Albion Rovers 0 v 5 Gretna

Attendance : 519

Scorer ~ Gretna : McGuffie (23, 75), Skelton (39) Baldacchino (55, 63).

The all conquering Gretna arrived at Cliftonhill knowing that a win by 7 goals would equal Hearts goalscoring record of 132 back in 1958. Having managed 6 on each of the 3 previous meetings between the teams it was by no means unimaginable but they had to settle for taking their goal difference over the century instead.

It was no surprise that it was the visitors who had the first assault on goal, Ryan McGuffie put in a cross which Skelton headed inches wide of the target. A long ball upfield gave Rovers hope but as Wayne Gordon chased it Gretna 'keeper Alan Main came out of his box to clear the ball.

Gretna were on the attack once more when Danny Grainger crossed from close to the corner to 3rd division player of the year David Bingham in the centre of Rovers goal, the resultant shot came off Jered Stirling who was around 2 yards from the goal line.

The scoring began in the 23rd minute when Kenny Deuchar's ran up the wing and gave Bingham the ball but his shot came off Stirling for McGuffie to slot home.

A couple of minutes later Stirling hit a 30 yard free-kick straight to the Gretna 'keeper. A Stirling slip-up a few minutes later gave top-scorer Deuchar a chance to open his account but he shot wide. Bingham also shot past when Chris Fahey was poorly placed to stop any attempt.

Gavin Skelton doubled Gretna's lead in 39 minutes when he scored from the edge of the box, the ball going into the top corner of the net. A low but weak Gilfillan shot to Fahey ended the half.

Half  Time

At half time 44 year-old Davie Irons replaced Gilfillan and it was Gretna who again took the initiative when Ryan Baldacchino had his free-kick saved by Fahey.

A Gretna corner led to Innes and Deuchar having shots, the latter of which was smothered by Fahey who was already on the ground. In 55 minutes Baldacchino bagged a goal when he put in a high ball from a tight angle, unexpectedly Fahey was beaten and the visitors were 3 goals up.

Ryan McGuffie headed over from a Skelton corner before Baldacchino got his second from a free-kick just outside the box with a low but powerful strike which Fahey was nowhere near.

McGuffie was still plugging away shooting wide and heading over before he got his deserved 2nd goal in 75 minutes. Baldacchino and Deuchar were involved in the build-up then McGuffie blasted home from close range.

Andy Smith who had just replaced Deuchar 4 minutes previously thought he had scored only to see it adjudged offside. Marc McKenzie had a wild shot go high over the Gretna bar. Bingham was on hand at the other end of the park and saw his shot cum cross whizz across the Rovers goal only a yard out but nobody got a touch and it went out to safety.

With 2 minutes remaining John Bradford latched onto a free-kick which he failed to control properly. The last action of the game was on the stroke of full-time when Andy Smith missed an open goal when he shot wide.

Scott Friel of Rovers was the only man to have his name taken by the referee.

Summary

The end of a tough week and season for Rovers which saw them lose to the millionaires of Gretna. Several of the men in red and yellow shall not be seen in Rovers strips again and despite finishing 9th in the league got a generous round of applause as they left the pitch from the gathered hoard of Rovers fans.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Friel, McInulty, Black, Selkirk, Potter, McKenzie, Stirling, Douglas (Bradford 75), Gordon (Preston 78), Patrick (Richardson 60). Subs Not Used : McCaul, Carr.

Gretna : Main, Collins, Grainger (McQuilken 73), Gilfillan (Irons 46), Townsley, Innes, Baldacchino, McGuffie, Deuchar (Smith 75), Bingham, Skelton. Subs Not Used : Birch, Mathieson.

Referee : Crawford Allan

Man of the Match - Jered Stirling

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