GALA Fairydean Rovers took the honours in the first leg of the festive double header over Berwick Rangers at Netherdale on Boxing Day.

The visitors brought a sizeable support with them, hoping to see a victory that would see them leapfrog their rivals.

But it was not to be for the Northumberland based outfit.

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Gala went into the game on the back of four league defeats, the last against Hearts B at Ainslie Park on Friday night.

The visitor also lost their previous game against Bo’ness United.

Danny Galbraith missed the game due to an injury and watched from the main stand.

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The home side had the better of the first half and skipper Gareth Rodger went close with a header from a Jack Beaumont corner.

The best chance of the first-half came when a Berwick defender tried to shepherd Liam Watt’s though ball out of play but Ben Lamont managed to but it back into the path of Jamie Semple who fired wide from short range.

The ball appeared to take a deflection but despite the protests the referee awarded a goal kick.

The breakthrough came just before the hour mark when a cross from the right was cleared into the path of Quinn Mitchell.

The youngster looked up, spotted Semple unmarked in the six-yard box and sent in an inch perfect cross for the striker who headed the ball past former Hibernian keeper Calum Antell.

Berwick responded and it took a good save from Jay Cantley to keep his side in front.

Then in the 71st minute on-loan winger Jared Lyons doubled Gala’s advantage with a cross that from the left which the Berwick keeper misjudged and the ball went into the net off the post.

Gala could have extended their lead but Antell turned a long range Beaumont shop past the post and Rodger headed the resultant corner just wide.

The victory sees Gala move up to 12th in the table.