The Fairydean Rovers’ first real chance came when Dean McColm switched wings and ran onto a far post cross but was pulled up for offside.

Lee Stephen was again attacking well down the right and it was from his cross that Billy Miller failed to control the ball but Ross Aitchison got a shot off that was just to wide and high of the target.

Another Stephen cross from the right was spilled by the University keeper when he was under no pressure and Keith Lough struck the rebound from 12 yards out but the keeper retrieved the situation when he managed to block the shot.

Just before the interval Aitchison was released down the right and his far post cross was swept into the roof of the net by McHolm for the deserved opener Early in the second half, Lough collected the ball close to the touchline and then beat the defender and cut inside where he threaded the ball through to Daryl Devlin whose shot took a slight deflection that was sufficient to beat the keeper and double the home side’s advantage.

On the hour McColm hit the post with a shot across the face of goal but the rebound was cleared.

Stuart Noble replaced Langford and five minutes later McColm received the ball on the right hand side of the area from Aitchison and he shot high into the net for goal number three.

Shortly afterwards McColm took a corner on the right and S Noble moved off the near post to head the ball home for goal number four.

Noble also had a shot blocked that Aitchison netted but this one was ruled out for offside.

The final act of the game saw the University’s best effort when Dan Ward had a shot that Dodds comfortably clutched at almost full stretch.

Gala Fairydean Rovers: Dodds, Stephen (Common, 79), McBride, Robinson, Cosgrove, Miller, Aitchison, Devlin, Langford (S Noble, 67), McColm, Lough (Jardine, 78). Subs not used: Gibson, Bonnar, R. Noble