Gretna FC

[DavidMc]

Gretna v Aberdeen
Scottish Premier League
Wednesday 26th December 07
Fir Park, Motherwell

Gretna have almost a full-strength squad to choose from with only long-term casualty Martin Canning out.
The Borders club carved out only their second win of the season when they beat Dundee United at the weekend.

Aberdeen captain Scott Severin is a major doubt with an ankle injury and there is also concern over the fitness of Andrew Considine.

Derek Young could be back in contention but Jackie McNamara, Darren Mackie and Jeffrey de Visscher remain unavailable.

Gretna (from): Caig, Cowan, Barr Innes, Collin, Horwood, Deverdics, McGuffie, Murray, Skelton, Yantorno, Makinwa, Jenkins, Deuchar, Fleming, McGill, McLaren, Buscher.

Aberdeen (from): Langfield, Hart, Byrne, Considine, Diamond, Mair, Foster, Severin, Nicholson, Clark, Touzani, Jamie Smith, Aluko, Young, Miller, Maguire, Lovell, Jonathan

[DavidMc]

St Mirren 0-1 Aberdeen
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 29th December 07
Love Street, Paisley

Substitute Steve Lovell stole the points for Aberdeen as he pounced on a St Mirren mistake to score the only goal seven minutes from time.

Billy Mehmet fired just wide, while Stewart Kean and Marco Miranda headers went close for the Buddies during a dismal first half.

Miranda sent another header past as the second half action failed to improve.

But Lovell pounced after Alan Reid was short with a back-header and the striker provided the clinical finish.

St Mirren had been unchanged following the Boxing Day victory away to Hearts. But Jimmy Calderwood was forced to ring the changes after a draw with Gretna that angered the Aberdeen boss.


Fit-again Scott Severin and Chris Clark came in along with Daniel Smith for injured trio Jackie McNamara, Andrew Considine and Zander Diamond.

The home side were first to threaten and Billy Mehmet slid the ball just wide of the left-hand post after latching on to a mis-hit drive from Franco Miranda.

Foster - so assured at left-back against Gretna - was given a torrid time at right-back in the early stages by Miranda, who St Mirren looked to feed at every opportunity.

Indeed, Calderwood's reshaped defence - with Severin playing sweeper behind man-markers Richie Byrne and Lee Mair - was far from secure in the early stages and Gus McPherson's men looked capable of capitalising.

And, from Alex Burke's inswinging corner, Stewart Kean found himself in space six yards from goal, but the forward wastefully headed over.

Miranda was next to head over as Aberdeen started to come to grips with Buddies strikers Mehmet and Kean.


The second half did not bring an improvement to the quality of football.

Some neat footwork on the edge of the box and a clever chip by central defender Ian Maxwell in the 50th minute was the only bright moment in a dispiriting start to the second period.

A glimmer of a chance arrived just after the hour mark when Burke's low free-kick evaded several Aberdeen defenders and reached Miranda.

But the St Mirren midfielder headed over as he tried to inject power into his effort.

The clearest chance of the match arrived with seven minutes remaining, Sone Aluko crossing well from the left and Lovell's firm strike forcing Chris Smith to scramble the ball around his post.

But Lovell broke the deadlock a minute later.

And Reid's attempt to make amends for his mistake was well held by goalkeeper Jamie Langfield after a drive from the edge of the box as Aberdeen held on for a barely-deserved three points.



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St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Maxwell, Potter, Reid, Mason, Burke (Molloy 72), McGinn, Miranda, Mehmet, Kean (Corcoran 81).
Subs Not Used: Howard, Brady, McCay, Docherty, McAusland.

Booked: Miranda.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Daniel Smith (Aluko 67), Mair, Severin, Byrne, Young (Lovell 67), Nicholson, Foster, Clark, Miller, Jamie Smith.
Subs Not Used: Soutar, Touzani, Maguire, De Visscher, Jonathan Smith.

Goals: Lovell 85.

