GALA Fairydean Rovers' impressive start to the Lowland League campaign continued at Muirhouse on Tuesday evening with a comfortable 3-1 victory over on form Civil Service Strollers.

The visitors had dominated possession in the first half at Christie Gillies Park without ever really threatening to break the deadlock.

But after the interval Civil had no answer to the rampant Braw Lads as they netted three times in a 15-minute spell to put the destination of the points in no doubt.

Gala received a triple boost in the build up to the game.

Defender Kelvin Donald's international clearance came through on the morning of the game to allow him to be named as a substitute while a loan deal for FC Edinburgh left back Quinn Mitchell was approved in the afternoon and he made his debut in the starting line-up.

 

 

With just two hours before kick off, news came through that the club's appeal against captain Gareth Rodger's red card against Caledonian Braves had been successful with the SFA's fast track tribunal and he was able to take his usual place in the centre of the Gala defence.

Gala would have been content with their first half showing against Strollers who were on a high after beating Rangers B on Friday night and were one of the high-flyers in the Lowland League last season.

But it was after the break that the visitors really turned on the style.

One minute after the re-start a Danny Galbraith corner was met with the slightest touch by Allan Smith and although it was scrambled clear the ball had clearly crossed the line.

Gala piled on the pressure and in the 55th minute another Galbraith corner was met with a powerful header by Rodger.

It was blocked on the line but the big defender was first to react to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

However, the best goal of the game came on the hour mark when Galbraith broke free down the right flank and from 25 yards out he sent a right-footed angled drive into the far away top corner -a candidate for goal of the season even at this early stage.

Gala retained a strong grip of the game although Strollers always looked dangerous and keeper Ryan Goodfellow came to the rescue with a couple of smart saves.

A flurry of substitutions disrupted the flow of the game but the home side kept going and in the final minute they grabbed a consolation goal through Jonny Moffat.

Gala will be hoping to build on the good start to the season when they travel to play Cowdenbeath at Central Park on Saturday(kick off 3p.m.) with another away game against Edinburgh University at Peffermill on Tuesday evening(kick off 7.45p.m.).

GFR - Goodfellow, C.Hall, Mitchell, Wilkie, Rodger, Jordan, Smith, Dougal, Murray, Galbraith, Berry. Subs: Balde, Campbell, McRitchie, Greene, L.Hall, Donald.