VALE manager Micky Lawson enjoyed his first ever Borders derby on Wednesday evening – but was quick to point out that his team were lucky.

Gala had edged a first half and deservedly went in with a goal in hand at the break.

But a controversial penalty and a howler from keeper Mark Wilson allowed Lawson’s team to come from behind and take the points.

The Victoria Park boss told us: “You never know what’s going to happen in a derby.

“Gala were bigger and stronger than us and we had to make changes. The longer the game went on the more chances we got.

“A draw would have been a fair result but I’ll take the win in my first local derby.” Vale started brightly enough with Jason Stevens sliding a low cross into the side-netting and Liam McIntosh testing Wilson from distance.

But it was the Fairydean Rovers who posed the biggest threat.

Stuart Noble should have done better than fire straight at Andy McQueen after being teed-up by Jamie Gibson.

On 12 minutes Noble redeemed himself as he ran onto a fantastic Ross Aitchison ball to shoot beyond the home keeper.

Gibson almost doubled the advantage with a powerful drive which flashed past the post.

Vale’s response before the break was a David Gallagher toe-poke which just missed the target after the new signing had done well to avoid two challenges inside the area.

Lawson’s dressing down at the break seemed to have the desired effect as the Innerleithen team came out fighting.

Alan Flanagan’s goal-bound shot on 46 minutes struck the back of defender Colin Galbraith’s head and bounced to safety.

But just a minute later Vale were level. Substitute James Guy raced into the area from the left and slotted a low shot beyond Wilson.

Sean Guiney and Noble both tested McQueen as Gala attempted to regain their lead.

But a bizarre penalty decision on 62 minutes saw them go behind for the first time.

Gallagher’s 25-yard shot struck the midriff of Galbraith just inside the area but referee Simon Mclean decided it was a deliberate handball and awarded a penalty. The protests were waved away.

Flanagan dinked the spot kick over the diving Wilson for a 2-1 lead.

Gala drew level just six minutes later after Gibson was pulled back inside the area by Flanagan. The Fairydean Rovers captain smashed the spot kick high into the net to make it 2-2.

Both teams created half chances as play swept up and down the park but the winner on 84 minutes came from a mistake.

Wilson allowed Kenny O’Brien’s corner slip through his fingers and Shaun Steven was prowling at the back post to poke the ball over the line.

Gala boss Steven Noble said: “I told the players at half time that the Vale would come at us and they did.

“We were giving the ball back to them far too easily. We got plenty of joy when we got the ball down and played but we didn’t do that in the second half.

“It was bad performance and a bad result.” Vale of Leithen: A McQueen, B Rixon (K O’Brien 52), R Sclater, S Lynch, L McIntosh, D McLeod, A Hunter, A Flanagan, K Mitchel (S Stevens 72), D Gallagher & J Stevens (J Guy 46).

Gala FR: M Wilson, L Stephen, D Thomson, C Galbraith, S Guiney, B Miller, D McColm (R Claperton 88), C Jardine (R Lamb 64), S Noble, J Gibson & R Aitchison (T Hope 83).