Gala Fairydean Rovers1–2Formartine United

It was never easy and seldom bonny as Formartine battled their way to a well deserved place in the 3rd round of The William Hill Scottish Cup. Last week's 2-2 draw at North Lodge had given them the lifeline of this replay at Netherdale, Galashiels and despite the long journey a few dozen of the United faithful were on hand to enjoy a superb battling display that earned their team victory against a well organised and very determined outfit from the Lowland League.

The home side tried to catch United cold and pressed aggressively from the opening whistle but the visitors were having none of it and were very quick to close down attacking players. Taylor-Mackenzie played in Campbell, who exchanged passes with Kelly before letting fly with a vicious drive that forced a top drawer diving save from Main. However a pattern of commitment to attack by both sides meant a lot of action in and around each box with rather less within them. In the fourth minute United showed their teeth. Stuart Smith clearing up at the back advanced enough to feed Greig who got the better of Chingwalu and whipped in a cross that Wood got his head to, forcing Morton to full stretch to tip the ball to safety. It was emerging as a very physical but not dirty game. Tackles were quick and fierce but generally fair. Rodger and Lisle were working hard in the inside channels and in the 24th minute a run through inside right by the former was completed by a full blast 25 yard drive that Morton just managed to beat away after parrying the ball to his feet. Minutes later Main leapt spectacularly to deny Kelly whose cannonball shot off Berry's feed had looked all but net-bound. As the interval approached, United were beginning to sustain pressure for longer periods than Gala looked comfortable with, and gained increasing territorial advantage.

This pattern continued after the break and it looked that if the deadlock were to be broken it would be United that would do so. WOOD was a real physical threat up top and Gala put two markers on him almost continually but even that wasn't enough to contain him in the 59th minute as he took a ball in from wider left by Greig. Shielding it and holding off his markers he turned 180 degrees to lash the ball high into the net from 15 yards.

Gala responded with a fairly fortunate opportunity when in the 66th minute a moment of confusion or indecision by Kelly let a chip from Kinchant over his head and through to CAMPBELL who chested it down and finished with a low drive into the bottom left corner. However United were now the dominant side and their pressure was becoming relentless. An Anderson free kick found McGowan at the back post. In a crowded box he hammered the ball goalward. It looked netbound but Grant, attempting to clear, was beaten by SMITH who deflected the ball into the net wrong-footing keeper Morton in the process.

The remaining 17 minutes were fairly well controlled by United but Gala throwing caution to the winds tried all they knew to get back on terms. A brilliant finger tip save of a viciously deflected shot from sub Addison, by Main ensured United progression although with Rovers committed to attack, holes at the back meant United went very close to adding another couple through McGowan (who missed by inches) and Norris, who hesitated in front of a near open goal.