The Light Blues took the lead on the afternoon through Connor Young, but a quickfire double in the second period from Zander Murray turned the game on its head.
David McCallum named four changes to his side from last weekend’s victory over Berwick Rangers in the Lowland League, with Lewis MacKinnon, Kelsey Ewen, Connor Young and James Graham coming into the starting lineup.
The Gers settled nicely into the contest in the Borders, with James Graham rattling an effort into the side netting after clever work inside the penalty area.
Rovers threatened with a dangerous moment of their own as Gregor Nicol flashed a ball across goal which Lewis Grant could not divert on target at the far post.
Connor Young then drew a fine diving stop from Ryan Goodfellow in the home side’s goal, catching a left-footed volley sweetly from the edge of the penalty area.
James Graham was sent through on goal just ten minutes into the contest, opening up his body for a far post finish but unfortunately sending his effort wide of the target.
Lewis Budinauckas had to be alert at the opposite end, making two terrific saves in quick succession. After saving down to his right from a header, the Light Blues goalkeeper tipped a goalbound header from Gareth Rodger over the crossbar from the resulting corner.
Arron Lyall was among the action in the 19th minute as the away side went close. Lowry did superbly well to feed the winger with a pass through Rovers’ defensive line, but Goodfellow was equal to the reversed left-footed effort.
A well-worked move from the Gers then engineered the opening goal in the 33rd minute. Kelsey Ewen combined with Connor Allan before powerfully striding forward with purpose; lifting his head, the full-back picked out Young who had moved into a good area in the penalty box before the forward stroked a lovely finish into the bottom corner.
The 18-year-old almost got in the act again minutes later, profiting from Lowry’s opportunism to steal the ball high up. His shot, however, was well-saved by Goodfellow from close distance.
Ewen made an impressive intervention to deny the home side shortly before half-time, getting his body between player and ball as Ciaran Chalmers looked to unleash at goal.
There was time for one more chance before the interval for the Light Blues. Allan did tremendously to break into the penalty area after a switch of play from left to right, although his pull-back was snuffed out before it reached its intended receiver.
Gala Fairydean Rovers found the equaliser just seven minutes into the restart. Zander Murray raced onto a through ball before planting his finish into the bottom corner with conviction.
It was a quickfire double for the Rovers forward as the home side completed the turnaround four minutes later. Murray’s free-kick ricocheted straight back out before his outside-of-the-boot strike found its way past Budinauckas with the aid of a deflection.
Robbie Ure, Zak Lovelace, Bailey Rice and Kevin Ciubotaru entered the fray as the Light Blues looked to haul themselves back on level terms.
Gregor Nicol cut inside from the left-hand side and drew a fine stop from Budinauckas just past the hour mark.
Ewen sent a delivery into the arms of the Rovers goalkeeper while Rice sent a free-kick agonisingly over as the Gers searched for the leveller.
Robbie Fraser, moving into a midfield position after the introduction of Ciubotaru, latched onto a loose pass in the attacking third, guiding an effort on target that was saved by Goodfellow.
Positive play from Lovelace on the counter-attack seen Lyall played in on goal, with only a fingertip stop from the Rovers goalkeeper denying the winger’s side-footed finish from trickling into the bottom corner.
Ure thought he had found the equaliser as the game entered its final stages, with only a well-placed block thwarting the forward from Jack Harkness’ pull-back.
The Gers continued to push for the all-important equaliser, with Lovelace heading narrowly wide from Harkness’ cross, but it wasn’t to come as the focus now shifts to the concluding UEFA Youth League clash with Ajax at Firhill in midweek.
GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS: Goodfellow, Hall, Mitchel, Rodger, Jordan, Chalmers, Galbraith, Nicol, Dougal, Murray, Grant
Subs not used: Cassidy, Beaumont, Stenhouse, Scott
RANGERS B: Budinauckas, K. Ewen (Harkness, 70), MacKinnon, Yfeko, Fraser, Strachan (Ciubotaru, 59), Lowry (Rice, 59), Allan, Lyall, Young (Ure, 59), Graham (Lovelace, 59)
Subs not used: Pazikas.
REFEREE: Alex Shepherd
ㅤ
ㅤ