Att: 5,025

[DavidMc]

Inverness CT v Gretna
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 5th January
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Inverness will be without the suspended Phil McGuire for their match against basement side Gretna.
McGuire is about to start a three-game ban and, with Stuart McCaffrey on loan at St Johnstone, either Steven Watt and David Proctor may step in.

Gretna chief David Irons will have limited options at his disposal for their Highland trip after offloading seven players this week.

However, only defender Martin Canning is missing for the Black and Whites.



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Inverness squad: Fraser, Proctor, Tokely, Hastings, Munro, Watt, Black, Duncan, Rankin, McBain, Cowie, Wilson, Hart, Bayne, Niculae, Wyness, Duff, Gillespie, Vigurs, Brewster, Malkowski.

Gretna squad: Caig, Cowan, Horwood, Innes, Collin, Murray, Skelton, Yantorno, Deverdics, Deuchar, Makinwa, Fleming, Barr, McLaren, McGill, Jenkins, Buscher, Osman.

[Doc-Bhoy]

Inverness CT 3-0 Gretna

Inverness striker Marius Niculae scored his fourth goal in three games to secure victory over lowly Gretna.
The Romanian striker drilled home his first with a crisp 25-yard drive after 33 minutes from Russell Duncan's pass.

John Rankin doubled the home side's lead from the spot after Niculae was fouled by Chris Innes.

Niculae compounded Gretna's misery with his second and Inverness' third with a volley on 44 minutes, after Ross Tokley headed on Grant Munro's corner.

Inverness striker Dennis Wyness shook off a hamstring injury and was preferred to Graham Bayne.

With Phil McGuire suspended, the only other change from Wednesday's single-goal loss to Aberdeen saw David Proctor return in defence.

Gretna made three changes to the team who lost at Celtic in their last outing.

David Cowan has been released, Ryan McGuffie moved to Morton, while Nicky Deverdics dropped to the bench.

Craig Barr, Chris Innes and Henry Makinwa were all handed starts.

Gretna goalkeeper Tony Caig was forced into action early on when Don Cowie and Tokely combined well on the right and Ian Black's 25-yard drive was well saved.

In the 23rd minute, the visitors survived a scare when Tokely's header from a John Rankin corner caused chaos in the Gretna penalty area and Proctor's shot was deflected over.

Niculae gave the hosts the lead with a superb shot after collecting Duncan's pass and rifling the ball past the despairing Caig.

Gretna were finding it increasingly difficult to contain Niculae and he earned his side a penalty when Innes fouled him in the box.

Rankin scored from the spot and Niculae added a third before half-time with a sweet volley after Munro's corner was headed on.



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Inverness CT: Fraser; Tokely, Proctor, Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, Rankin, Niculae, Wyness. Subs: Malkowski, McBain, Bayne, Paatelainen, Vigurs, Gillespie, Duff.

Goals: Marius Niculae 33, 41. Rankin 38.


Gretna: Caig, Barr, Collin, Innes, Horwood, Jenkins, Yantorno, Murray, Skelton, Deuchar, Makinwa. Subs: Fleming, Canning, Grady, Deverdics, McGill, McLaren, Osman.

Ref: D McDonald

As expected, and it must be expected for Gretna to go down now.

[DavidMc]

Gretna are almost certain to be relegated. Although Im sure they will be keeping an eye on Hearts demise.

Hearts will recover though. Been a difficult season so far for Gretna but im sure they knew they would be up against it.

[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

[DavidMc]

Gretna v Greenock Morton
Scottish Cup
Wednesday 23rd January 08
Fir Park, Motherwell

Gretna will be without forward Fabian Yantorno with severe ligament damage for Wednesday's Scottish Cup fourth-round replay against Morton.
Morton have forward Kevin Finlayson back from a one-match suspension.

Finlayson missed the 3-0 home defeat by Queen of the South at the weekend but comes back into contention.

Morton are on a poor run of form in Division One but held their Scottish Premier League rivals to a 2-2 draw in the first game at Cappielow.

