Gretna Reserves 0-1 Rangers Reserves

A last-minute winner from Steven Lennon handed a youthful Rangers side victory over Gretna in the Reserve League at Raydale.

The match looked to be heading for a draw when debutant keeper Arthur Krysiak saved a penalty from the Scotland U21 International before he struck in the 89th minute.

Head Coach Davie Irons made a surprise appearance for the Black and Whites, two-and-a-half years after hanging up his boots.

His return to action came earlier than anticipated though, when he replaced the injured Nicholas Faulds after only 18 minutes.

The visitors dominated possession in the first-half and Jordan McMillan threatened on two occasions without testing Krysiak, who was making his first appearance after joining on loan from Birmingham City.

McMillan then turned provider for Lennon following a break on the right but he blasted the midfielder’s cut-back over the bar.

Gretna improved after the break and Brendan McGill thought he had opened the scoring when he connected with a Rhys Meynell cross at the far post, only for Graeme Smith to acrobatically turn his volley over the bar.

An even better opportunity fell to the feet of Henry Makinwa five minutes later when Nathan Taylor found him unmarked in the box but the Nigerian striker dragged his shot agonisingly wide.

It was a good spell for the home side and Smith produced another good save to keep out a Nicky Deverdics free-kick from the edge of the box.

But midway through the half, Rangers were awarded a penalty when Krysiak, who had denied Lennon from point-blank range seconds earlier, was adjudged to have fouled the youngster. The Polish keeper was enjoying a good game though and brilliantly saved the resulting spot-kick low to his right.

Referee Richard Gough waved away Lennon’s claims for a second penalty when he went down under the challenge of Rhys Meynell, although he wasn’t to be denied late on.

With just one minute remaining, Lennon pounced on a short header back by Davie Irons and lofted the ball over the advancing Krysiak and into the net.

Gretna: Krysiak, Shultz-Eklund, Meynell, Wilkinson (O’Hara 71), Faulds (Irons 18), Sharples, McGill, Deverdics, Makinwa, Taylor (Robinson 76), Baldacchino. Subs not used: Grant, Fisher.