GALA FAIRYDEAN 0
STRANRAER 3

This game came hot on the heels of another 3-0 pre-season win over a Gerry Britton-managed Partick XI but the Blues seemed affected by the humid conditions in this game, unlike a few days earlier when they seemed to hit the ground running.

The Blues got off to a decent start, a Stephen Noble volley in opening minutes was palmed away by a decent looking Gala keeper.

Trialist Martin McBride's 40 yard lob was brilliantly turned wide by the keeper which showed much promise as the Blues dominated the first ten minutes of the game.

After the frantic start the game settled into a mundane rate as neither side could string a few passes together and the game got a bit scrappy. On the half hour mark, the pace of Andy Gibson showed as he burst through from midfield and shook off the attentions of his marker but Watson in the Gala goal stood firm again and made a good save with his legs.

Speculative efforts followed from Stranraer with McBride chancing his luck again shooting wide. Summer signing from Elgin Craig Frizzell also spurned a good opportunity as he was allowed space to shoot but just as it looked that the teams would go in at half time without a goal, Michael Mullen was found with the ball wide, he cut inside and his low driven cross was turned in by trialist McBride to a bit of light relief from the crowd.

As the half time whistle was about to go McBride had another opportunity to net but was again was denied by the keeper but despite the conditions the Stranraer work-rate was generally good, if lacking an end product.

In the second half Stranraer started lively again and doubled their lead early on when Gregory Tade showed slight of foot and a good turn of pace down the right hand side. He then cut the ball inside to substitute Stephen McConalogue about ten yards out and he tucked away a polished effort to put Stranraer as good as home and dry.

Stranraer upped their game a gear, this despite both sides making a good many substitutions. Greg Tade was all over the park dominating proceedings in the midfield whilst Stephen McConalogue was showing a fresh zest and was playing in the same manner he had finished the season with.

The Blues started to link in some passes and tried to press forward at every opportunity with Gala altering their tactics to have a near five man defence, whilst retaining a wing presence so they did retain a threat on the counter attack but this was normally quickly dealt with by the Stranraer players.

As full time approached, another late goal came as Gregory Tade very cleverly dropped his shoulder to shake off two defenders and he broke through and calmly rounded the keeper and tucked the ball home.

A good day at the office for Stranraer. All players getting a run-out and despite the conditions they played reasonably well against opposition which maybe was not Division 2 quality but they tried and made Derek Ferguson's players work for their win.

Team Line Up: Black, Kane, Creaney, Nicoll, Noble, White, Gibson, McBride (Trialist), Mullen, Osborne, Frizell. Subs; Tade (With Braided Hair), McConalogue, McColm, Glenn Mitchell, A.Kazzim (Trialist), R.McKenzie (GK)