Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

Tranent Juniors 4

By Callum Hodgson

At Netherdale

GALA Fairydean Rovers crashed out of the Football Nation Qualifying Cup at the weekend.

The Netherdale side are still searching for their first competitive win of the campaign following Lowland League defeats to Cumbernauld Colts, Vale of Leithen, Dalbeattie Star and BSC Glasgow.

And they conceded early on on Saturday when Chris Gray powered in a header from a Ben Miller corner.

However the Braw Lads responded well and could have equalised a minute later when Josh Morris headed Dale Baxter's corner off the crossbar.

But soon after, they did get their deserved leveller courtesy of Baxter, whose ball into the box nestled into the net.

Gala began to create more good chances. Scott Main had an effort punched away by Robbie Stirling and Baxter again shot narrowly wide.

However the home side were left the rue the missed opportunities.

Just one minute before the interval Kane Paterson lumped a ball into the box, which eventually came out to Miller who drilled the ball past Gregor Amos.

Jamie Devlin made it 3-1 early in the second half, when he got his head on a Robert Borry cross from the left.

And it could have got worse for Gala, had it not been for Main who made an excellent sliding challenge to disposes Devlin who was charging towards goal.

The Fairydean Rovers did create some excellent chances and on another day could have had four or five goals.

The best of the bunch fell to Josh Morris at the far post, but he couldn’t direct the ball into the net.

But Tranent took advantage again on 68 minutes when Miller got his second of the game with a header.

Paterson had a good chance to make it 5-1 but was denied by a brilliant fingertip save by Amos.

Gala grabbed a consolation 10 minutes before the end through substitute Kris Mitchell, who curled his effort in from the edge of the box.

They did put pressure on the East Lothian side in the closing stages — but former Selkirk man Ricky Miller, who was making his debut, and Mitchell again couldn’t find the net.