Gala Fairydean Rovers secure victory over Edinburgh City

GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS continued their pre-season preparation with an impressive victory over League Two favourites Edinburgh City at Netherdale on Saturday.

Supporters were allowed back into the stadium for the first time in over a year.

And after an evenly contested opening period, Gala took the lead in the 17th minute when Marc Berry collected a loose pass in midfield and found former Ross County and Hibs midfielder Martin Scott who curled a tremendous 25-yard strike into the top corner of the net.

The hosts added a second ten-minutes before the break when Zander Murray capitalised on a mistake in the Citizens' defence and calmly slotted the ball past Cammy Quate from 12 yards.

Both sides made a number of substitutions at half-time which changed the flow of the game.

City created a number of chances before Lee Hamilton headed home a superb cross from substitute Danny Handling.

City pressed hard for an equaliser and Handling went close with a free-kick from the edge of the box, but Gala regained their composure and dominated the latter parts of the game.

Handling had the ball in the net for the visitors, but that ball had gone out of play before the cross came in. 

Photo: Thomas Brown

Then in the dying minutes Daryl Healy secured a memorable victory with a powerful header.

After the final whistle Gala manager Neil Hastings told the Border Telegraph: “I’m delighted. It was a good test against good opposition. It’s their first game back so we are a little bit ahead with a couple of games under our belt but I am delighted for the boys.

“There were elements of the performance that we need to improve on but with new signings and a few trialists involved today you are always going to get that in pre-season games.

“It was great to se the strikers getting goals, but it was about getting minutes in the legs. The first goal was a good finish from Jimmy (Martin Scott) although they will tell you it was a mistake from their pass out. 

"The second one again is a ball that we capitalised on and Zander (Murray) will always put these opportunities away and the last one, I’m delighted for Daryl. That’s exactly why we brought him to the club. He’s a threat in the box both on the ground and in the air and I was delighted he got off the mark."