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Peebles 0 v 10 Gala Fairydean

PEEBLES came crashing back to earth as Gala Fairydean ran out convincing winners in this Central Taxis East of Scotland League First Division match at Whitestone Park last Saturday.

In fact, Gala were by far the better side over the piece as they had a lot more of the possession, while the 'Dean 'keeper only really had to make a couple of saves during the entire match.

Apart from scoring ten goals, Gala also hit the Peebles woodwork in the first half as they came close to scoring on several other occasions.

Ironically, it was two ex-Peebles players who scored five of Gala's ten goals with Chris Anderson notching up a hat-trick. However, both sides still served up some entertaining football over the 90 minutes despite a gale force wind blowing right down the park.

With the wind at their backs, Gala had some early pressure before they were the first to pose a threat when from a Ross Glass right-wing cross, Peebles 'keeper David Simmons foiled Kyle Collins with a splendid two-handed diving save.

However, it was the 'Dean who opened the scoring after ten minutes when after the Peebles defence had failed to clear an Anderson corner-kick from the right, the loose ball broke kindly to Paul Hossack before he swiftly drilled it past a helpless Simmons with a low crisp shot from 16 yards.

Back again came Gala as Jamie Gibson just missed the target with a cracking shot from 25 yards.

Gala continued on the attack as from an Anderson corner-kick on the right, Hossack was on target with a blistering angular shot from 12 yards until Simmons tipped the ball over his crossbar with a splendid one-handed save.

But then at the other end, after pouncing onto a loose ball, Nicky Cairns made a menacing run into the Gala box before he sent in a crisp angular shot from 14 yards which brought out a fine two-handed diving save from Elliot Turnbull.

However, it was Gala who came close to increasing their lead in the 20th minute when after collecting the loose ball, Gibson seemed almost certain to score with a terrific angular shot from 20 yards until the ball came rebounding back off the Peebles crossbar and away to safety.

But it was the 'Dean who added a second goal just six minutes later when an Anderson corner-kick from the left to the near post picked out Paul Young before he neatly flicked the ball home from close in.

Shortly afterwards, after collecting a Greg Hay pass, Michael Holness was just wide of the mark with a good effort from 18 yards.

However, it was Gala who scored a third goal after 41 minutes when from a Glass pass, Gibson sent over a right-wing cross which picked out the in-rushing Chris Anderson before he gave Simmons no chance with a splendid header from six yards.

It was all Gala at this stage of the game as they grabbed a fourth goal just before half-time when after the diving Simmons had parried a Gibson shot, it was Michael Holness who stabbed the loose ball home from eight yards.

Then the 'Dean went nap just three minutes after the interval when a defence-splitting pass from Young sent Chris Anderson racing into the Peebles box before he coolly drilled the ball past an exposed Simmons from 12 yards.

Gala then made it six after 53 minutes when Simmons could only parry a Gibson shot into the path of the in-rushing Chris Anderson before he promptly slammed the loose ball home from ten yards to notch up his hat-trick.

Then moments later, Anderson set off on an electrifying run before he sent the ball just inches wide of the far Peebles right-hand post with a rasping angular drive from 18 yards.

But then at the other end, Turnbull foiled Peebles substitute Gary Knox with a fine save, while Cairns was well off target with an effort from long range.

However, Gala were in seventh heaven on the hour mark when from a Hay right-wing cross, Michael Holness beat the diving Simmons with a crisp well placed shot from 12 yards.

Peebles replied with Cairns passing the ball to Sam Hosker, who was narrowly off target with a snap-shot from 18 yards.

But the 'Dean made it eight after 68 minutes when after some good leading-up work from Holness and Anderson just outside the Peebles box, it was Gala substitute Andy Hardie who coolly drilled the ball past a helpless Simmons from 14 yards.

Then Peebles had a couple of good efforts as from a Gary Knox corner-kick on the right, Cairns headed the ball just over the Gala crossbar from 6 yards out, while Peebles substitute Michael Mair was narrowly off target with a pile-driver from 25 yards.

But Gala were on cloud nine after 79 minutes when after latching onto a Colin Riddle through-ball, Jamie Gibson beat Simmons all ends up with a cool finish from 14 yards.

Then the 'Dean completed the rout with a tenth goal five minutes before full-time when a Riddle through-ball sent Gibson racing into the Peebles box.

Then after coolly rounding the exposed Simmons, Jamie Gibson had the simple task of slotting the ball into a vacant Peebles net from eight yards.

Play continued to rage from end to end right up to the final whistle as Simmons foiled Anderson with a fine save, while Turnbull comfortably saved a 25 yards free-kick attempt from Mair.

Peebles. D. Simmons, D. Urey, V. Hepburn (G. Knox 54 mins), M. Meechan (G. Stenhouse 69 mins), J. McNamara, D. Knox, D. West, C. Dilworth, S. Hosker, N. Cairns, D. Crosbie (M. Mair 54 mins).

Gala Fairydean. E. Turnbull, G. Hay (S. McKenzie 61 mins), G. Wood, P. Hossack, J. Waldie, P. Young (A. Hardie 51 mins), M. Holness, J. Gibson, C. Anderson, K. Collins (C. Riddle 63 mins), R. Glass.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 09 Oct 09

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