Gretna 3
Dundee Utd 4
Scottish Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

This twice postponed tie finally got under way in a cold but dry Raydale Park after around 300 Arabs had braved blizzard conditions at times to get there for the kick-off. Ian McCall made only one change to the side that played on Saturday, James Grady coming in for Grant Brebner who was on the bench.

Gretna were first to threaten in only two minutes but the danger was cleared and, within four minutes of the start, United were in front. James Grady provided the opening after chasing a long ball to the by line, and cut it back to Mark Kerr whose cross to the back post was met by Barry Robson and he looped a header past Mathieson in the Gretna goal. Robson was just too far away to connect with a McIntyre pass a minute later but, on eight minutes, United were 2-0 up when Mark Kerr fired in from twenty-five yards. On twenty-one minutes, United extended their lead further with a penalty awarded for hand ball against McQuilken. Mark Wilson blasted the spot kick low to the keeper’s left. On thirty-two minutes Bingham was just beaten by McCracken to a good ball in from the right. United were awarded a second penalty on thirty-six minutes when Robson was hauled down by the keeper as he burst into the box. Wilson again took the kick, goin for the same spot but the keeper parried. Grady was first to the rebound but from six yards he lifted the ball over the bar. Four minutes from the interval, Gretna pulled one back when Kenny Deuchar pounceed on a rebound from a Gilfillan effort to slot home.

Early in the second half, the referee appeared to blow for a free kick to United as Skelton slammed the ball into the net whilst the players stopped. The official then awarded the goal to Gretna, but after United protested he eventually awarded the home side a penalty! Birch netted the spot kick with United still protesting. The Tangerines restored their two-goal advantage five minutes later when Stevie Crawford collected a long ball from Archibald and then coolly lobbed a perfect ball into the far corner of the net. With the home side taking full advantage of the wind, the ball was picked up thirty yards out by Gavin Skelton who unleashes an unstoppable shot high into the top left hand corner to make the score Gretna 3 United 4.