Preston Athletic 0 Gretna FC (2008) 2

Preston Athletic           0 (0)

GRETNA FC (2008)     2 (1)

R.Halliday, B.Longcake.

Hoops manager Stuart Rome made several changes from the team that lost at home last week to Edinburgh City. In came Ross Halliday, Danny Graham and Jordan Barker in place of Dean Rea, Adam Main and Mark Worrall.

Gretna kicked off the game down the slope and nearly took the lead when Iain Anderson got on the end of a long clearance but was denied a goal when Preston keeper Gilbertson deflected the ball around the post for a corner.

The visitors were caught by a counter attack and should have gone a goal behind but somehow Prestons Martin lifted the ball over the bar from three yards out with goal at his mercy.

Darren Addison tried a shot from 30 yards but Gilbertson was equal to the Gretna midfielders shot and turned the ball behind for another corner.

The home side fought bravely to keep out the Gretna onslaught with Gilbertson rescuing his side on a number of occasions. Gretna captain Alan Inglis tested the home keeper in the 15th.minute, the keeper tipping over a ferocious Inglis free kick. Jordan Barker then tested the keeper when he rose to fire in an acrobatic volley which the keeper caught under the bar on the goal line.

A mistake by Robson Halliday let in Moore who screwed his shot wide of the target from ten yards with Greenall out of position. After this let off the visitors took the lead when Halliday struck from wide on the right wing and his cross come shot ended in the back of the net along with Preston keeper Gilbertson looking at fault with his positioning, 0-1.

It was end to end football with the wind and slope proving difficult to provide any quality play from either side with Anderson tirelessly chasing over hit passes. Preston’s Martin gave Inglis and Wallace a tough test in the first half but the home forward couldn't manage a clear shot a goal and Greenall didn’t have to make a recognised save. H/T 0-1.

First action of the second half came from a Gretna attack when Barker intercepted a poor back pass to the Preston keeper, Barker nipped in between the Todd and Gilbertson but his lofted shot was too high and just cleared the crossbar. Barker was back on attack shortly afterwards this time running onto a Connor Graham and was denied a goal by Gilbertson.

Gretna went two up after Brandon Longcake fired home a loose ball from 12 yards. At this point of the game Gretna replaced Barker with David Renyard on the left wing. The Gretna sub was in the action immediately just shooting wide from 18 yards after linking up with Anderson on the left.

Preston were up against a defiant pair in defence with Wallace and Inglis marshalling the defence and giving little ground.

Darren Addison was the stand out player for the visitors with his aggressive energetic style in middle gave the Preston midfield little time on the ball.

Anderson twice had efforts blocked when it looked likely the big striker would score as the home defenders threw themselves in front of goal.

Gretna manager Stuart Rome brought on substitute Mark Worrall for the tiring Anderson and Gavin Cowper for Connor Graham.

As the game entered the final minutes both sides squandered chances and the game finished Preston Athletic 0 Gretna Fc (2008) 2.

Preston Athletic :

J.Gilbertson, L.Todd, J.Bruce, J.Todd, L.Maloney, D.Fergus, P.Moore, P.Gilhooley, A.Martin, P.Devlin, R.Strachan. Subs : R.Demsey, J.Thomson

GRETNA FC (2008) :

J.Greenall, R.Halliday, G.Thorburn, A.Inglis, D.Wallace, D.Addison, B.Longcake, D.Graham, I.Anderson, C.Graham, J.Barker. Subs : D.Renyard, M.Worrall, G.Cowper, L.Todd, J.Blake, G.Wright.