Vale of Leithen 1

Gala Fairydean Rovers 5

David Knox

at Victoria Park

FURIOUS Vale manager Chris Anderson has threatened his struggling players with the exit door after being demolished by derby rivals Gala.

And it was the pace of former Manchester United youth player Danny Galbraith that caused most of the mayhem in the home ranks on Tuesday.

The Victoria Park manager was enraged at his team's lacklustre performance against their neighbours.

Anderson blasted: "That was most definitely the worst performance we've had since I came to the Vale.

"I will not have another performance like that and the players will soon know it.

"If I have to change the players we have here at this club then I will do it."

Following Vale's opening day drubbing at Bonnyrigg, Anderson was looking for a response from his team.

But a rampant Gala blew them away inside the opening 10 minutes with Galbraith orchestrating the onslaught.

Ross Gilpin had already made two good saves before Ross Aitchison towered above the defence to header home an eighth minute corner.

Only the backtracking of centre-half Paul Thomson prevented Marc Berry doubling the advantage a minute later.

But Gala found the net with the next sweeping attack. Galbraith's change of pace saw him glide past two defenders to slot a powerful low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

It had taken all of quarter of an hour for the home team to string a few passes together.

And they did come close to pulling a goal back during a spell of pressure after 20 minutes.

An angled Tommy Patterson drive deflected into the side netting, and from the resultant corner Thomson's shot towards goal was headed off the line by Lewis Grant.

But the Fairydean Rovers stretched their advantage just after the half hour as Galbraith was clipped by John Grant as he made another burst into the area.

The former Hibs midfielder tucked away the penalty for 3-0.

Brad Rixon should have thrown his team a lifeline just before the interval after the Gala defence were caught out by a long ball, but the Vale striker could only head tamely into the arms of Fraser Morton.

Anderson's half time rage did get a brief response from his players with both Patterson and Liam Ireland testing Morton with shots before the hour.

But any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 62nd minute as Berry held off two challenges to race into the area and square for Livi Kinchant to score at the back post.

Ireland grazed the bar with a curling freekick five minutes later as the home team attempted to salvage some pride.

And they were rewarded with a consolation as Rixon cut in from the left to find the net with an angled shot.

But the Fairydean Rovers were to have the last say as substitute Phil Addison curled a magnificent 82nd minute freekick round the wall and beyond Gilpin.

Gala boss Neil Hastings was delighted with the victory. He said: "We started the game really well and got the goals we were after.

"I'm pleased with the three points and even more pleased with the attitude and appetite of my players tonight."

Vale of Leithen. R Gilpin, J Grant (G Nicholson 62), A Imlah, C O'Neil, P Thomson, R Higgins, T Patterson, L Hall, B Rixon, J Easton (J Elliot 46) & L Ireland.

Gala Fairydean Rovers. F Morton, L Grant (D Bonar 64), A Chingwalu, B Herdman, C McBride, N Kelly, L Kinchant, R Mayer, R Aitchison, D Galbraith (P Addison 66) & M Berry (Y Galantey 64).