Gretna Reserves 1-0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Reserves

A second-half header from Dan Robinson handed Gretna a much deserved victory over Inverness Caley Thistle in a one-sided game at Raydale.

The visitors started brightly however, and the lively Dean McDonald struck wide from the edge of the box in the opening minutes.

But Gretna began to take control and David Cowan saw a header cleared from in front of goal after a well-worked free-kick between Steven Hogg and Brendan McGill.

Hogg then combined with Nicky Deverdics to unlock the Caley defence but the midfielder couldn’t apply a finish after rounding the advancing Zibi Malkowski.

The Polish keeper saved a Colin McMenamin shot at the near post from an inviting Brendan McGill cross as Gretna put Caley under pressure before the break.

And Davie Graham should have opened the scoring on 36 minutes but he dragged his shot wide of the mark following a good cut-back from McGill.

The Irish winger was enjoying a fine game and on the stroke of half-time he had the Caley defence at sixes and sevens although there were no takers to his dangerous ball across the face of goal.

Andy Smith’s side continued to dominate after the break and Jamie Duff cleared a McGill volley off the line before Malkowski raced from his line to deny substitute Fraser McLaren with a brave block.

McLaren was only inches away from breaking the deadlock on the hour-mark when he met a Michael Tait cross with a glancing header that left Malkowski rooted to the spot.

But the breakthrough finally came on 65 minutes and McGill was at the heart of the move once again. He delivered a terrific cross which was met by the head of Dan Robinson 8 yards out and the ball crossed the line despite the best efforts of Malkowski.

Gretna’s good work was almost undone however, as moments later, Martin Jack directed a Dean McDonald shot onto the crossbar with Tony Caig beaten.

Colin McMenamin and Steven Hogg had chances to put the game beyond the visitors late on but they had to settle with just the one goal.

Gretna: Caig, Tait, Poulson, Robinson, Faulds, Cowan, McGill, Hogg, McMenamin, Deverdics (McLaren 46), Graham. Subs not used: Grant, Hughes, Sharples, Shultz-Eklund.