Gala Fairydean Rovers 4

BSC Glasgow 3

David Knox at Netherdale

IT took a thrilling finish from 10-man Gala to finally beat BSC Glasgow.

And nerves of steel from captain Jamie Gibson.

All three previous meetings between the clubs have ended in draws.

And Fairydean Rovers manager Steve Noble admits he’d have been happy with a point after his team fell behind and were reduced in numbers midway through the second half.

Noble said: “I would have taken a draw a long time out as we were playing poorly in the second half but we showed a bit of grit and determination.

“All credit to the players as we looked down and out with only ten men.”

After last weekend’s five goal hammering by Edinburgh University it was vital that Noble’s team responded with a solid performance.

But they fell behind inside the second minute.

An in-swinging corner was initially palmed away by Mark Wilson, but Aiden Ferris popped up to nod the loose ball over the line from close range.

The Fairydean Rovers fought back well and drew level just four minutes later.

Despite the ball bobbling around at his feet Ryan Clapperton managed to slam a low shot into the far corner of the net from the edge of the area.

The winger’s second on 13 minutes was even better as he collected a wayward clearance some 25 yards from goal and unleashed a fantastic shot beyond Derick Moore in the Broomhill goal.

Dean McColm’s surges from his own half kept Gala on the front foot.

But it was the Glasgow side who should have levelled on the half hour.

Kyle Richford stormed into the box only for his stabbed effort to be blocked by Wilson – the rebound fell for Ferris but his angled shot rattled the post.

The visitors began to dominate after the interval. Only the linesman’s flag prevented substitute Ciarin Johnston equalising on 52 minutes.

But, just three minutes later, the same player was to make it 2-2 as he eluded two challenges to steer the ball beneath Wilson.

Gala were struggling to break out their own half as BSC closed down high up the pitch.

And the visitors edged in front on 65 minutes with a marvellous freekick. David Gray’s 25-yard swinger had the pace and accuracy to

nestle into the top corner of the net.

McColm’s second yellow card was a further set-back for the home team on 70 minutes.

But somehow the sending off seemed to reinvigorate the home ranks.

Lee Stephen picked out Stuart Noble with an inch-perfect cross on 77 minutes, but the striker volleyed a yard wide.

The former St Johnstone striker made amends in the 86th minute as he barged his way past two defenders to slot the ball beyond Moore from the angle.

Two minutes later Scott Main blasted an effort a foot over as Gala went for the win.

And in the 90th minute they were rewarded as Noble was tripped inside the area by Stephen Bronsky. Captain Jamie Gibson dispatched the

penalty without any signs of nerves to complete a remarkable, if unexpected, late comeback.

Gibson told us: “I was nervous as I stepped up but I’ve done it before and thankfully it went in.

“When Dean was sent off it gave us the push we needed. We were struggling in that second half until we went down to ten men.”

Gala FR M Wilson, L Stephen, S Main, I Chalmers, C Galbraith, R Aitchison, D McColm, D Bonnar, S Noble, J Gibson & R Clapperton (C Jardine 62).