Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

Edusport Academy 2

David Knox

at Netherdale

AS you read this there’s every chance Gala Fairydean Rovers manager Dean Shanks is wrapping up 20 alarm clocks to give to his squad as pre-Scottish Cup gifts.

Yet again on Saturday his team were caught napping in the opening half hour of their clash with Edusport Academy.

And despite a wide-awake second half which saw them dominate, Shanks’ players still dropped the points.

The manager told us: “We go on good runs with performances and results then we shoot ourselves in the foot by starting a game really slowly.

“It’s been the story of our season so far – if we start well we win, if we start slowly we get beat.

“We were excellent in the second half today but you can’t give teams like Edusport a two-goal start.”

The carrot of climbing into the top six was dangling in front of the Fairydean Rovers ahead of kick off.

But a sluggish start from the home team allowed Edusport to dominate the opening half hour.

The visitors went in front after only five minutes as Max Ouhaito’s tremendous angled cross was deflected into his own net by Scott Main.

And 14 minutes later fellow wing-back Jean Guy Lucas raced to the byline to drill in a low cross for Marc Kelly to score from close range.

Only a goalline clearance from debutant Ryan Stevenson prevented Raffi Krissian making it 3-0 on the half hour.

Gala had enjoyed plenty possession with livewire Sean McKirdy providing a slight glimmer of hope during a murky opening half with his industry and pressing.

But for most of the first half Gala’s build up was laboured and lacked any real conviction.

The half-time wake-up call did the trick with the home team on the front foot for most of the second half – and on another day they could maybe have retrieved at least a point.

Ruari Paton forced Solal Pelmard-Bassi into a five save in the 48th minute with a shot from the edge of the area.

And Reece Donaldson also curled an effort inches wide of the far post.

The home team’s higher tempo and zipped-passing continued to lead to chances.

And Paton was inches away from converting a Craig O’Reilly cross just after the hour.

Edusport continued to pose a threat on the break, but the chances were being created at the other end.

Substitute Josh Morris raced onto a through ball only to be denied by the outstretched foot of Pelmard-Bassi.

And the French keeper made another two excellent stops in the closing ten minutes to deny Dale Baxter.

Gala Fairydean Rovers. P Martin, R Donaldson, S Main, K Watson (S Cunningham 58), R Miller, D Smith, R Stevenson, S McKirdy (J Morris 68), R Paton, C O’Reilly & D Baxter.