07/11/2020  |  League

Cumbernauld Colts   1  v  2  Gala Fairydean Rovers

It was a disappointing afternoon at Broadwood for Cumbernauld Colts as they were edged out by a goal in each half for Gala Fairydean Rovers who took all three points.

Inside the opening exchanges, Rovers were first to come close but Ben Herdman could only knock a dangerous free-kick over Jonathan Grier’s bar.

Captain Stephen O’Neill then saw his drive fly over for the Colts as both teams saw early possession.

From a corner though, it was the visitors who took the lead after 17 minutes. Herdman again causing trouble in the Colts box as the defender forced the ball over the line for the lead.

The opener gave Gala Fairydean the momentum in this one and they could have doubled their lead not long after, again from a corner, but Gareth Rodger’s header didn’t bother Grier’s goal.

The Cumbernauld ‘keeper then did well to get down to stop a low cross on the half hour with Archie Roue waiting for a tap-in.

Colts had the cross-bar to thank that they weren’t two goals down as a Rovers’ free-kick was headed onto the upright from just yards out.

Jacob Campbell then went down in the box with the away side wanting a penalty, however referee Ross Hardie got the yellow card out for a dive, with the lack of complaints from the winger telling the story.

After the break, a change of shape for the Colts saw James Orr go with two up top but the hosts struggled to create in the final third.

With less than 15 minutes left, Rovers got their second goal to kill the game. A ball from the left wasn’t cleared inside the box allowing Ross Aitchison to find the net from close range.

Colts pulled back a consolation in the 90th minute as Lee Whitmore expertly converted a cut-back past Fraser Morton in goal. The hosts pushed in added time for the equaliser but it wasn’t to be and Rovers held on for the victory.

GFR: Morton, Grant, Herdman, Rodger, Hall, Mackenzie, Aitchison, Galbraith, Roue (Berry 70’), Campbell (Ward 70’), Addison (Walsh 88’).