Liddell opens his account as Gretna beat Selkirk 5 - 1

By Paul Brecken

Gretna FC - 2008 travelled to Selkirk F.C. in search of another valuable 3 points.
With both teams having a very mixed start to the season as 3 points was all that separated them in the league with Selkirk 7th and Gretna 9th it should have been a close run thing.
The game started with Selkirk having the better of the opening play and could easily have been 2 up inside 15 minutes with a number of early chances along with Phil Addison firing high over the bar from the penalty spot. Then disaster for Selkirk as Gretna took the lead against the run of play, Connor Liddell quickest to react as he pounced onto a poor back pass and easily rounded the keeper to fire home. After this setback Selkirk had more chances and Vinnie Parker in the Gretna goal was busiest of the keepers as he pulled of a number of good saves to keep Gretna ahead.
Half time and Gretna held onto that slender 1 goal lead

Into the 2nd half and Gretna double their lead minutes after the restart. Another mistake in the Selkirk defence cost them as Iain Anderson picked up the ball and rounded the keeper to fire home. 2-0. This just wasn't to be Selkirk's day as they were reduced to 10 men soon after. Gretna made the most of the extra man as they fired in 2 more quick goals, Iain Anderson struck again just inside the area and this was followed up by Danny Graham who's shot took a nasty deflection as it beat the keeper. Selkirk should be given some credit as they never gave up and played some decent football at times. The game eventually came to a close with Iain Anderson completing his hat trick and Gretna's 5th just before Gary OConner fired home a very late Selkirk consolation.
So Gretna take away a valuable 3 points, but Selkirk may feel they were unlucky as the score line didn't really tell the whole story.