New Year honours even for Gala and Selkirk

Gala perhaps shaded possession and chances throughout but Selkirk’s resolve and tenacity in the second half deservedly earned them a share of the spoils.

Understandably, home boss Stevie Noble was frustrated his team couldn’t capitalise on a few late chances.

He told us: “We created enough chances to win that game but our finishing was a bit rusty. I thought their keeper was excellent and his saves at the end made the difference.

“For the neutrals it would have been a great game to watch – it had a bit of everything.

“From a manager’s point of view I was tearing my hair out at times but Selkirk also created chances and in the end a draw was probably a fair result.” Selkirk were without their talisman striker Garry O’Connor due to a sickness bug.

And his poaching protégé Ouzy See was back in Africa due to a family bereavement.

But the Fairydean Rovers were also without a few of their big names – the influential duo of Daryl Devlin and Sean Paliczka remain injured while Grant Robinson’s on holiday and the ever improving Billy Miller’s floored by illness.

It is testament to both managers that they were still able to list full and strong squads for this Lowland League derby.

On paper Gala looked the more balanced while Selkirk, without their two top scorers, had to shuffle the pack around slightly.

A Craig McBride header which was cleared off the line by visiting full back Finlay Matthews after just 96 seconds was an indication of what was to come.

On four minutes Phil Addison’s header fell into the path of Jordan Finnie only for the former Whitehill midfielder to fire disappointingly wide with only John Dodds to beat.

The tackles flew in, the pace gathered, and the temperature around a freezing Netherdale suddenly soared.

Jamie Gibson went within inches of breaking the deadlock on 11 minutes as he headed a Stuart Noble cross against the bar.

Almost immediately Addison was waving his arms about at the other end, claiming for a hand-ball and a penalty, after his shot was blocked in front of the Gala goal.

There was a much stronger shout for a spot kick by the home team on 20 minutes after Jamie Pyper appeared to chop the legs away from Noble as he turned just inside the area.

The former St Johnstone striker picked himself up and, just a few minutes later, shrugged off challenges from Mark Samson and James Harley to open the scoring a with a rasping low shot from 15 yards.

Jamie Newman saved well on 33 minutes to prevent the lively Gibson doubling the advantage.

Selkirk hadn’t posed the same threat going forward but six minutes from the interval they were rewarded for their endeavour.

As the ball bobbled around the Gala area Paul Hossack swiped the legs away from Julio Tonnelle as the Frenchman teed up a shot.

Despite Dodds reaching Daryl Johnston’s penalty with his outstretched fingers, he couldn’t prevent the ball nestling into the bottom corner of the net.

The celebrations from the visiting fans were still dying down as the industrious Ross Aitchison stormed into the Selkirk box and forced a foul from Pyper.

Gibson smashed the spot kick straight, just avoiding the legs of Newman, to restore the home advantage.

There was still time for another Addison penalty claim after his shot was blocked inside the area but the protests were more in hope than expectation.

It had been an exhilarating 45 minutes of passionate football - what followed was even better.

Gibson spun away from his marker inside the opening minute of the second half to fire a low shot just a foot beyond the far post.

The introduction of Jon McInally suddenly gave Selkirk some much-needed impetus.

And within a few minutes of his introduction the former Cowdenbeath winger had swung in two dangerous crosses which were scrambled clear.

Tonelle should have done better than fire high and wide from 12 yards after good work from Addison.

It looked as though the pressure had paid off on 67 minutes as a Matthew Skene effort deflected beyond Dodds towards Addison, standing on the line, who headed against the underside of the crossbar.

Did the ball bounce down inside the goal before Kyle Collins acrobatically cleared? Referee Simon MacLean didn’t think so.

Noble almost rubbed salt into the wounds of the protesting Addison and co just seconds later as he burst clear but Newman sprinted from his area to make a goal-saving tackle.

The pace never relented as both teams chased down every ball.

Dodds produced a fantastic finger-tip save to prevent Finnie equalising on 73 minutes.

Despite another great stop, four minutes later, this time from Addison, the former Ayr United stopper couldn’t prevent Finnie firing home the rebound to level the scores.

But Gala responded well.

Teenager Andrew Common produced a fantastic run into the area just a few minutes after coming off the bench to force Newman into a block but fellow substitute Keith Lough could only head the loose ball against the bar.

The Fairydean Rovers pressed for a late winner but Newman made two outstanding saves, firstly from Jamie Gibson at his near post, and then in the final minute to tip an Aitchison screamer onto the bar.

A relieved Selkirk manager Steve Forrest was happy with the point at the final whistle.

He told us: “It was end to end stuff, like a game of tennis at times, and a two-all draw was probably fair.

“The coaching manual was thrown out the bag in that second half – both teams just went for it. That was pure passion out there and I’m sure it was a joy to watch at times.

“I think both camps can have complaints about a few of the decisions but I’m happy enough to come away with a point.” Gala FR: J Dodds, L Stephen, D Thomson (A Common 73), P Hossack, C McBride, K Collins, R Aitchison, D Bonnar, S Noble, J Gibson, D McColm (K Lough 75).

Selkirk: J Newman, F Matthews, J Pyper, J Harley (D Laing 70), M Samson (J McInally 53), D Johnson, M Skene (K Scott 82), S Anderson, J Tonnelle, J Finnie & P Addison.