GALA Fairydean Rovers defender Craig McBride helped his side gain revenge over Preston Athletic just days after he was involved in a dramatic car accident.

The 19-year-old had a lucky escape after his car skidded off the A7 road near Heriot and hit a telegraph pole.

Despite suffering a back injury in the incident, McBride managed to put in another impressive showing to ensure Gala kicked off their League Cup Group A campaign with a fine win.

The victory was all the more sweet for Stevie Noble’s men with Preston having thumped nine goals past Gala in the clubs’ previous two meetings this season.

McBride said: “The accident was the most frightening experience of my life and it meant I never trained all week, but Stevie Noble was keen for me to play.

“It was good to get through the game and get the win, although I was sore afterwards.

“I think both sides are evenly matched but in the previous games it has been our own fault for the goals we have conceded, but today we were a lot better.” While McBride and Fraser Forrest were commanding at centre half, at the other end it was an unlikely figure who proved to be the hero.

Callum Jardine has rarely looked a goalscoring threat this season but the winger grabbed the opening two goals in a whirlwind first 15 minutes for Gala which matched the blustery conditions.

He put the homesters ahead after just four minutes with a fantastic weaving run and calm finish beyond Athletic goalkeeper John Gilbertson.

And he then punished poor Preston defending with another composed finish from 12 yards out.

There was little reaction from Preston, until Paul Devlin missed a sitter of Peter Van Vossen proportions two minutes before the break. Allan Nicol’s intercepted pass allowed Preston to break and Devlin looked set to tap in Sean Martin’s cross from six yards only to somehow screw his shot wide.

Gala suffered a blow at the start of the second period when Dean McColm suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Andy Hardie.

But Gala continued to dominate and Stuart Noble made it three on 58 minutes as he turned marker Kevin Morrison with ease and fired home.

Brian Foster smacked the Gala crossbar with a header but Sean Martin’s smart finish made it 3-1 with 23 minutes to go.

Substitute Jamie Gibson should have restored the three-goal lead after Stuart Noble was fouled to earn a penalty, but Gibson could only pull his spot kick wide.

But Gala held on comfortably against their East Lothian opponents, who ended the match with ten men when hothead sub Michael Osbourne was sent off for two bookings within 30 seconds in injury time, both for dissent to referee Paul Reid.

McBride added: “I have been out for a year-and-a-half due to a cruciate knee injury so I am just glad to be back fit and enjoying my football.

“It is my first experience of playing at this level and it is good to have Fraser Forrest alongside me. We have improved defensively since he came in.” Gala Fairydean Rovers: J. Dodds, J. Inglis, A. Common, K. Collins, F. Forrest, D. McColm (A. Hardie 51), C. McBride, C. Jardine (J. Gibson 69), Stuart Noble, S. Paliczka (M. Berry 73), A. Nicol.