Thistle strike early in each half to win

LOTHIAN Thistle started at a fast pace and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring after nine minutes in this Image Printer’s Cup quarter-final.

Lee and Stevenson kept the ball well and played a couple of neat triangles round the home defence which led to Stevenson crossing from the byeline and McDonaugh stole in front of Gary Lothian at the front post to nod home.

Lothian really dominated the play for the first 25 minutes although never really troubled the home keeper, Gala then started to get a hold of the game and Miller and Wilson began to get the ball down and play.

Miller split the away defence to send Jack Hay through on goal but he was foiled by a fine one-handed save from Swain.

Thistle scored again in the 55th minute when Elliot picked out Stevenson and he coolly slotted home from six yards. Both teams had chances to score in the remainder of the second half, notably Hewitson who should have put a great ball from Berry in the Lothian net but somehow missed the target. Gala’s Boyne was sent off in the 78th minute for violent conduct and right at the end Turnbull in the Gala goal pulled off a tremendous save from Elliot.

Gala Fairydean: Turnbull, Fairburn, Boyne, Young, Lothian, Rossi (Brown 67), Wilson, Miller, Berry, Hewitson (Nightingale 70), J Hay. Sub: Jefferies.

Lothian Thistle HV: Swain, McDirmiad, Dignan, Wilkes, Costello, McColl (Hawkins 57), Stevenson (Connelly 81), Elliot, Finnie, McDonaugh, Lee (Anderson 70).