Spartans 2 Gretna FC (2008) 1

S.L.F.L.

31.01.2015

Spartans.         2 (1)

P.Sludden(2)

Gretna FC       1 (0)

B.Longcake

Spartans ended Gretna's unbeaten run with a workmanlike performance in the only Lowland league match that managed to beat the weather.

The game itself did not reach any highs with both teams having to play in a strong chilling wind, quality football was not the order of the day.

Gretna played with the wind and their first effort blew aimlessly behind Swain's goal. At the other end Graham Wright denied Spartans' Sludden turning the ball out for a corner.

Marksman Iain Anderson was in for an afternoon of close attention as was Brandon Longcake. The visitors were awarded a free kick after a poor challenge by Nixon on Longcake just outside the Spartans area on the left. Connor Graham whipped in a ferocious curling cross but Anderson failed to connect in front of goal.

Spartans then had a spell in the Gretna penalty box where Wright produced a series of miraculous saves to keep out Sludden, Brown and Bremner. Down the other end Scott Milligan breaking towards goal was tripped by Malone and to the amazement of the Gretna support the Spartans defender escaped caution. Graham's free kick was headed behind for a corner. A break upfield by the home side found Sludden in behind the Gretna defence where he slotted the ball beyond Wright into the net with the visitors appealing for offside, the goal was allowed to stand,1-0 in the 37th.minute.

Chances fell to Gretna's Dave Wallace and Scott Milligan but neither found the back of the net. H/T 1-0.

Gretna got the second half underway and in the opening minutes Anderson was on the end of yet another late challenge in the air and landed clutching his back. Wright is the busier of the two keepers as Spartans hold the upper hand pinning the visitors back with the aid of the strong wind launching long balls from their own half. Another blow for Gretna when  Longcake lost possession in his own half and Gretna go two goals behind Sludden the scorer, 2-0.

Stuart Rome made his first substitution with Joe Slattery replacing the injured Anderson. Slattery was soon in the action when he linked up with Miiligan inside the box but Spartans MacKinnon headed behind for a corner.

Heading into the last ten minutes the visitors showed more urgency in their play that had been missing for most of the game. A move down the right involving Graham, Slattery and Longcake produced the goal of the game with Longcake striking the ball beyond the helpless Swain from just inside the box, 2-1.

As Gretna pushed for an equaliser Spartans found it difficult to get out of their own half with Swain denying Milligan from a free kick on the edge of the area. The keeper produced a fantastic save turning the ball over the bar for a corner. Gretna had the ball in the net from the resultant corner kick, but the official ruled an infringement had taken place against the keeper. F/T 2-1.

Spartans :

K.Swain, J.Nixon, G.Cennerazzo, E.Malone, A.MacKinnon, C.Stevenson, J.Beesley, I.Thomson, P.Sludden, W.Bremner, A.Brown. Subs:K.Motion, E.Douglas, K.Sivewright, J.Beacher, D.Henretty, B.Carswell(GK).

Gretna :

G.Wright, R.Halliday, G.Thorburn, D.Wallace, A.Inglis, D.Addison, B.Longcake, A.Main, I.Anderson, S.Milligan, C.Graham. Subs:J.Slattery, D.Neill, G.Cowper, D.Graham, R.McLean, C.Murray(GK).