Aided by two well-taken goals from Callum Hope, Legion had to go every inch of the way, however, to claim their victory.

Table-topping Rovers showed why they hold such a high league position by producing some quality football, as well as looking organised and efficient throughout.

Legion may not have had the overall skills of their Gala rivals, but the Wilton Lodge Park men were decisive in all that they did, had a plan from the start, and through sheer hard graft and enterprise, gained their victory.

Summing up his side's winning show, Legion manager Darren Thomson told the Hawick News: "Before the game I told the boys it was a cup final for us as it was a match we had to win.

"Rovers were getting too far ahead of us in the league and we were in much need of three points.

"I asked them for 100 per cent and a little bit more and they sure gave it.

"We played very well, showed a lot of team spirit and we can build from this.

"In beating Rovers we have set our own stall out as we are now back in the race to do something in the league, which has been our main aim since the start of the season."

In a game in which both outfits impressed despite the muddy underfoot conditions, Legion were first to look like scoring when a good passing move between Jody Easdon and Simon Philbin ended in Gary Rathie coming near to scoring with an angled shot.

Philbin then troubled Rovers by weaving his way out of two tackles and hitting in a low drive which Gala keeper Steven King dived to reach. The ball squirmed from the latter's reach and spun past the post.

Back came Rovers and Legion number one Chris Watson pulled off the first of what was to be several top-notch saves, finger-tipping away a rasping Kyle Collins drive that appeared destined for the back of the net.

Minutes later, King showed his mettle with a splendid save, pushing a Hope effort over the bar after the Legion striker had broken clear down the middle.

Both sides were pushing for a goal and in the 40th minute one eventually arrived.

Rovers' Collins, a promising young player and the nephew of former Celtic star and one-time Hibernian manager John Collins, hit a cross over the face of the goalmouth and Dougie Bond polished matters off to perfection by scoring with an excellent header.

Within four minutes, however, Legion were level with an almost identical goal when Hope produced the goods in beating King with a header from a perfectly-flighted Rathie cross.

Rovers made the early running following the interval and Watson did well to keep out a Welsh Curran drive following good work from Kevin Matheson.

At the other end, Christopher Brown came near to edging the home side ahead when he outjumped the Gala defence to head a Steven Lamb corner kick inches over the bar.

Despite the pitch turning into something of a quagmire, the game continued to flow, and with 67 minutes gone, the Legion took the lead.

On being fed by a pass from substitute Taylor Hope, who had come on as a replacement for Kevin McGaughey, Lamb swung in a cross. Rovers were caught out at the back and Callum Hope once again did the necessary by steering the ball into the back of the net with a header at the far post.

The Legion had their noses in front and that's the way it stayed. Rovers gave their all in a bid to get an equaliser, but with Roddy McConnell a tower of strength in the rearguard and Watson starring with saves from Collins, Bond and Hardie, a goal for Gala just would not come.

Legion: Watson, Rathie, Brown, Stewart, McConnell, Tait, Philbin, Easdon (Aries), C. Hope, McGaughey (T. Hope), Lamb.