TEENAGE terror Jack Hay may just make manager Fraser Lothian sleep a little easier after an accomplished hat-trick display on Saturday.

Lothian's biggest task of the summer is to find a replacement for goal Chris Anderson.

Signing former Hibs starlet Gerry Rossi would have eased the pressure.

But the answer may have been at the end of his nose all along.

At only 17, Hay has already showed glimpses of the quality he possesses for Gala's Under 19s.

But on Saturday he showed he could well be ready to lead Gala's promotion charge this season.

The schoolboy came on after the opening third of an entertaining match to fire in three goals in 20 minutes.

Bruce Hunter had already given the Fairies the lead on 12 minutes after latching onto a Paul Young angled ball to fire beyond Euan Reilly.

Aaron Brunton and Rob Hewitson both went close to extending the advantage before their half-hour was up.

The introduction of Rossi and Hay brought a new dimension to the Dean's play - and they were quickly rewarded, Hay collected the ball on 40 minutes to curl a spectacular shot away from Reilley and into the top corner.

Just 12 minutes later Young threaded the teenager through on goal and he calmly drew the keeper before tucking the ball into the net.

Ross darted into the area on the hour to square for his young striker partner, and Hay strongly shrugged off his marker to make it 4-0.

This was a good all-round display by Lothian's young team with Hunter, Brunton and Young controlling midfield play while teenagers Declan Leckie and Craig McBride defied their years with almost flawless centre-half displays.

Ross Glass, Ryan Shepherd and Ryan Slater rotated the fullback positions - none of them really putting a foot wrong.

Jay Wilson scored the fifth on 79 minutes with a powerful drive from 25 yards.

Waverley were rewarded for their hard-working shift with a goal for veteran Kevan Miller. The former Gala Rovers keeper wrong-footed Dave Catlin for the consolation.

But the Dean still had time for a further two strikes. Andy Brown found space to score from close-range on 86 minutes.

And two minutes later Glass polished off a great display from his team with a terrific 30 yard bullet into the top corner of the net.

Manager Lothian said: "I am pleased with the performance and the work ethic of the players. The score doesn't matter - but the performance was satisfying and we scored some really good goals." Gala Fairydean.D Catlin, R Glass, R Shepherd, D Leckie, C McBride, P Young, B Hunter, J Wilson, A Brunton, R Hewitson & C Gow. Subs J Hay, G Rossi, A Brown & R Slater.