After winning their last two games, both against high placed opposition, Whitley went into this game with a bit of confidence after a season long struggle against relegation. The game was sponsored by a group of travelling Spurs supporters up for the evening game against Newcastle, I pity them having to watch both poor games.

Whitley started well and had a couple of early chances and looked the better side in a poor opening quarter. The game turned on a moment of madness from Andy Smith. He had been having a good game, easily coping with everything the Gretna forward line could throw at him when, after a kick from the Gretna number 10, Todd, he retaliated and head butted the forward, leaving the referee with no option but to send him off after only 25 minutes.

Gretna did not take any advantage of the extra man, and the game contined to be interupted by fussy refereeing decisions. The most important of which was to award Gretna a free kick on the edge of the box in first half injury time, for a nothing challenge. Brown superbly placed the ball in the top corner, giving Dobson no chance in the Whitley goal. That was the last action of the first half and it led to Paddy Lowery going on to the pitch to tell the ref exactly what he thought of his first half performance.

Gretna started the second half brightly and it was only thanks to a string of fine saves from Dobson and a goal line clearance from Watson that the score stayed at 1-0.

Paul Brydon always looked dangerous for Whitley, but he got a knock and had to be replaced midway through the second half. Anthony Robinson was also struggling with a slight knock and it showed as he barely moved in the middle of the park. Jon King came on with 20 minutes to go, ran about a bit and fell over, but at least he looked like he wanted to be involved, unlike too many of the players on the day.

It wasn't until the 88th minute when Gretna added a second, the gaps in the Whitley defence finally started to show as they pushed forward for an equaliser and Milligan found hinmself unmarked in the six yard box and headed home a right wing cross.

Whitley would probably have won this game if they'd played with 11 men, Gretna were not a very good side, but they took their chances when they came and certainly celebrated the goals with passion.

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