good side and they showed that last week when they drew with East Kilbride. We beat them earlier in the season 3-2 and it was a tight game. Every game we play against them is close, but we got stuck in.

“I am also delighted with Kieran Ainslie, I thought he did really well. The more games we can give him the better he’ll be and Des came on and played his part.”

Darren Smith fired Gala into the lead 36 minutes in. Stuart Noble played the ball in from the right hand side and the deflected ball fell to Smith on the edge of the box, who controlled it excellently and fired home.

And the home side could have doubled their advantage five minutes later when Jason Krones headed past the post and Smith fired wide from long range.

The Fairydean Rovers did grab another five minutes after the interval when Sean Paliczka picked out Noble in the penalty area, he found Miller who turned and buried the ball past Stephen Barr.

Gala were playing well. Noble was chasing everything down up front, Smith was working hard in midfield and new boy Kieran Ainslie was frustrating BSC at the back.

Soon after the goal, Noble had a good effort saved and Glasgow’s Arnult Bembo, who had a great game in midfield, hit the side netting.

Goalscorer Miller also had a good chance to make in 3-0 on the 78th minute, but could only find the hands of the goalkeeper.

And then just six minutes later, Noble turned the centre-halves but also saw his effort saved.

But BSC applied the pressure and pulled a goal back on the 87th minute when substitute Paul Keys drilled a ball past Kieran Wright from the edge of the box.

It was a nervy final few minutes for the Fairydean Rovers who tried to keep possession to run down the clock.

Sub Ryan Clapperton saw a shot saved with a minute to go and the defence managed to keep out the Glasgow attackers to secure another three points which leave Gala sixth in the table.

Border Telegraph man of the match: Stuart Noble

Gala Fairydean Rovers: K Wright, G Windram, S Main, J Krones, K Ainslie, B Miller, D Smith, S Bonnington (D Sutherland 65), S Noble, S Paliczka (R Clapperton 80), R Aitchison. Subs not used: C Parker, A Common, L Swaney, J Shiel