EKjustonepointbehindleaderswithgameinhand
East Kilbride ............ 3 Gala Fairydean Rvs..0
Paul Thomson
Stuart Malcolm reckons Paul Woods’ first goal of the day for East Kilbride against Gala didn’t get the attention it deserved.
The Kilby caretaker boss was waxing lyrical about the winger’s effort after he completed a sweeping team move to help his side to a 3-0 victory.
Woods bagged a brace after Jamie Longworth’s opener as Kilby went to within a point of the Lowland summit with a game in hand.
And Malcolm said: “If the second goal we scored had happened in any other league, people would have been raving about it.
“It was a real team goal and so much had to happen for us to score.
“We kept the ball for a bit and when the timing was right we distributed the ball with a real assertiveness, cut them open and Woodsy has provided the finish.
“Paul’s second goal was brilliant as well, lifting the ball over the keeper.
“But his first one was excellent. Some of the stuff we played was great to watch.”
Seven days on from a last-gasp Scottish Cup victory over Gala, Kilby eased to this league win over the Borderers.
It may have taken more than 90 minutes for Longworth to breach the Gala defence last week with that stoppage-time winner, but it took him just 12 minutes to break the deadlock this time.
BJ Coll’s cross wasn’t cleared properly, landing at the feet of Longworth 18-yards out and he fired the ball into the net.
As half-time approached Kilby sprayed the passes and eventually Sean Winter’s through ball picked out Woods, who kept his cool to slot the ball home.
Eight minutes into the second half EK sealed the points when Brady’s defence splitting pass found Woods and he made no mistake, dinking the ball over the on-rushing keeper for his sixth league goal of the season.
After a nervy contest with Gala last week, Malcolm was delighted to see his side step up their game.
He said: “It’s been two really different matches we’ve had.
“Last week was a real battling performance where we weren’t at our best and Gala didn’t allow us to get started. They made it very difficult to break them down.
“But on Saturday we got the ball down quicker, moved it sharply and scored some great goals.
“The boys were excellent. Their movement off the ball was excellent as well.
“We played well for long spells and we probably could have had another couple of goals.”
Kilby’s clash was the only Lowland League game of the day with most
P W Kelty Hearts 13 9 EAST KILBRIDE 12 9 BSC Glasgow 13 7 Spartans 13 6 Edusport 14 6 Cumbernauld Colts 12 7 CS Strollers 13 7 Edinburgh Uni 14 5 Vale of Leithen 13 4 Gala Fairydean Rvs 14 5 East Stirlingshire 14 4 Gretna 2008 14 4 Stirling University 13 3 Dalbeattie Star 12 2 Whitehill Welfare 14 1 D 3 2 4 5 4 1 1 5 3 0 2 2 4 2 2 L GD 1 22 1 21 2 15 2 12 4 9 4 3 5 0 4 -5 6 -7 9 -8 8 1 8 -12 6 -4 8 -18 11 -29 PT 30 29 25 23 22 22 22 20 15 15 14 14 13 8 5
of the league on East of Scotland Qualifying Cup duty.
This Saturday East Kilbride are on their travels when they head to Forthbank Stadium to face third from bottom Stirling University. Kick-off is 3pm.