GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS 2-3 LOCHEE UNITED
Ross McGowan’s match report sponsored by Utility Connect Scotland.
Lochee United extended their hot streak to four wins on the bounce this afternoon with a successful raid down in the Borders against Gala Fairydean.
Two goals from Callum Moore and one from Fraser Donaldson were enough to see the Bluebells back up the road with all three points as Steve Fallon’s side turned in another dominant display in the Lowland League East.
But for the second week running, they were made to do it the hard way after falling behind early doors when a Gala set piece delivery from the left was cleared off the line but only as far as Liam Fagan who crashed the ball into the roof of the net to put the hosts 1-0 up.
Lochee didn’t panic though, reassured by the confidence and belief of the last few weeks, and they soon began to take control of the game.
First, a throw-in from Callum Lamb was met by Michael McArthur in the middle and his header rattled off the post with Reece Murray rooted to the spot in the Gala goal. Then moments later Murray was called upon to save from Finlay Allan’s acrobatic overhead kick.
But with 18 minutes played Lochee restored parity in the contest with a routine that is starting to look familiar. With Gala trying to play out from the back Finlay Allan sensed a loose touch from Daniel Martins in the Gala defence and Allan nipped in to steal possession before hitting the byline and cutting back for Callum Moore to fire into the net and pull the game back to 1-1.
Allan was giving the Gala rearguard a torrid time and on the half hour mark Martins had to resort to bringing him down 30 yards from goal. But the distance didn’t deter Callum Moore who stepped up to whip a magnificent free-kick into the postage stamp corner taking us into a 2-1 lead.
Lochee were now playing some terrific quick passing football and it was soon 3-1 when Moore’s devilish corner delivery from the right tempted the keeper out into the crowd and despite appeals from the hosts for a foul Lochee played to the whistle as Fraser Donaldson bundled the ball in at the back post.
That was how the teams went in at the break with Lochee rallying well despite the early set-back and playing the more enterprising football of the two teams.
Gala emerged from the interval with renewed thrust as they looked to cause Lochee problems down the right flank with Zack Tomany’s pace and trickery. But for all of their efforts, Lewis Haldane remained relatively untroubled in the Lochee goal.
The game took a twist in the 72nd minute however when a Gala corner created a good old fashioned stramash in the Lochee goalmouth and Daniel Martins managed to swipe the ball home from close range to halve the deficit at 3-2.
The hosts grew in belief as the game appeared to open up into the final stages. And despite Murray in the Gala goal making good saves late on from Finlay Allan and Ross Fraser, as well as a Paul Scobie shot being cleared off the line, there was still a sense of some anxiety at the slender nature of Lochee’s lead in the last 15 minutes.
The Bluebells defence held firm though and the victory was closed out professionally as Lochee’s early season momentum shows no sign of being arrested.
Lochee showed that they can adapt to both sides of the game this afternoon, playing some eye-catching football in the first half, but digging in and doing the unglamorous work to shut the game down in the second half.
Continuity of selection has been the bedrock of Lochee’s recent form, particularly in the defensive and goalkeeping areas where our guys have got on with their work with the minimum of fuss.
And at the other end of the park Finlay Allan was once again an absolute nuisance to the Gala defence all day long and one or two of them may still be seeing Lochee’s number 9 in their nightmares tonight.
But this afternoon’s game was won in the midfield with Lochee’s engine room of Moore, Hearn and Ferguson smothering Gala with their work rate and use of the ball. Callum Moore in particular looked back to his best, covering every blade of grass and chipping in with two goals to claim today’s man of the match award.
Next up we welcome our friends from Tweedmouth Rangers to Thomson Park next Saturday for a South Challenge Cup tie. Let’s see as many of you there as possible to cheer the lads on!
As always – COME ON THE CHEE!!!
