St Boswells 1

SBJFA UNDER-17s

GALA and Saints defied the weather to serve up an entertaining 80 minutes at Netherdale on Sunday morning.

Despite the heavy conditions, both teams resisted the temptation to rely on the long ball, which led to an intriguing midfield battle.

But Gala had a cutting edge to their play, with Craig Macdonald getting the opener after 20 minutes and the tenacious Neil Rafferty being rewarded for chasing a seemingly lost cause by squeezing home the second.

Rafferty saved his best effort for just before the interval by sending a speculative left-foot 25-yarder into the roof of the net.

The visitors pushed forward in an attempt to get back into the game and only a tremendous diving save from Luke Gierus prevented them from getting a goal on the hour mark.

But even he was helpless when from the resultant corner Gala failed to clear their lines properly and Rory Tolland scored with a stunning 25-yard strike off the underside of the bar.

As Saints attacked in large numbers, they were forced to leave gaps at the back which Gala tried to exploit on the break and passed up several chances to increase their lead.

Eventually, Allan Smith marked his return from a lengthy spell sidelined through injury to notch the fourth and the debate is still raging on who scored the fifth in the dying minutes.

Michael Howarth’s header from a corner hit the bar, but appeared to be crossing the line when Declan Leckie followed up to make sure.

Gala Fairydean Under-17s: Gierus, Fairburn, Robson, Halley, Leckie, Hardie, Stavert, Miller, Macdonald, Rafferty, Howarth. Subs(all used) Kerr, Reid, Loftus, Williams and Smith.

z The young Fairies travel to play Kelso in a league match this Sunday. Transport departs Netherdale at 9.45a.m.