Cumbernauld Colts 1

Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

Tommy Cass

at Broadwood

TWO second half goals from Hibernian loanee Ruari Paton sealed a much-needed win for Gala Fairydean Rovers on Saturday.

In a feisty game, which was Gala's third trip to the central belt in as many weeks, the visitors picked up no fewer than six yellow cards.

But the battling qualities resulted in the second half comeback to secure the points.

Gala boss Dean Shanks said: "It was a physical game but we stood up well and I'm delighted with the way we came back."

Only 30 seconds into the game a challenge by Colts defender Ritchie Kirwin resulted in Dale Baxter limping off the park.

Referee Stewart Luke deemed the challenge only merited a ticking off.

Baxter was replaced by Tommy Patterson.

Paddy Martin in the Gala goal saved well from a Fraser Team effort - diving low to deny the inform striker.

On 17 minutes another Colts attack saw Sean Brown open the scoring.

His well placed shot found the corner of net to put the home side in front.

A minute later the Fairydean Rovers passed their way through the Colts defence for Sean McKirdy to pick out Craig O`Reilly, but his fierce 20 yard shot hit the post.

Both teams were fully committed and the referee showed three yellow cards to each team during the first half, including Gala`s Ricky Miller, Reece Donaldson and Darren Smith.

Gala looked a better team from the restart.

And on 53 minutes Gala's fox in the box Paton looked to be chasing a lost cause as Colts defender Jeff Fergus left the ball for his keeper Jordan Pettigrew.

But the goalie failed to clear and Paton, from a tight angle, hammered the ball into the net to level the score.

The tireless McKirdy set up O`Reilly again just a few minutes later but his goal bound shot deflect of a defender for a corner.

Colts were restricted to playing hopeful passes from the back.

And it was Gala who deservedly went in front, on 67 minutes with Paton heading into the net at the back post from a Sandy Cunningham corner.

Right back Ryan Stevenson joined the attack just five minutes later to allow Cunningham to fire a low ball across the goal, but there were no takers.

In a hectic last 10 minutes Gala saw out the game for the deserved win with man of the match McKirdy, Stevenson and Scott Main picking up second half yellow cards

Gala Fairydean Rovers: P Martin, S Main, R Donaldson, R Miller, R Stevenson, D Smith, S McKirdy, S Cunningham, R Paton , C O`Riley (K Mitchell 88), D Baxter (T Patterson 15).