Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

Kelty Hearts 1

By Callum Hodgson

at Netherdale

IT was a game of two penalties at Netherdale on Saturday.

But unfortunately for Gala, they missed their second spot kick in two games as Kelty claimed the points in a hard-fought match.

Gaffer Dean Shanks said: “I don’t think there was too much in the game.

“Their penalty was definitely a pen, but then we got one and missed it. That’s the second time in two weeks. We can’t keep missing penalties, we know that.

“But we are doing so many things right and I can’t ask for any more from the lads in the changing room. Yes they’re a bit down now, but we’re all looking at the bigger picture.”

Kelty put in some dangerous crosses early in the first half; however Murray Carstairs, Brian Ritchie and Ross Mutch all saw their headers saved by Patrick Martin.

But in the 33rd minute they were awarded a penalty when Kieran Watson tripped up Mutch in the area.

Stephen Husband stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to open the scoring.

Gala responded and almost equalised straight away through Sandy Cunningham, but his effort was palmed away by Scott Christie.

The home side, who defended excellently in the first half, were unlucky to be behind at the break.

And they were given a glorious chance to get back on level terms 18 minutes after the restart when Sean McKirdy was brought down by Gary Leighton in the 18-yard-box.

Referee Iain Snedden pointed to the spot.

Captain Darren Smith stepped up to the plate, but his shot was saved by the Kelty stopper.

The Fife side could have grabbed another headed goal six minutes before for the end, but Mutch was denied at the near post.

And in stoppage time Martin made an excellent save to keep out an effort from substitute Elliot Ford.

But Gala weren’t able to grab an equaliser and suffered their second consecutive 1-0 defeat.

After the final whistle Kelty manager Barry Ferguson said: “Gala are a decent outfit, certainly at home. You have to work hard for the victory. It’s a hard place to come, but we got three points. I’ll take that.”

Gala: P Martin, R Stevenson, S Main (H Pullar 56), K Ainslie, P Scullion, D Smith, S McKirdy, K Watson, C O’Reilly (P Addison 74), R Paton, S Cunningham. Not used: D Bell, G Amos