The hosts looked set to continue where they left off from the previous week’s away Cup thumping (40-5) of their Border opponents on home soil, with two scores in the opening 15 minutes.

Centre Danny Gilmour glided through midfield to put winger John Brogan away for the first, before lock Ruaridh Leishman galloped in from the 22 for the second.

Crucially, the distance and the weather put paid to any conversion hopes and County led 10-0, however it appeared that Gala - who welcomed back captain George Graham, along with a number of other familiar faces, from injury - had not read the script.

Their spirits lifted with the bleak weather conditions and they hit back with two tries of their own; a converted effort from wing Keith Young, a five-pointer from drafted Edinburgh Rugby prop Grant Shiels, and a Rex Jeffrey penalty kick to lead at the break (10-15).

Within seven minutes of second-half rugby the Borderers were back on top and in their hosts 22, where Stirling were forced into infringing at the breakdown to save their defensive integrity.

The cost of doing so was the absence of number 8 Steven Neill - who was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes - and allowing Gala centre Ewan Scott to bisect the posts with a penalty kick.

That said, the impact did not immediately affect the home side, who replied with a penalty of their own just five minutes later (13-18).

A Gala penalty extended their lead once more (13-21) to keep the home side’s hopes at bay but the pressure truly came on in the dying minutes.

Another County penalty kick in response put them back within five points with the now full complement of players believing a win at the death was within their reach.

Repeated pick and goes on the Gala try line were followed by a scrum, five metres out and 15 metres in, however the Maroons turned over the scrum and cleared to safety to secure the must deserved, and much needed win.

Next up for Gala are bottom of the table sides Edinburgh Accies and Boroughmuir, although the fixtures may not be as easy as they first appear as Accies defeated second places Ayr 11-8 on Saturday.

GALA: Ruairi Howarth; Keith Young, Ewan Scott, Alan Emond, 11 Grant Somerville; Rex Jeffrey, George Graham; Grant Sheils, Russell Anderson, Ewan Johnstone, Chris Weir, Craig Borthwick, Gary Graham, Scot Wilkinson, Euan Dods. Substitutes: Luke Pettie, James Hilterbrand, Sean Johnstone, Graeme Speirs, Gregor Mein.