But it was also a day where Gala’s growing squad showed they are ready for the Lowland League challenges that lie ahead.

With six different scorers and several eye-catching performances from his new players Steven Noble had a look of satisfaction about him at full-time.

He told us: “We need game time into our players and it was a good work out.

“There were five or six new faces out there and they all fitted in well, and a few of them showed they can score. I’m happy enough with that.” The funeral of Eyemouth stalwart Robin Aitchison the previous day had led to nine of Gary Scott’s players pulling out of the Netherdale friendly.

And Noble was also without half-a-dozen of his squad, who were at either weddings or T in the Park.

But this was still a high-level contest, played at pace.

From the kick off Craig Pinnons could have had the home team in front within 20 seconds as he blasted Jamie Gibson’s cross over the bar from 12 yards.

The opener arrived five minutes later with David Bonnar bursting towards the box from midfield before playing a neat one-two with Stuart Noble and slotting the ball beyond Adam Mutch into the far corner.

Noble gave a helping hand in the second as well, just two minutes later, as he picked out Gibson with an inch-perfect cross for the striker to steer into the net.

Former Hibs player Darran Thomson was dominant throughout at left-back but his finishing still needs work. The 30-year-old drove unchallenged through the heart of the United defence but he could only shoot weakly at Much.

Gibson, Paul Hossack, and Noble all had chances to extend the lead as well but struggled to find the target.

Eyemouth’s only real chance of the first half came on 36 minutes as Robbie Aitchison picked out Tom Wyman with a perfect cross but his header was straight at John Dodds.

Just seconds before the break Ross Aitchison, who had arguably been Gala’s best player in the opening 45 minutes, scored the third with a powerful strike that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Aitchison headed home Dean McColm’s cross on 50 minutes to make it 4-0.

And it was McColm himself who grabbed the fifth with a few touches of brilliance to trap a long pass and round Mutch in the Eyemouth goal.

With Gala having used all of their substitutes, an injury to Aitchison left them playing the final 18 minutes with only 10 men.

But it didn’t prevent former Kidderminster Harrier Ashley Langford crowing his debut with a well taken goal from close-range.

There was a slight blip from the home team as Aiden Lauder managed to find enough space to play a perfectly-weighted chip from 20 yards over the head of Dodds and into the net to pull a goal back.

But with 10 minutes remaining the impressive Langford battled through two challenges to set up Bob Noble for a sweetly struck seventh from the edge of the area.

Eyemouth boss Gary Scott said: “A lot of boys were at Robin’s funeral and it is understandable that a lot of them weren’t wanting to play today.

“We were short of players but still had enough for a team and they all tried their hardest. Gala were good and that’s the level we need to get to.” Gala Fairydean Rovers. J Dodds, L Stephen (K Hogg 46), D Thomson, G Robinson (A Commons 56), P Hossack, D Bonnar, R Aitchison, D McColm, J Gibson (A Langford 56), C Pinnons (R Noble 46) & S Noble.

Eyemouth United. A Mutch, G Burrull, J Watt, R Wylie, D Burns, R Aitchison, A Lauder, M Scott (G Scott 59), C Lough, J Thomson & T Wyman.