Dundee United 1-2 Gretna

Gretna gave their survival hopes a timely boost with their first away win of the season.

Dundee United were the victims once again as the Black and Whites followed-up September’s 3-2 triumph with another memorable victory.

Goals from Kenny Deuchar and Nicky Deverdics sealed a hard-fought three points that move Gretna within seven of St Mirren at the foot of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table.

Davie Irons made three changes from the 3-3 draw at Kilmarnock last weekend, with goalkeeper Tony Caig restored to the side in favour of Greg Fleming, while Nicky Deverdics and Fabian Yantorno also started.

Gretna pressured their opponents into mistakes early on, allowing the United players no time or space on the ball.

And this led to the opening goal on 12 minutes when Stuart Duff lobbed a long back pass to the unsuspecting Euan McLean.

The young keeper elected to take a touch rather than clear first-time, and Kenny Deuchar pounced to tackle him and tap the ball into the empty net for his first goal in the top-flight.

The hosts looked rattled and Gavin Skelton should have taken advantage when Yantorno twisted and turned his way past Flood down the right, but his shot from 12 yards sliced wide of the target.

United began to impose themselves on the game though, and Aurélien Collin was breathing a sigh of relief on 26 minutes when he brought-down Noel Hunt right on the edge of the penalty area. Referee Charlie Richmond adjudged the offence to have taken place outside and awarded a free-kick, which skipper Barry Robson failed to capitalise on.

But Gretna were undone again three minutes later and this time it proved costly. Sean Dillon swung a cross in from the right and the unmarked Hunt glanced the ball past Tony Caig from 8 yards.

The goalscorer then drew a fine save from Caig with a shot from an acute angle, before David Robertson fired the rebound wide from 18 yards.

Despite that brief spell of United pressure, it was Gretna who took the lead into the break after another instance of poor defending.

Kenny Deuchar headed Evan Horwood’s deep ball across the face of goal and Nicky Deverdics was on hand to convert from close range. It was his first goal of the campaign and few will argue that he will have an easier opportunity to score.

The second-half was one-way traffic as Craig Levein’s side pressed for an equaliser but for all their possession, they rarely threatened the Gretna goal.

Noel Hunt had the best chance on 65 minutes when he met an inswinging cross from skipper Barry Robson, although he somehow flicked the ball over the bar from 6 yards out.

Robson himself was guilty of a similar offence when Tony Caig flapped at a high-ball into the box, but after creating space to shoot, he could only find the side-netting.

The four minutes of injury-time seemed to last an eternity but Gretna hung on for a crucial victory.

Dundee United: McLean, Dillon, Dods, Flood (J Robertson 65), Hunt, Robson, D Robertson, Gomis, Kenneth, Bauben (Conway 74), Duff. Subs not used: Szamotulski, Kerr, Cameron, Fleming, Dow.

Gretna: Caig, Cowan (Barr 61), Skelton, Deuchar, Deverdics (McGuffie 71), Innes, Murray, Yantorno, Collin, Horwood, Makinwa (Jenkins 87). Subs not used: Fleming, McGill, McLaren, Buscher.

Star Man: Kenny Deuchar
It’s no coincidence that results have improved with the big striker back in the side. He opened the scoring with his first goal in the top-flight and laid on the second. His presence at set-pieces has made a huge difference at both ends of the pitch and he worked tirelessly in defence to help thwart the Terrors.

Attendance: 6,304
Referee: Charlie Richmond