Gretna 4-2 Kilmarnock

Gretna breathed new life into their fight for survival with a priceless three points against relegation rivals Kilmarnock.

Nicky Deverdics, Rhys Meynell, Craig Barr and Mickael Buscher were on target as the Black and Whites closed the gap at the bottom of the table.

Although Killie added some respectability to the scoreline late on, this was a convincing first victory for caretaker boss Mick Wadsworth.

He had to do without top goalscorer Kenny Deuchar for the crunch game, after the striker completed his move to America earlier in the day.

And with little attacking threat in the opening stages, you would have been forgiven for thinking they would struggle without their target man. However, these fears were put to bed before half-time as Gretna raced into a 3-0 lead.

Kilmarnock started the better team though, and enjoyed a good spell of possession without testing Greg Fleming. His opposite number Chad Harpur, who replaced the injured Alan Combe, was called into action first to save a low drive from Nicky Deverdics.

But he was helpless to stop him from opening the scoring on 27 minutes. The midfielder pounded on a loose ball 20 yards from goal and unleashed a dipping volley beyond the Killie keeper to put the home side ahead.

And they doubled their advantage twelve minutes later from a well-worked corner. Danny Hall dummied John Paul Kissock’s near post kick allowing Rhys Meynell space to head home from 6 yards.

Like they did at Ibrox the previous weekend, Gretna continued to attack their opponents and were rewarded with a third goal on 44 minutes.

Craig Barr beat the advancing Harpur to Innes’ deep free-kick and sent a looping header goalwards. Frazer Wright scrambled back to clear the ball on the line and although referee John Underhill initially allowed play to continue, the goal was awarded after consulting his assistant George Drummond.

The stunned visitors tried to respond before the break and Greg Fleming did well to prevent Danny Invincibile’s header from creeping in at the far post. They came out earlier and made changes for the second-half but this did little to change the pattern of play.

Gretna were cruising, adding a fourth on the hour-mark when Barr flicked a Deverdics free-kick into the path of Mickael Buscher, and from 8 yards the Frenchman slammed the ball past Harpur, high into the net.

Substitute Henry Makinwa then tested the keeper with a low shot from 20 yards as the Killie fans voiced their anger at their lacklustre side.

But they pulled a goal back on 72 minutes when Simon Ford headed home substitute Willie Gibson’s cross from the left.

And Gibson himself reduced the deficit again with seven minutes remaining, taking advantage of a lucky break in the box to fire a powerful volley into the bottom corner.

But it was too little too late and the final whistle was greeted with wild celebrations from the Gretna players and fans as they demonstrated that their survival hopes are still very much alive.

Gretna: Fleming, Barr, Naughton, Innes, Meynell, Hall, Skelton, McGill, Deverdics (Griffiths 82), Kissock (Makinwa 60), Buscher (Wilkinson 65). Subs not used: Krysiak, Baldacchino, Hogg, Shultz-Eklund.

Kilmarnock: Harpur, Fowler, Hay, F Wright, Ford, Invincibile, Johnston (Dalglish 46), Hamill (Fernandez 70), Bryson, Corrigan (Gibson 54), Taouil. Subs not used: Rascle, Di Giacomo, O’Leary, Clancy.

Star Man: Rhys Meynell
After impressing as a centre-half against Rangers three days earlier, the on loan Barnsley youngster flourished alongside the experienced Chris Innes at the heart of the defence. His positional play and tackling was excellent and he capped a great performance with his first senior goal.

Attendance: 1,545
Referee: John Underhill