Gala Fairydean Rovers 3

Stirling University 1

Kenny Paterson

at Netherdale

HIBS loanee Ruari Paton inspired Gala Fairydean Rovers to secure a significant victory against in-form Stirling University.

While Craig O’Reilly grabbed two well taken goals, it was Paton’s introduction at half-time which swung the game in Gala’s favour, as they went on to dominate what had been an evenly contested match.

Gala manager Dean Shanks described the second half showing as one of the best since he arrived at the club and also paid tribute to another substitute, Kris Mitchell, as the hosts moved up to ninth in the Lowland League.

Shanks said: “Kris had to wait for his chance but when he came on he provided us with a good link between the midfield and our strikers.

“Ruari has been away and not trained this week but he showed what he can do when he came off the bench.

“We asked the players at half time to do the basics properly and pass the ball better and we did that.

“We should have scored more goals and there is still more to come from this team.”

It was inevitable that the weather would be miserable with Netherdale’s stand closed off for survey works til early 2019.

And it seemed to affect the first half, with a lacklustre feel to the game in the gloomy conditions.

Stirling had the best chance of the half as Patrick Martin made an excellent close range stop from Blair Lyons after the winger was given far too much room by the generous Gala defence.

Gala had a decent penalty appeal when Sean McKirdy appeared to be hacked to the ground by Slattery, but there was little else to excite the sodden supporters.

That would change drastically in the second half.

After Ferris blasted over a great chance for the Students, Paton made his mark in the 57th minute.

The Irishman picked up the ball on the right, battled past two defenders and produced an outstanding cross for O’Reilly to volley in from six yards.

It appeared he had set up the second ten minutes later when his through ball was sidefooted in by O’Reilly again, but referee Colin Whyte overruled his assistant Vikki Allan and decided the Gala scorer was offside.

Gala’s wait for a second didn’t last long though with a goal manager Shanks described as the best he has seen all season, as ex-Hearts man Dale Baxter thrashed home a sensational 25 yard goal.

And Paton’s tenacity earned Gala a vital third goal in the 76th minute, as he won the ball off the Stirling defence and slide the ball to Baxter whose excellent cross was finished again by O’Reilly.

Stirling scored a cracking consolation as Lewis Bonar fired in a free kick with two minutes left, but Paton had a chance to claim the goal his performance deserved in injury time, only for keeper John Allan to make a good save.

It mattered little to Shanks and his team, who have now won five of their last seven games.

Gala Fairydean Rovers: P. Martin, R. Donaldson, S. Main, K. Watson, R. Miller, D. Smith (J. Temple 90), S. Cunningham, S. McKirdy (K. Mitchell 61), J. Morris (R. Paton 45), C. O’Reilly, D. Baxter.