LAST season’s basement boys of the East of Scotland fired out a further warning on Thursday evening.

Over the past few seasons Hawick Royal Albert have struggled to compete at any level.

But, just four days after holding Preston Athletic, they earned another draw against Lowland League opposition.

New manager Mike Atai, who was a goalkeeper with Spartans and Bonnyrigg Rose during his playing career, admits the recent results count for nothing.

But he is pleased with the way his team are shaping up. He told the Border Telegraph: “They boys have worked hard since coming in - we’ve worked on our shape and organisation but we are still short on fitness and need to sharpen up around the goal.

“That is two encouraging results with draws against both Preston and Gala but we all know that they don’t mean anything when the season starts next week.

“There is still a lot of work to do but it is coming along nicely.” Thursday’s friendly was an opportunity for the Fairydean Rovers to field a few of their summer casualties as they make their way back to fitness.

While there were a few encouraging signs for manager Steve Noble, including an injury-free hour for Billy Miller, he admitted his team will have to improve quickly before the Lowland League opener at Preston.

Noble said: “It was far from being our best performance, that’s for sure, but we did get a lot from the game.

“It is important that some of the guys got a run out as they needed some match time.

“Everyone came through the game without any further injuries which is important.

“Hawick are an improving team and good luck to them this season.” While the new disciplined and well-organised regime at Hawick has to be welcomed it led to a game that lacked much bite.

Gala always looked to have the upper hand but couldn’t turn the midfield possession advantage into too many chances.

Jamie Gibson was threaded through on goal after only nine minutes but his delicate chip over Kyle Rankin drifted a foot wide of the far post.

There was an even worse miss at the other end just two minutes later as Fergus Lockhart weaved his way into space only to fire past the post from 15 yards with only Mark Wilson to beat.

Stuart Noble, who is looking more and more like the player who was banging in goals for St Johnstone and Airdrie, darted in from the angle on 20 minutes but Rankin produced a terrific one-handed save to push the ball beyond the post.

Gala’s back four of Ryan Grant, Darran Thompson, Colin Galbraith and Sean Guiney, dealt well with the few Hawick attacks in the first half.

But Hawick’s back four were also on top for much of the match.

Gibson did poke a shot inches wide on 49 minutes and the returning Ross Aitchison fired over three minutes later as Gala probed for an opener.

The goal eventually came from a set piece on 72 minutes with Sean Guiney heading a corner against the bar and Aitchison following up with a close-range shot. Gibson almost doubled the advantage with quarter of an hour to go as he volleyed Grant’s deep cross inches over the bar from 12 yards.

And the home team were made to pay for the miss just three minutes later as substitute Cameron McFarlane, who was playing as a trialist, darted beyond the defence to smash a terrific shot past Wilson from the edge of the area.

The smiles were on the faces of the Albert camp at full time and on this evidence there could be a lot more happy days in Hawick this season.

Gala Fairydean Rovers. M Wilson, R Grant, D Thompson, C Galbraith, S Guiney, B Miller (D Bonnar 64), D Burdett (R Lamb 62), C Jardine (D McColm 74), S Noble, J Gibson & R Auitchison.

Hawick Royal Albert. K Rankin, S Stephen, G Shillinglaw, M Lynch (S McKenzie 49), R Boyd, M McEwen, L Mitchell, A Faye (C McFarlane 64), S Campbell, F Lockhart (E Sillah 70) & B Nwanze (G Pettigrew 54).