Gretna (from): Caig, Barr, Hall, Innes, Naughton, Murray, Skelton, Jenkins, Deverdics, Deuchar, Grady, Fleming, Collin, Makinwa, McLaren, Canning, Buscher, Osman.

[kenny hoggan]

Gretna dealt Yantorno injury blow

Yantorno had been in excellent form for Gretna this season
Gretna midfielder Fabian Yantorno has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.
The 25-year-old Uruguayan suffered the injury after colliding with Falkirk goalkeeper Tim Krul during Saturday's 2-0 SPL victory at Fir Park.

Gretna chief executive Graeme Muir said: "Fabian has suffered severe ligament damage in the knee. It's a big blow, but we have to pull together."

Yantorno joined Gretna in June from Uruguayan outfit Miramar Misiones.

The injury was confirmed as the SPL side prepare to face Morton in the Scottish Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday.

"He has been one of our key players and just when we seem to be getting a regular string of good performances and had turned a corner, he gets injured," Muir said.

"But that is football and it happens to every club."

Club physiotherapist Kenny Crichton added: "We will be doing everything we can for him with regards to rehabilitation and medical attention.

"It is devastating news but no-one is more upset than Fabian."

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Gretna | Gretna dealt Yantorno injury blow

[DavidMc]

Hibernian v Gretna
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 26th January 08
Easter Road, Edinburgh

Hibernian's Thierry Gathuessi and Clayton Donaldson are available to face Gretna after being suspended for last Saturday's derby defeat by Hearts.
Lewis Stevenson is also available again after being absent through injury since early January.

Gretna could give a debut to Everton midfielder John Paul Kissock, the 18-year-old having arrived on loan.

He would be a straight replacement for Fabian Yantorno, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season.



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Hibernian (from): Ma-Kalambay, McNeil, McCann, Gathuessi, Hogg, Jones, Murray, Morais, Kerr, Beuzelin, Zemmama, Shiels, Benjelloun, Rankin, Antoine-Curier, Donaldson, O'Brien, Fletcher.

Gretna (from): Caig, Barr, Hall, Innes, Naughton, Murray, Skelton, Jenkins, Deverdics, Deuchar , Grady, Fleming, Collin, Makinwa, Kissock, Canning, Buscher, Osman.

[DavidMc]

Heart of Midlothian 2-0 Gretna
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 9th February 08
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

A youthful Gretna side showed their inexperience as a Hearts side inspired by Lithuanian striker Andrius Velicka brushed the visitors aside.
Hearts threatened from the start, and Velicka opened the scoring after a fine pass from Michael Stewart.

Velicka, Hearts' top scorer, doubled his goal tally before the break from the penalty spot.

Gretna were reduced to 10 men when Danny Hall was sent off and Hearts coasted through the rest of the game.

Gretna, in their first SPL match since the end of the transfer window, unveiled a new-look side, with six players aged 21 or under.

Hearts pressed from kick-off, and Velicka was first to go close after springing the offside trap but, after rounding the goalkeeper, he could only hit the side netting.

The Lithuanian was handed a second opportunity a moment later when Stewart threaded the ball through to him and he rifled home a powerful effort to put the home side ahead.

Velicka tried to repay the favour shortly after as he set up Stewart, however, a diversionary run by Ksanavicius put the midfielder off, and the chance was lost.

Gretna threatened through Kenny Deuchar as Gavin Skelton's cross caught the Hearts defence napping, but the striker's headed effort went over the bar.

Christos Karipidis almost scored his debut goal for Hearts with a close range shot from a well-worked corner, but Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming was equal to the effort and tipped the ball over.

Andrew Driver's opportunistic drive livened up a first-half which had become somewhat pedestrian, but the rasping shot flew over Fleming's goal.

Just as it seemed the half would fizzle out, Gretna defender Hall felled Velicka in the box and the striker made no mistake from the penalty spot to claim his second of the match.

Driver had the first chance of the second half when he dribbled past his marker before unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but again his effort was off target.

Velicka went down in the box again under the challenge of Gretna captain Chris Innes, but the referee waved away his penalty claims.

