Gala Fairydean Rovers 1

Hawick Royal Albert 0

By David Knox at Netherdale

WHEN Steven Noble reflects on his final season in charge of Gala Fairydean Rovers his move to bring in a raw 17-year-old on loan for the final month will certainly bring a smile.

Fraser Malcolm arrived at Netherdale as an unknown 17-year-old who’d been on the fringes at BSC Glasgow to provide emergency cover after top scorer Stuart Noble was ruled out for at least a month.

And following Saturday’s victory over Hawick Royal Albert the promising youngster heads out to Portugal in a bid to further his career – and can consider his short spell in the Borders as job done.

Not only did his stunning strike win Saturday’s derby, but he scored the vital winner at Gretna a fortnight ago and in between he also won his team the injury-time penalty to draw with Dalbeattie.

Manager Noble told us: “We needed to strengthen up front due to injuries and when I got the chance to bring Fraser in I took it.

“He’s been terrific and even though he’s been starting on the bench, he has shown great quality when he’s come on and played a huge part in us getting the points we need to stay in this league.

“We’re not out of the woods yet as I do think Dalbeattie and Vale will keep picking up points in their final games but that is a massive three points for us today against Hawick.”

Both teams were without a handful of regulars but Hawick, with manager Craig Tully having to lead his team’s forward line due to injuries and suspensions, adapted best in the first half.

The former Dundee and Peterhead defender was denied the opener on 10 minutes by a terrific save from Patrick Martin.

Tully managed to break away from his marker to meet Unpha Koroma’s free kick with a powerful diving header but the on-loan Hibernian keeper reacted brilliantly to tip the ball round the post.

The Albert continued to look to the more threatening with some eye-catching counter attacking.

And Cormac O’Brien was unfortunate when his low powerful shot whistled inches wide of the far post on 22 minutes.

Gala had enjoyed plenty possession but lacked any real cutting edge in the final third.

And when a couple of half chances did present themselves just before the interval they weren’t taken.

Sean Paliczka drove all of 30 yards towards the edge of the area unchallenged only to shoot tamely at Craig Saunders.

And a couple of minutes later Kieran Ainslie got his head to a deep cross but Saunders collected without too much difficulty.

The Fairydean Rovers looked a different team after the break with Craig Heugh and Rhys Craigie enjoying a lot more possession.

Saunders had to be alert to cut out a Paliczka cut back on 49 minutes.

And Jon Tully and Stuart MacFarlane both made excellent challenges inside the area as they were forced to defend deeper and deeper.

But the introduction of Malcolm just before the hour was to ultimately prove the difference.

The teenager was denied by a terrific Saunders save just four minutes after his arrival on the pitch – but the ball wasn’t cleared and eventually fell again for Malcom some 25 yards from goal.

His stunning strike gave the Hawick keeper no chance as it flew into the top corner.

Hawick had little in the way of responding and it should have been Gala who stretched their advantage in the closing stages with Grant Rose shooting just wide and Jon Tully managing to get his toe in the way to deny Liam Kelly netting from close range.

Gala Fairydean Rovers: P Martin, S Guiney, B Miller, R Aitchison, K Ainslie, L Chambers (F Malcolm 59), D Smith, C Heugh, G Rose (L Kelly 73), R Craigie & S Paliczka.

Hawick Royal Albert. C Saunders, A Simpson (C Kerr 16), S Spence, S MacFarlane, J Tully, E Savickas, C O’Brien, D Grant, C Tully, L Erhard & U Koroma.