Hero Munro bags late winner

Published 16 Apr 2010 12:30 0 Comments

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Gala Fairydean 0 v 1 Vale of Leithen

BRAVE Gala Fairydean almost caused the upset of the season on Tuesday night when they attempted to hold out with only 10 men.

Vale's usually potent strikeforce were constantly denied by the home defence.

But with four minutes remaining Alec Munro took full advantage of a mistake to rifle a shot on target and keep the Innerleithen side's title hopes on track.

Following the final whistle manager Rab Paget said: "That is the most important goal of the season.

"It's another three points and hopefully takes us a step closer to promotion.

"Gala should be proud of their players for the effort they put in tonight - I didn't think we were going to find a way through."

Dean keeper Scott Lumsden had already made two decent stops, from Andy Martin and Aaron Somerville, before Paul Young was red carded for a rash tackle on the halfway line just 14 minutes into the game.

With only 10 men - and their central defensive pairing of Ally McCulloch and John Waldie having a combined age of 81 - it was going to be a long night for the home fans.

But they rallied well and limited Vale's strikers to only two shots on target before the break.

The game was played almost entirely in the Fairydean half although solo Gala striker Chris Anderson always posed a breakaway threat.

Following several goalmouth scrambles early in the second half Gala almost sneaked a lead when Anderson's snap shot was well saved by Darren Walker.

Munro clipped the post with a close-range effort on the hour and Martin went within inches just three minutes later as Vale laid siege on the Gala goal.

It was one way traffic with Paget throwing on forwards to bombard the home goal.

Waldie cleared a Somerville near post flick off the line with six minutes remaining - and it looked as though the home side would hold on.

But a low Martin cross bobbled through a crowd of players on 86 minutes and Munro was on hand to blast the ball high into the net.The celebrations all around the ground showed how much the three poionts meant.

Gala Fairydean. S Lumsden, A McCulloch, G Wood, P Young, J Waldie, A Hardie, C Anderson, M Baussenlein, J Gibson, J Lauder & C Gow.

Vale of Leithen. D Walker, J Hall (G Shortreed 67), P Lee, M Stewart, P Thomson, A Martin, G Tainsh (A Penman 75), D Gillon, S Moffat (R Burke 81), A Munro & A Somerville.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 16 Apr 10

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