Gala Fairydean Rovers up for cup against second Dumfries and Galloway team in a row on Boxing Day

Gala Fairydean Rovers face another Dumfries and Galloway team in the first round proper of the Scottish Cup this Saturday, December 26, after knocking Wigtown and Bladnoch out of the competition’s second preliminary round the weekend before last.
Gala Fairydean Rovers playing against Bo'ness United last weekend. Photo: Scott LoudenGala Fairydean Rovers playing against Bo'ness United last weekend. Photo: Scott Louden
Gala Fairydean Rovers playing against Bo'ness United last weekend. Photo: Scott Louden

Annan Athletic, however, are certain to prove more formidable opposition.

Following a goalless draw away to Brechin City on Tuesday, December 22, they are seventh in Scottish League Two, with eight points after nine games, one tier above their Galashiels hosts and two above their region’s previous visitors to Netherdale.

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Wigtown, beaten 6-0 by Gala, are eighth in the South of Scotland Football League with 12 points after eight games.

Saturday’s game kicks off behind closed doors at 3pm and the winners will go through to the second round, to be played on or around Saturday, January 9.

Scott-Taylor Mackenzie, one of Gala’s goal-scorers at Bo’ness on Saturday, taking his tally for the season to seven, is aware of how daunting a task his side face on Boxing Day but believes they are capable of engineering an upset.

“We have now got a massive game coming up in the Scottish Cup against Annan next Saturday and this is a real confidence-booster,” said the 24-year-old after Saturday’s victory.

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“Obviously they are a League Two side and will be favourites but we will give it our best shot and you never know.”

The Galashiels side’s next game after this weekend’s cup tie is a visit from Berwick Rangers a week tomorrow, January 1, for a Scottish Lowland Football League game.

Berwick are currently five places and six points behind Gala in the league, with 16 of the latter after 13 games.

Gala had been hoping to welcome back some fans to Netherdale for their cup game after the Borders was downgraded to level one of the Scottish Government’s coronavirus restrictions earlier this month, but those hopes have since been dashed now all of mainland Scotland is being moved into level four to curb the spread of the disease.

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