Four second half goals saw an impressive Spartans side send Gala Fairydean Rovers to their second loss of the season.

Goals from Michael Allan, Sam Newman, Scott Maxwell and Borderer Blair Henderson gave the visitors victory in front of a good crowd at Netherdale.

Gala came into the game in good form having secured an impressive last-minute win at Cumbernauld Colts in their previous match.

And they managed to keep much-fancied Spartans at bay in the first half, thanks in part to a brilliant double save by new Gala goalkeeper Dean Beveridge, denying both Jamie Dishington and Henderson in the space of a few seconds.

Daryl Healy provided Spartans backline with a difficult 90-minutes and the Fairydean Rovers striker forced a good stop from Blair Carswell with a dipping half volley from the edge of the box.

Dishington then almost set up Allan for the opener, but the left back headed wide from just six yards out.

But Allan did find the net eight minutes into the second half, as he fired high into the net after Gareth Rodger had cleared the ball off the Gala goal line.

And five minutes later it was 2-0 as an unfortunate mix up between Beveridge and right back Lewis Grant allowed Newman a tap-in from a few yards out.

Gala brought on Phil Addison and Zander Murray in an effort to get back into the game, and almost did when Marc Berry's excellent driven cross was met by Healy's looping header, which was netbound until Carswell's made a brilliant fingertip save.

Instead Spartans went three goals ahead on 74 minutes as substitute Maxwell produced a good finish from a tight angle.

Calum Hall should have scored from another superb Berry cross but the scoring was completed at the other end two minutes from time as Earlston's own Henderson headed in from close range.