St Mirren 0-0 Gretna

Gretna and St Mirren went head to head in Paisley

Gretna held their own with some classy defending against St Mirren in a goalless stalemate in Paisley.

Brendan McGill's volley hit the home side's bar early on and that was as close as either side got in the first half at St Mirren Park.

The second period was much better, with Craig Dargo and Andy Dorman lively for St Mirren and both going close.

However, Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming and a deep-lying Kyle Naughton kept the home side at bay for a good point.

Relegated Gretna arrived with only pride to play for aafter last week's 6-1 humbling by Inverness.

Brendan McGill had the tiny band of visiting fans on their feet when his 20-yard volley flew past Mark Howard, only for it cannon off the bar.

Franco Miranda should have put St Mirren ahead in the 22nd minute when he raced into the Gretna penalty area, but he got under his shot from seven yards and it flew over the bar.

But Gretna were playing the more attractive football, with the home team enduring some comical lapses in defence and with goalkeeper Mark Howard looking particularly unconvincing.

Gretna again threatened in the 36th minute when Nicky Deverdics found space in the box and his right-foot drive looked goal-bound but for a last-gasp challenge from John Potter.

St Mirren began to pressure Gretna with a series of corners, but a resilient Gretna held firm until the half-time whistle.

Craig Dargo carved out a chance for St Mirren after the break, but Mark Howard saved comfortably.

St Mirren raised their gameas Dargo again forced a save from Howard with his legs.

Then, a couple of minutes later, Andy Dorman rounded the goalkeeper but saw his shot cleared off the line by Naughton.

Suddenly, the game was end-to-end, with first Gretna's McGill having his shot blocked and then St Mirren's McGinn denied superbly by Fleming.

St Mirren were growing increasingly desperate into the final five minutes, but their attacks came to nothing as the game ended scoreless.

---

St Mirren: Howard, Barron, Haining, Potter, Miranda, Dorman, Mason, McCay (McGinn 62), Dargo (Kean 84), Mehmet, Hamilton (O'Donnell 62).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Brady, Molloy, McAusland.

Booked: Hamilton.

Gretna: Fleming, Skelton, Meynell, Hall, Murray (Hogg 74), Barr, Naughton, Deverdics, Wilkinson (Griffiths 59), McGill, Osman.
Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Sharples, Taylor, Robinson, Schultz-Eklund.

Booked: Osman.

Att: 3,163

Ref: W Collum

---

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: St Mirren's Mark Howard and Gretna's Greg Fleming both on 8.00 (on 90 minutes).