Deividas Cesnauskis was then set up by Ksanavicius as Hearts continued to dominate, but the midfielder's shot flew over.

Just as it seemed that Gretna were working their way back into the match, Hall received a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on Ksanavicius, and the visitors were down to ten men.

Substitute Saulias Mikoliunas came close to adding a third when Hearts counter-attacked from a Gretna corner, but the midfielder shot straight at Fleming, who parried the ball.

Velicka came close to grabbing his hat-trick after running on to Christophe Berra's long pass, but one-on-one with goalkeeper, he blasted his shot wide of the post.

Hearts put the Gretna defence under pressure in the closing stages, but a combination of missed chances and desperate defending prevented any further scoring.



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Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves, Cesnauskis (Mikoliunas 70), Stewart (McCann 84), Palazuelos, Driver, Velicka, Ksanavicius (Elliot 77). Subs Not Used: Basso, Wallace, Zaliukas, Beniusis.

Goals: Velicka 3, 42 pen.

Gretna: Fleming, Hall, Collin (Barr 22), Innes, Naughton, Griffiths (Meynell 59), Murray (Wilkinson 77), Skelton, Buscher, Deuchar, Kissock. Subs Not Used: Krysiak, McGill, Deverdics, Makinwa.

Sent Off: Hall (65).

Booked: Hall, Meynell, Naughton.

Att: 16,138

[DavidMc]

Hibernian 4-2 Gretna
Scottish Premier League
Wednesday 13th February 08
Easter Road, Edinburgh

Steven Fletcher claimed a hat-trick as Hibernian withstood a late fightback from Gretna to secure victory.
The hosts cruised into a 3-0 lead as Colin Nish marked his home debut with the opener before Fletcher hit a double including a superb volley.

Gretna hit back with two goals in the final 10 minutes through Gavin Skelton and Kenny Deuchar.

But keeper Greg Fleming was sent off after upending Nish in the penalty area and Fletcher converted the spot-kick.

With less than a minute on the clock on-loan Everton teenager John Paul Kissock cut inside and struck a fierce 20-yard effort that the Hibs goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay palmed away for a corner.

Gretna were knocking the ball around with no little flair, but their early fire was soon extinguished when the hosts claimed a ninth-minute lead.

Fletcher did well to outmuscle Kyle Naughton on the left.

And his ball across goal allowed January signing Nish, making his home debut, to slide in and net from six yards.

Gretna refused to let their heads drop and the lively Kissock was at the heart of their best moves.

He clipped the top of the netting with an attempted 18th-minute cut-back.

However, much like the first goal, Hibs roared back up the park within seconds and scored a magnificent second.

Zarabi's long ball was not properly headed clear by Barr and the ball fell to Fletcher, who swept a 25-yard looping volley over Greg Fleming.

Fletcher almost grabbed a quick double when he was left unmarked and fired a fierce drive off the underside of the bar.

Fleming came to Gretna's rescue on 37 minutes with a fantastic double save from Filipe Morais and Fletcher.

Gretna returned quickly for the second period and Kissock, again, immediately brought out the best in Ma-Kalambay from the edge of the penalty area.

Skelton then tried his luck from distance but his drive flew over the Hibs keeper's bar as the visitors pressed.

However, Gretna's defensive frailties were soon exposed again when Paatelainen's men put the match beyond doubt as early as the 58th minute.

Morais picked out Fletcher and the youngster beautifully controlled the ball on his chest before sweeping it high past Fleming.

Hibs continued to threaten but Gretna gave themselves a glimmer of hope nine minutes from time when Skelton netted.

Sub Brendan McGill scampered down the right and was given time to cross where he picked out Skelton to sweep home from 10 yards.

McGill gave Hibs another scare before more late drama followed on 88 minutes when the visitors scored again.

Kissock's free-kick landed perfectly at the head of Deuchar and he easily nodded home unopposed.

However, just when Gretna sensed a remarkable comeback, Hibs sealed the points.

