Gala Fairydean Rovers at bottom of challenge cup table after third defeat on trot
Gala Fairydean Rovers are at the bottom of the KDM Evolution Trophy’s group-stage table without any points after being hit by their third defeat on the bounce on Tuesday.
That latest loss, by 6-1 hosting Heart of Midlothian B, follows defeats by 3-0 away to Stranraer on August 25 and 4-0 at home to Rangers B on August 11, both Tuesdays too.
It leaves the Galashiels club as one of six with no points to their name at the halfway stage of the opening group stage of the competition, alias the Scottish Professional Football League Challenge Cup, and they’re propping up the 40-team table due to their goal difference of -12 being the worst.
As things stand, though, manager Martin Scott’s side are just four points off making the cut to progress to November’s round of 32, with 12 left to play for.
The table’s top six teams come the end of the group phase in mid-October will go through to that round as seeds, accompanied by 16 unseeded clubs, and they’ll be joined at that point by all ten William Hill Championship sides.
Fairydean’s remaining fixtures see them hosting Edinburgh’s Spartans on Tuesday, September 22; away to fellow William Hill League Two team Alloa Athletic on Saturday, September 26; and at home to William Hill League One table-toppers Hamilton Academical on Tuesday, October 13.
Their scorer against Hearts’ colts in midweek was Zack Tomany on the half-hour mark, with their visitors’ goals being put away by Tommy North at the double on 24 minutes and 77, Jayden Mathie on 54, Jaedon Donkor on 61, Euan Glasgow on 66 and Connor Dow on 89.
Next up for Rovers is a trip to Musselburgh Athletic this coming Saturday on Scottish Lowland Football League East duty, with kick-off at 3pm.
They go into that East Lothian away-day sitting 14th in the table, on three points from six fixtures, one point and two places worse off than their hosts.