At half time on Saturday on Edinburgh’s south side, Gala Fairydean Rovers faced the prospect of being dragged right into the relegation dogfight in the cut-throat Lowland League.

Trailing by two goals to a lively University side, Gala looked down and out and another defeat on the road would almost certainly have given teams at the foot of the table fresh hope of reducing the gap.

However, a remarkable fightback crowned by Jamie Gibson’s 91st minute winner gave the Braw Lads all three points and hoisted them into eighth equal position in the league.

Even after Gibson headed home from close range, University had a chance to level deep into stoppage time only for Gala defender Andrew Common to pop up in the right place to block a netbound shot on the goal line.

Although Gala started reasonably brightly forcing two half chances, they found themselves 2-0 down after just seven minutes.

The Students carved open the Gala defence in the fourth minute with Ross Patterson allowed to race through unchallenged and slip the ball underneath the advancing Steven King.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as a slick move down the right this time ended with Fraser Thomson rifling a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

Gala had no answer as the home side dominated the first half and they were relieved to get into the dressing room at half time only two goals down.

The transformation in the second half was like night and day.

Skipper Sean Paliczka got the ball rolling with a surging run and then unleashing a 30 yard shot which University keeper Scott Hainey could only parry with both hands.

The ball was heading towards the goal line but Davie Bonnar followed up just to make sure and suddenly Gala were back in it.

Gibson’s pace was a constant threat to the home defence and Gala should have been awarded a penalty shortly after the hour mark when he was tripped in the box.

But in the 75th minute when Gibson was taken out again on the left hand side of the box referee Mark Henry pointed to the spot and the striker sent keeper Hainey the wrong way with the penalty.

That sparked a frantic finish with Gala pushing for what seemed, at one stage, an unlikely winner.

Midfielder Billy Miller drove a shot inches past the upright and Gibson narrowly missed getting on the end of a low driven cross by sub Stuart Noble.

The visitors finally got their reward in injury time when Gibson nodded the ball home from a yard out in a goalmouth scramble for his fifth goal of the season.

Assistant manager Bryan Templeton said: “We were shocking in the first half and the players were told that.

“To be fair to them they came out fighting in the second half and it was so much better.

“They got their act into gear and they got their reward in the end.

“I was delighted for Gibby getting his two goals. He works so hard for the team and I would love to know how much ground he covers in a game as he never stops running.” Gala Fairydean Rovers: King, Stephen, Common, Miller, McBride, Robinson, Aitchison, Bonnar (Lough 72), Gibson, Paliczka (Jardine 80), Langford (Noble 50).