Gala Fairydean 1-5 Stirling University South Challenge Cup Round 3 Another visit to Galashiels produced another comfortable victory for Stirling University FC, this time notching five in the South Challenge Cup.

Having won 4-1 on the same ground the week prior in a Lowland League fixture, Stirling were confident of progression to the Cup Quarter-Final on Saturday.

But there was to be no flying start for the students; in fact a very determined Gala team had the better of the early exchanges.

Stirling found it difficult to get into their stride and were a goal down after half an hour when Des Sutherland volleyed passed Stirling stopper Ryan Marshall.

The home side’s lead was short-lived though, as on 42 minutes, Chris Geddes pounced to draw Stirling level.

Starting the second half more positively, Stirling took the lead for the first time in the match through Ryan Millar and with 20 minutes to go, Geddes looked to have put the result beyond doubt, scoring Stirling’s third and maintaining his impressive run of two goals in every South Challenge Cup tie.

Just five minutes later and not to be outdone by his strike partner, Millar scored his second and Stirling’s fourth goal, the students now in cruise control.

Millar was to go one better, converting a penalty late on to complete his hat-trick and put the polish on a five star performance.

The Quarter-Finals pits the four qualifiers from the North and East against their counterparts from the South and West, which means Stirling will face either last year’s runners-up Dalbeattie Star, East Kilbride, Threave Rovers or Nithsdale.

On Thursday (20 February), Stirling face the University of Abertay Dundee in the Queen’s Park Shield Semi-Final – the competition to crown the best Scottish student side.

Kick-off is 7.15pm at Stirling’s artificial pitch. Then on Saturday (22 February), Selkirk travel to Forthbank for a Lowland League match, kick-off 3pm.

Stirling University: Marshall, Burns, Sutherland, Nixon, McKee, Faulds, Millar, Leigh, Geddes, Sludden, Williams-Mitchell. Subs: Hughes, Cuff, Monguel, Robertson, McWhirter.