Gretna dig deep to stun Killie
Last updated 08:34, Wednesday, 05 March 2008
SPL: Gretna 4 Kilmarnock 2: WHATEVER drama may be unfolding off the field right now, Gretna’s players are clearly refusing to buckle under the strain.
The visitors, who are enduring a wretched season, never looked like coming back from 3-0 down and it was little surprise when Gretna increased their lead on the hour when rookie Frenchman Buscher had time and space to pick his spot to score his first goal since joining the club in the summer from Nice.
It’s been the toughest fortnight in Gretna’s time in Scottish football with the club plagued with uncertainty over their long-term future with owner Brooks Mileson recovering from a serious illness, hit by the resignation of head coach Davie Irons and then rocked by the sudden departure of top scorer Kenny Deuchar with three months of the season still to go.
They seemed to be staring into the abyss as they went into last night’s crunch game 12 points adrift of opponents Kilmarnock.
No wonder Gretna’s obituary was already being penned.
But it seems whatever trouble and strife may come their way, the players are going to fight until the bitter end, and last night’s spirited display may just be the confidence booster they need for what looks set to be a nail-biting end to the campaign.
Gretna, led by stand-in skipper Gavin Skelton in the absence of the injured Paul Murray, were 4-0 up at one stage with goals from Nicky Deverdics, Rhys Meynell, Craig Barr and Mickael Buscher, before Simon Ford and Willie Gibson gave the scoreline an air of respectability for Kilmarnock.
On this evidence, Jim Jefferies’ side could face a tense end to the season with the lead between the two sides again cut to nine points – and Gretna caretaker boss Mick Wadsworth insists his side won’t go down without a fight.
He said: “It’s not too late. The last thing to die is hope and the split will make a big difference.
“We have to play St Mirren three times and we’ve got to play Killie again, so we are going to work our socks off to make the situation as good as it can be.
“It’s a great result - one for the players and the supporters who are the two most important groups.”
It was Kilmarnock who made the better start but then Gretna took the lead on 26 minutes – and never looked back in a thrilling display, which saw them notch up only their fourth win of the season.
A 50-50 ball on the edge of the area spun into the path of Nicky Deverdics and the youngster crashed home a thundering 20-yard volley.
Gretna’s kids visibly grew in confidence and they increased their lead on 39 minutes when John Paul Kissock’s corner found fellow on-loan player Meynell who headed home past a static Killie defence.
Then amid a storm of controversy, Gretna underlined their domination with a third goal on the stroke of half-time.
Chris Innes’ long free kick found Barr, whose looping header beat keeper Chad Harpur, but defender Frazer Wright seemed to clear off the line.
But referee John Underhill consulted his linesman and awarded the goal to the outrage of the travelling Killie fans.
However, it wouldn’t be Gretna without a bit of drama – and Killie regained their composure and capitalised on a couple of moments of weakness in the home defence.
Simon Ford pulled a goal back on 72 minutes with a close-range header, before former Queen of the South player Willie Gibson when he fired home from the edge of the box from a corner.
But it was too little, too late by Killie as Gretna held on for a remarkable triumph in adversity.
match facts
Gretna: Fleming, Barr, Naughton, Innes, Meynell, Hall, Skelton, McGill, Deverdics (Griffiths, 82), Kissock (Makinwa, 60) and Buscher (Wilkinson, 66), subs: Krysiak, Baldacchino, Hogg and Shultz-Eklund.
Kilmarnock: Harpur, Fowler, Hay, Wright, Ford, Invincibile, Johnston (Dalglish, 46), Hamill (Fernandez, 70), Bryson, Corrigan (Gibson, 54) and Taouil, subs: Rascle, Di Giacomo, O’Leary and Clancy.
Referee: John Underhill
Bookings: Innes, Barr, Invincibile
Attendance: 1,545
Star Man: Chris Innes - Made a welcome return to the heart of the Gretna defence after injury. Composed and confident against his old club and his experience helped to bring out the best in youngster Rhys Meynell.
Key moment: Gretna’s controversial third goal through Craig Barr knocked the stuffing out of Killie, who didn’t mount a meaningful fight-back until it was too late.
BOSS TALK
Mick Wadsworth, Gretna: “It’s a great result. The players have been immense in a difficult period. The last thing to die is hope.”
Jim Jefferies, Kilmarnock: “This was a cup final. If you go 3-0 down at any level of football you’re asking for trouble. The damage was done in the first half.”
