Kelty Hearts 2

Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

Kenny Paterson

at New Central Park

GALA Fairydean Rovers boss Dean Shanks admitted his side suffered stage fright as Barry Ferguson got his reign at Kelty Hearts off to a perfect start.

A bumper crowd of 560 packed into New Central Park for the Rangers legend’s much publicised first match as manager of the Lowland League leaders.

And his side delivered, racing into a two goal lead inside the first half hour.

While Gala responded well in the second period, Kelty thoroughly merited their win, as Shanks conceded.

He said: “The occasion got to us.

“Kelty have good players but we paid them too much respect and at 2-0 down it was going to be very difficult to get back into the game.

“We have been on a good run and have two winnable games at home next against Stirling University and Edu Academy. But we know how tough the Lowland League is and neither match will be easy.”

Ferguson’s arrival at Kelty is further confirmation of their ambitions to make it into the SPFL.

With an impressive squad, stadium and support already in place, they now look like favourites for the Lowland League title, and delighted their new boss with an excellent first half showing.

Gala’s efforts were not helped by losing right back Reece Donaldson in the warm up, with Daryl Johnson being promoted from the bench.

But it cannot be used as an excuse for their lacklustre first half performance, whereby Kelty should have scored more than their two goals.

The hosts took the lead after ten minutes as former East Fife striker Stuart Cargill fired home a superb angled shot from 14 yards.

Ex-Selkirk man Ciaren Chalmers headed over soon after but Gala failed to learn their lesson as the same player was given ample room to head a Scott Taylor-MacKenzie corner past Patrick Martin on 26 minutes.

Martin made a brilliant stop to deny Elliot Ford’s fiercely hit shot after a flowing Kelty move and Cargill then hit the bar right on half time as Gala somehow made it to the break just two goals behind.

A big defeat was looking likely unless Gala took the game to Kelty and, led by Sean McKirdy, And Shanks’ men did just that.

McKirdy’s 20 yard shot was saved well by Scott Christie on 50 minutes before the same man battled to win the ball on the byline and produced a dangerous cross which no Gala man could reach in time.

Matthew Gay should have finished the match for Kelty but fired just wide, and at the other end Dale Baxter went close with a tipping long range shot which went just over the bar.

In the closing stages Martin made an excellent reflex stop from Taylor-MacKenzie’s deflected long-range strike to deny Hearts a third goal.

Ferguson said: “Gala are a good team but apart from a ten to 15 minute spell in the second half we dominated the game.”

Gala Fairydean Rovers: P. Martin, D. Johnson, S. Main, K. Watson, R. Miller, S. McKirdy, S. Cunningham, R. Paton, J. Morris, C. O’Reilly (S. Conaghan 76), D. Baxter.