Gretna 1-1 Aberdeen

Allan Jenkins came off the bench to rescue a point for Gretna with a dramatic injury-time equaliser at Fir Park.

The Black and Whites recovered from going a goal down and missing a penalty as an uninspiring Boxing Day clash burst to life in the closing stages.

Following their excellent victory over Dundee United four days earlier, Davie Irons unsurprisingly named an unchanged line-up as Gretna looked to extend their good run of results.

And they started promisingly, with Kenny Deuchar, Fabian Yantorno and Nicky Deverdics registering early efforts on target.

Aberdeen responded quickly by going close twice in two minutes. A rasping drive by Jamie Smith was parried by Tony Caig before Sone Aluko, on loan from Birmingham City, raced on to Jamie Langfield’s long-throw to test Caig with a low shot.

Their defence looked vulnerable however, and Yantorno should have taken advantage on 26 minutes but he blasted high and wide from close range after Deuchar and Makinwa combined in the box.

Then a sweeping move by the home side culminated in Byrne’s attempted clearance from a Deverdics’ cross slicing towards his own goal, and Langfield had to be alert to spare the defender’s blushes.

The Dons emerged a more attacking threat after the break and Aluko an early warning shot when he ran unchallenged into the box only to see his angled shot drift wide of the post.

Davie Irons made his first change on 49 minutes with Ryan McGuffie replacing Henry Makinwa, and the substitute would have made an immediate impact had Richard Foster not cleared Deuchar’s cross at the far post.

But Aberdeen began to put Gretna under a bit of pressure as the game wore on and David Cowan headed an acrobatic effort from Lee Miller off the line before Aluko unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 yards that Caig did well to save.

It looked as though the game would be heading for a stalemate until Derek Young got to the byeline and cut the ball back for substitute Steve Lovell to convert from close range.

It was a crushing blow for Gretna but they were handed a lifeline in the 89th minute when referee Brian Winter awarded a penalty after Richie Byrne’s push on Kenny Deuchar.

However, the striker struck the base of the left-hand post with the resultant kick and it rebounded to safety as the fourth official indicated three minutes of stoppage-time.

This gave Gretna long enough to mount one final attack and snatch a deserved equaliser.

Aurélien Collin found substitute Jenkins in space 10 yards from goal, and he controlled his pass before firing an unstoppable shot past Langfield, prompting wild celebrations on the bench at another valuable point in the fight against relegation.

Gretna: Caig, Cowan, Horwood, Innes, Collin, Murray (McGill 81), Skelton, Yantorno, Deverdics (Jenkins 76), Deuchar, Makinwa (McGuffie 49). Subs not used: Fleming, Barr, McLaren, Paartalu.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Hart (D Smith 83), Byrne, Foster, J Smith, Nicholson, Touzani (Lovell 46), Miller, Mair, Young, Aluko (Maguire 63). Subs not used: Soutar, De Visscher, J Smith. 

Star Man: Aurélien Collin
The Frenchman was solid alongside Chris Innes at the heart of the defence and kept the Dons top goalscorer Lee Miller quiet throughout the game. He was dominant in the air, strong in the tackle and rarely put a foot wrong.

Attendance: 1,740
Referee: Brian Winter