GRETNA'S unlikely unbeaten run continues. You'd think they'd be downbeat, but they refuse to act defeated.
"Sticking together to the bitter or sweet end," said Gretna caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth, who was even glad Kilmarnock scored. "It did the game a favour and gave our players a kick up the bum. It's another good reflection on our group."
Out-of
-favour defender Simon Ford found a way back into the Kilmarnock side after not being picked by Jim Jefferies for two months. Gretna shuffled their pack so scouts could sight more potential signings with Artur Krysiak replacing Greg Fleming in goals.
Kilmarnock had failed to net in three games and were trounced in Inverness last weekend. Gretna arrived at Rugby Park on the back of goalless draws with Falkirk and St Mirren.
There was an early setback for the hosts with yet another injury, Tim Clancy carried off the pitch, Grant Murray replacing him. Kilmarnock captain Garry Hay intercepted a Gretna pass and fed Iain Flannigan but he tried to take the ball round Krysiak and failed.
Home defender David Lilley met a Kilmarnock free-kick but his close-range header was well saved by the Gretna goalkeeper. Two teams were struggling to outwit one another as the first-half drew to a tepid close.
Danny Invincibile began the move which got Kilmarnock in front. His cutback suited Flannigan whose drive was parried by Krysiak but the keeper could do nothing about David Fernandez's follow-up, the Spaniard smacking in a shot at the near post. Kilmarnock were encouraged and poured forward in search of another. Gretna were forced to defend and hope to profit on the counter-attack.
Invincibile just failed to get a telling toe on the end of Lilley's header. Flannigan fired in the crosses and Fernandez sought a killer pass. It was a more upbeat Kilmarnock as Gretna did their best not to be downtrodden.
From a Gretna corner, Craig Barr climbed to crash a header off the bar and the ball duly rebounded to the centre-back. This time Barr had the joy of slotting an effort into the corner of the net. What a boost it was for Gretna.
Gavin Skelton had a pop from 30 yards and the Gretna captain's ambition was close to being rewarded. The home supporters were less than happy.
Invincibile thought he had nicked victory in added time but Krysiak thought differently with a superb save. A wasteful Fernandez ballooned the ball over the Gretna bar.
"We're down to the bare bones, trying to win as many points as we can," said Jefferies. He had to settle for less here.
The full article contains 458 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
