[DavidMc]

Gretna 2-0 Falkirk
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 19th January 08
Fir Park, Motherwell

Gretna grabbed a lifeline in their relegation battle by taking three precious points at Fir Park.
The home side dominated the opening half and Kenny Deuchar rose to head home Fabian Yantorno's precise cross in the 33rd minute.

Falkirk had chances in an open encounter but Tony Caig saved their best opportunity by denying Carl Finnigan from close range.

Paul Murray doubled Gretna's lead on 50 minutes with a superb 25-yard volley.


Gretna made the early running and Gavin Skelton twice tried his luck from long range without really testing Tim Krul in the Falkirk goal.

The home side had a great chance in the 11th minute after Buscher released Deuchar down the left.

The striker cut the ball inside for Fabian Yantorno but the Uruguayan blasted over from 15 yards.

Falkirk found their feet and Kevin McBride missed a free header from 10 yards following Pedro Moutinho's cross.

McBride turned provider with a cross that Graham Barrett flung himself at, but Caig parried the header at his near post.

An entertaining game had begun to turn scrappy just before Deuchar gave Gretna a 33rd-minute lead by heading his second goal in as many games.

Yantorno crossed from the right and Deuchar rose to loop his header just inside the far corner of the net.

Caig kept Gretna ahead six minutes later with a great save from Finnigan after the striker had brushed off Aurelien Collin and attempted to lift the ball into the net from eight yards.

Barrett then headed over after Darren Barr had flicked on a McBride cross.

Gretna had an early escape after the interval when the offside flag was raised against Barrett before McBride turned the ball home.

A Deuchar shot sailed over but Paul Murray doubled the bottom club's lead with a wonderful volley in the 50th minute.

Falkirk had half-cleared when the Gretna skipper positioned himself above the bouncing ball to flash a powerful shot into the corner.

Stephen Bradley came on for his Falkirk debut in place of former Arsenal youth team-mate Cregg.

But Gretna were in control and looked the more dangerous team going forward.

Bairns boss John Hughes then took drastic measures by putting defender Kenny Milne on up front in place of Moutinho.

Falkirk could not break Gretna down though and Caig was equal to Barrett's 25-yard free-kick.

Gretna continued to hold out comfortably but their day was marred in the closing stages when Yantorno was stretchered off after a collision with Krul.

The Falkirk keeper recovered after lengthy treatment.

The incident led to seven minutes of injury time but Falkirk struggled to get out their own half as Gretna secured a deserved win.



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Gretna: Caig, Innes, Collin, Hall, Naughton, Jenkins, Murray, Skelton, Buscher, Deuchar, Yantorno (Makinwa 87). Subs Not Used: Fleming, McGill, Canning, Baldacchino, Deverdics, Robinson.

Booked: Buscher.

Goals: Deuchar 33, Murray 50.

Falkirk: Krul, Ross, Barr, Holden (Latapy 69), Scobbie, Moutinho (Milne 63), Cregg (Bradley 55), Riera, McBride, Barrett, Finnigan. Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Aafjes, Mitchell, Stewert.

Att: 1,609