Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

East Stirlingshire 3

David Knox

at Netherdale

BIG-spending East Stirlingshire showed their intentions on Wednesday night as they dominated a thread-bare Gala team.

Derek Ure has brought in several big names during the summer in a bid to compete for the title.

And, despite a rocky start to the campaign, his new players looked the part as they took control throughout at Netherdale.

To compound the home team's problems, Neil Hastings' injury list grew even longer with both Dino Leddie and Niall Kelly hobbling off.

The Fairydean Rovers manager said: "Credit to East Stirlingshire, they are the best team we've faced so far this season.

"We came into this game with a few players already missing through injury and it looks like we have one or two more who will now be out for a few weeks.

"It's not ideal but we have to get on with it - we have a big enough squad to cope."

Gala were given an early warning when Matty Flynn rounded Fraser Morton only to shoot inches wide of the far post.

But the home team's defence was exposed again in the tenth minute as the unchallenged Connor Greene headed home a corner from ten yards out.

For a brief ten minute spell Gala did match their opponents across midfield and began to create their own chances.

Leddie's 14th minute header was spectacularly saved by Jamie Barclay.

And just a couple of minutes later Scott Taylor McKenzie was denied by another good save.

Shire doubled their advantage in the 24th minute with Flynn finding plenty of room inside the area to head home a deep angled cross.

Only a fortunate deflection prevented Nicky Lowe adding a third just after the half hour.

But it wasn't long until Mark Millar blasted the ball high into the net after good build up play to put the visitors out of sight.

Marc Berry almost threw his team a lifeline but his 20-yard blast was blocked by Barclay.

A terrific save from Morton, to prevent Martin Orr's volley finding the net, was probably the highlight of the second half.

Although Gala pushed players forward, the best they could muster was a Jack Cowan shot which flew over the bar and Levi Kinchant's overhead kick which went a foot wide.

Shire manager Ure said: "I thought we were excellent in the first half.

"We worked hard all over the park and got our rewards."

Gala FR. F Morton, L Kinchant, A Chingwalu, B Herdman, D Leddie (J Cowan 46), S Tayloe McKenzie, F Mendes, N Kelly (K Ainslie 84), D Bonnar, R Aitchison & M Berry.