 | He who pays the piper... |
|
Gretna made history as they became the first Second Division side to qualify for the Scottish Cup final in the modern era. This even more dramatic when you think the Second Division is the third senior league in the country. Brookes Mileson watched from his traditional ‘with the fans' position in the stand as his dream took on the form of reality. Even he could not have dreamt of a 3-0 win but that is how it turned out for the border club.
A mistake by Dundee skipper Barry Smith gifted Gretna an opening midway through the first half. He failed to deal with a seemingly innocuous long ball allowing James Grady to get in behind him and send a dangerous cross into the box. However, Stuart McCluskey got back to make a fine challenge just as Gretna's top scorer Kenny Deuchar was about to pull the trigger. The Second Division champions saw more of the ball as half-time approached and Gavin Skelton had a deflected effort well held by Dundee's Kelvin Jack. Then, in first-half injury-time, Gretna took the lead. Deuchar capitalised on a ball that flicked off the head of Dundee defender McCluskey before rounding the keeper and rolling a shot into the empty net.
 | Nicholls beats Mann to the ball |
|
Deuchar could have doubled Gretna's lead at the start of the second half but headed Skelton's cross wide. Gretna scored their second goal in controversial circumstances in the 57th minute. Ryan McGuffie ran in to Dundee defender Paul Dixon and referee Murray awarded a penalty. McGuffie dusted himself off before taking the spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way. Dundee's woeful afternoon was rounded off after 81 minutes when Smith stuck out a leg to deflect the ball into his own net.
Gretna: Main, Birch, Townsley, Innes, McGuffie, O'Neil, Nicholls (McQuilken 78), Tosh, Skelton, Deuchar, Grady (Shields 79)
Subs Not Used: Mathieson, McBride, Berkeley
Goals: Deuchar 45, McGuffie 58 pen, Smith 82 og
Dundee: Jack, McCluskey (Kevin McDonald 53), Mann, Calum McDonald, Dixon, McManus (Craig 64), Robertson, Smith, Brady (Robb 76), Deasley, Lynch.
Subs Not Used: Murray, Law
Booked: Mann
Att: 14,179
Ref: C Murray
|