Selkirk 1-5 Gretna 2008

With both teams having a very mixed start to the season, and only three points separating them in the league, this game should have been a close run thing.

Indeed Selkirk may feel they were unlucky as the score line didn’t really tell the whole story. The Souters had by far the better of the opening play and could easily have been two up inside 15 minutes having had a number of early chances including Phil Addison firing high over the bar from the penalty spot.

Gretna took the lead against the run of play, Connor Liddell quickest to react to a poor back pass before easily rounding the home keeper to fire home.

After this setback Selkirk had more chances with Vinnie Parker in the Gretna goal the busiest of the keepers as he pulled of a number of good saves to protect his team’s slender one goal lead going into the break

Gretna double their lead minutes after the restart. Another mistake in the Selkirk defence allowed Iain Anderson to pick up the ball and score.

It just wasn’t to be Selkirk’s day as they were reduced to 10 men soon after, Jack Hay having been sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Gretna made the most of the extra man as they fired in two more quick goals through Anderson and Danny Graham.

Selkirk should be given some credit as they never gave up and played some decent football at times but he game eventually came to a close with Anderson completing his hat trick just before Garry O’Connor fired home a very late Selkirk consolation.

•Elsewhere University of Stirling soared to second place in the Lowland League table after their 3-1 win over Vale of Leithen. Goals from Chris Geddes (2) and Callum Burns were enough to take full points with Keith McLeod scoring Vale’s only goal.