PEEBLES ROVERS 2
GALA FAIRYDEAN 3
EoS First Division
Don’t let the scoreline fool you – this was far from being a classic Borders derby, writes Kenny Paterson.
Windy conditions and little to play for bar pride meant this game struggled to entertain a shivering crowd at Kerfield on Monday evening, with Rovers’ Whitestone Park pitch out of use again. Both teams had suffered defeats two days earlier – Gala losing 4-0 to Leith Athletic and Peebles falling 2-0 at Duns – so Fairies manager John O’Hara welcomed his side’s victory.
He said: “It is good to get back to winning ways. We played well in the first half, but Peebles put us under a lot of pressure in the second.”
Rovers boss Jason Girdwood added: “We can have no complaints – Duns and Gala both took their chances.”
George Gibson opened the scoring for Gala with a close-range shot which found the net via the underside of the crossbar. Geri Rossi doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time from trialist Frankie Arthur’s corner. Grant Gass finished well on the hour to make it 3-0, but Rovers showed plenty of heart to come back with a fine free kick by Nicky Cairns and a Craig Edgar strike with the last kick of the ball.
Peebles Rovers: S. Gordon, D. Linton, G. Shortreed, A. Williamson, David Muir, J. Adamson, N. Cairns, J. Manson, M. McKenzie, A. Noble, C. Edgar. Subs: Darren Muir, J. Brodie, B. Nwanze.
Gala Fairydean: E. Turnbull, C. McBride, A. Brown, C. Lothian, S. Davidson, G. Gibson, B. Miller, G. Gass, G. Rossi, F. Arthur, J. Hay. Subs: M. Berry, R. Hewitson, C. Jeffrey.