As expected it did turn out to be a compelling watch, but the focus was not on the number of goals - rather the plethora of yellow and red cards that made the Hearts-Rangers game on the same day look timid in comparison.

Referee Gary Callachan was the centre of attention for handing out eight bookings as well as dismissing two Gala players, overshadowing an 88th minute winner by 16-year-old debutant Ollie Lambert which keeps Leithen unbeaten and now favourites for the Division A title.

Leithen boss Gary Hastie said: “I don’t like to criticise referees but I don’t think he helped the game.

“A draw would probably have been a fair result but we showed great fight to take all three points, especially as we were missing six players.” Gala’s numbers were also depleted with defender Ian Chalmers joining other key players Des Sutherland and Ryan Clapperton on the sidelines due to glandular fever.

And the hosts could have been down to ten men early on when Brad Lochrie appeared to kick out at Thomas Fleming, only for the Gala midfielder to instead pick up the first yellow of the match. Plenty more were to follow.

The first opening of a tight match appeared five minutes later as Jay Wilson’s 20 yard shot squirmed out of the hands of Leithen stopper Chris Watson and just past his left hand post.

The visitors hit back and were it not for Welsh Curran’s vital challenge, Simon Philbin would have likely scored.

Scott Nightingale was booked for dissent but the winger made sure his boots did the talking five minutes before the break when his corner found the top corner of the net past a shocked Watson.

But the match was to turn in one minute at the start of the second half. Firstly, Nightingale drifted past a series of defenders only to shot agonisingly wide, and seconds later his team-mate Curran was shown red for a challenge which caught a stooping Alan McMath on the head.

Down to ten men with 38 minutes remaining, Gala sat further back but still looked a goal threat and almost added a second when Shaun Hardie just failed to connect with Jay Wilson’s free kick.

Time ticked on and it appeared Gala would hold on for a vital win - that was until the 83rd minute when McMath collided with home goalie Jamie Shiel and Callachan correctly gave a penalty. In the aftermath, Stuart Harkness was given a straight red card for dissent before Philbin kept cool to fire Leithen level.

Philbin still had time to set up the winner when his dangerous free kick caused chaos in Gala’s nine man defence and substitute Lambert smashed the ball high into the net from six yards.

Dejected Gala boss Grant Davidson added: “We played well and would have been 2-0 up if Nighty scores.

“I thought the referee lost control of the match, but we also need to learn to control ourselves.” Gala Fairydean Rovers Amateurs: J. Shiel, A. Reilly, W Curran, S. Harkness, C. Jeffrey, B. Lochrie, L. Wallace, J. Wilson, S. Nightingale (M. Blackwood 65), A. Hardie, S. Hardie.

Leithen Rovers: C. Watson, D. Paterson, P. Scott, C. Smith (S. Fleming 52), R. Forrest, J. Cooper, N. Macvicar, S. Swanston, A. McMath, T. Fleming (O. Lambert 80), S. Philbin.