Heriot Watt belied their East of Scotland League First Division status with an emphatic three goal victory against a Gala side who never got going.
Despite dominating the first half the students only had one goal to show for their efforts which came from a Chris Donnelly penalty kick on the half hour mark.
They doubled their lead after an hour when Donnelly outpaced the home defence and his shot was heading for the net with fellow striker Elliot Sutherland getting the final touch.
Gala had a brief revival with a Ross Aitchison header well saved by the Heriot Watt keeper.
But a slip at the other end by the same player when trying to clear the ball presented Sean Muhsin with a simple chance to make it 3-0 and rub salt into the Gala wounds.
Gala manager Steven Noble said: “Gala were poor today and all credit to Heriot Watt University.” Heriot Watt University now travel to play Hawick Royal Albert in the second round of the South Challenge Cup on Saturday, November 15.
Gala, meanwhile, have a re-arranged Lowland League fixture away to Edinburgh University on the same date.
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