The on-rushing Nish was felled by Fleming and referee Iain Brines awarded a penalty as well as handing the keeper a straight red card.

Deuchar took his jersey but was powerless to prevent Fletcher completing his hat-trick from the spot.



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Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, Gathuessi, Hogg, Zarabi, Murray, Rankin, Morais (Chisholm 69), Beuzelin (Kerr 58), Shiels (O'Brien 75), Fletcher, Nish. Subs Not Used: McNeil, Zemmama, Benjelloun, Stevenson.

Booked: Morais.

Goals: Nish 10, Fletcher 19, 58, 90 pen.

Gretna: Fleming, Barr, Collin (Schultz-Eklund 69), Meynell (Deverdics 60), Naughton, Griffiths (McGill 60), Murray, Skelton, Buscher, Deuchar, Kissock. Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Baldacchino, Makinwa, Wilkinson.

Sent Off: Fleming (90).

[DavidMc]

Gretna 1-3 Motherwell
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 16th February 08
Fir Park, Motherwell

Two goals from Ross McCormack helped Motherwell to a well-deserved win over fellow Fir Park tenants Gretna.
Chris Porter put Motherwell ahead after 25 minutes when a blocked Stephen Hughes shot fell kindly to him.

Well spurned several good chances before Ross McCormack doubled their lead with a well-taken finish two minutes into the second half.

Brendan McGill reduced the deficit after 50 minutes but McCormack's late strike clinched three points for Well.

The game got off to a slow start, with Darren Smith's speculative effort, which blazed over the bar, the only chance of any kind in the first 10 minutes.

The same player was prominent again after 12 minutes, weaving his way cleverly inside from the right wing and drilling a low diagonal shot towards the target.

But Artur Krysiak coolly smothered his effort close to the line.

Krysiak then had to leap to the left corner of the penalty area to claim a high ball ahead of Well striker McCormack.

Gretna came agonisingly close to taking the lead on 20 minutes.

Paul Quinn was short with a header as he tried to clear Kenny Deuchar's close-range effort.

And the ball fell straight to the feet of McGill, but his lob just sneaked over and onto the roof of the net.

Gretna gained confidence from their close shave and passed the ball well, but were soon hit by a sucker-punch.

Motherwell midfielder Stephen Hughes unleashed a shot from outside the box, and his effort deflected off a defender to the feet of Porter, who netted with a composed finish from six yards.

McCormack had another good chance just minutes later with a powerful near-post header from Quinn's cross from the right, but Krysiak again caught it safely.

Motherwell almost doubled their lead eight minutes from the break.

Smith went on an excellent run the full length of the pitch and his cross was teed up by Porter for McCormack, but the striker sent his effort just wide.

The second half was only two minutes old when the visitors took a two-goal lead.

Hughes long ball found McCormack in the box and the young forward shrugged off the Gretna defence to send a right-foot shot beyond the reach of Krysiak.

But Gretna hit back three minutes later when Mickael Buscher's probing cross was missed by the Motherwell defence and McGill tapped the ball home from underneath the right upright.

Smith was gifted possession just before the hour and raced to the edge of the box where Krysiak made the save.

Porter then smashed a drive off the bar and away to safety.

Gretna had a good claim for a penalty turned down with only five minutes to go before McCormack's second goal on 90 minutes quashed their hopes of a dramatic fightback.



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Gretna: Krysiak, Barr, Meynell (Makinwa 89), Hall, Naughton, Kissock (Baldacchino 70), McGill, Murray, Skelton, Buscher (Deverdics 74), Deuchar. Subs Not Used: Grant, Wilkinson, Schultz-Eklund, Griffiths.

Booked: Barr.

Goals: McGill 50.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Darren Smith, Hughes (Lasley 69), Fitzpatrick, Clarkson, Porter (Lappin 83), McCormack. Subs Not Used: Daniels, Brian McLean, Maguire, Jamie Murphy, Archdeacon.

Booked: Clarkson.

Goals: Porter 25, McCormack 47, 90.

Att: 2,877