BSC Glasgow 4-1 Gala Fairydean Rovers

By Callum Hodgson 
at the Indodrill Stadium

STEVEN Noble wasn't too downbeat about his side's defeat at high-flyers BSC Glasgow on Wednesday night.

The Gala gaffer was forced to travel to Alloa without a number of key players.

But despite some good play from the Fairydean Rovers, a Gary Redpath brace, a Ryan McStay free kick, and a Jack Smith strike ensured the home side continued their unbeaten run in the Lowland League.

Substitute Stuart Noble did grab a consolation for the visitors, but it wasn't enough to spearhead a revival.

Manager Noble told the Border Telegraph: "I am disappointed with the final result, but it certainly wasn't down to a lack of effort from our boys.
"BSC are a very good team, but I do think the 4-1 scoreline was a little bit harsh. 

"I thought we were a bit unlucky to concede the second goal – a deflected free kick – but we did create two or three great chances and we had some good spells in the game."

BSC opened the scoring on just 16 minutes. After a quick free kick in the middle of the park, the ball fell to Jack Smith on the left hand side and he managed to pick out Redpath in the box who slotted home.

And Gala were caught out again just two minutes later when Ryan McStay's deflected free kick from the edge of the box was directed past Lewis Muir.

The home side continued to create good chances.

Jamie Mills put his shot past the post, Smith curled his effort wide and McStay had a good opportunity to clinch his second but his strike skimmed the left upright.

Redpath could have also put them 3-0 up, but he narrowly missed the target from the edge of the penalty area.

But it was Gala who arguably had the best chance to snatch the next goal. 

Right on the stroke of half time, after some good work by Ross Aitchison, the ball made its way to Darren Smith, whose close range effort was denied by Ryan Marshall between the BSC sticks.

The Fairydean Rovers did improve in the second half and had a glorious chance to pull one back eight minutes after the restart, but Craig Heigh blazed over the crossbar from close range after some menacing play from the Gala midfield.

But this acted as a wake-up call for Stephen Swift's men and they went three up on 67 minutes.

Smith charged down the left-hand side, rounded the goalkeeper and pass the ball into the empty net.

And just like the first half, it took them just two minutes to find another.

Redpath again showed his quality by driving to the edge of the box and angling a sweet strike past Muir.

Steven Noble's men did eventually pull a goal back, courtesy of his brother Stuart, who made the return to his old stomping ground having previously turned out for Alloa Athletic.

He capitalised on BSC defender John Tennent's mistake and rounded keeper Marshall who charged out of his 18-yard-box to try and clear.

The visitors did try and grab more in the closing stages, courtesy of two efforts by Billy Miller, but to no avail.

Gala: L Muir, L Stephen, B Miller, S Main, S Guiney, D Bonnar, D Smith (S Noble 62), C Heugh, R Craigie, R Noble (Trialist 82), R Aitchison.