Gretna 1-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Two goals in two second-half minutes consigned Gretna to a fifth straight defeat in front of a record low SPL crowd.

Just 431 people attended the match at Fir Park where Roy McBain and Don Cowie increased the misery for the Black and Whites.

Craig Barr pulled a goal back but they couldn’t end their barren run against Caley Thistle on another arduous afternoon at their temporary home. 

The very existence of the club had been in doubt until administrators Wilson Field reached an agreement with the league on the eve of the fixture.

And the already depleted squad was amplified by the loss of Danny Hall and Ryan Baldacchino through injury, while Artur Krysiak was away on International duty.

This left the home side without a substitute goalkeeper but number one Greg Fleming was in inspired form, producing three wonderful saves in the opening stages.

Firstly, he denied Dennis Wyness from 12 yards after Dougie Imrie broke clear of Gavin Skelton and squared the ball to the unmarked striker.

Then from an Imrie corner, he showed good reactions to block a Phil McGuire header from close range, before racing off his line to frustrate Wyness once again.

Gretna weathered the early storm through, began to settle and soon got into their stride with Brendan McGill testing Michael Fraser from the edge of the box.

But the visitors carried a bigger threat going forward and they went close in the 34th minute when Markus Paatalinen cut inside Rostyn Griffiths and curled a shot past Fleming, only to see it rebound off the post and into the arms of the grateful Gretna keeper.

Paatalinen had another opportunity to break the deadlock when Wyness rounded Fleming and rolled the ball across the face of goal, although the Finn bizarrely elected to leave it, perhaps fearing he could be offside.

And they were given a further reprieve before half-time when Abdul Osman handled the ball inside the box. Referee Mike Tumilty initially pointed the spot but after consulting his assistant, he promptly changed the decision to a free-kick outisde, which Don Cowie blasted over the bar.

Gretna had been fortunate in not conceding then, but they were also unlucky not to have taken the lead as play resumed after the break. Michael Fraser flapped at Gavin Skelton’s high cross and John Paul Kissock smashed the loose ball off the upright from 20 yards.

Dougie Imrie wasted another good chance for Caley before having a penalty appeal turned down. The former Clyde striker appeared to be felled by Fleming when through on goal but Tumilty booked him for diving.

However, Gretna’s resistance was finally broken on 71 minutes when Imrie found Roy McBain on the left-side of the box and he drilled a low shot into the far corner.

Inverness doubled their lead just two minutes later and the lively Imrie was involved once again, releasing Don Cowie in behind. Although Fleming parried his attempted lob, he reacted quickly and volleyed the ball into the unguarded net.

The Black and Whites dug deep though and Craig Barr ensured a tense finale with a goal ten minutes from time.

Fraser failed to gather Kyle Naughton’s stinging shot and the defender pounced from close range for his fourth of the season, giving the small band of loyal supporters something to cheer about at long last.

Gretna: Fleming, Griffiths, Skelton, Barr, Meynell, Osman, McGill, Deverdics (Hogg 78), Naughton, Kissock (Taylor 85), Murray (Wilkinson 78). Subs: Shultz-Eklund, Fisher, Robinson, Sharples.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, McBain, Wilson, Imrie, Cowie, Hastings, Wyness (McAllister 83), Paatelainen (Hart 83), Proctor. Subs: Malkowski, Gillespie, Kerr, Vigurs, Duff.

Star Man: Greg Fleming
The young keeper kept his side in the game with several terrific saves to deny the visitors in the first-half. He may be out of contract at the end of the season but on this performance he shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a new club.

Attendance: 431
Referee: Mike Tumilty