Gretna 3 Stenhousemuir 0

Last updated : 18 December 2004 By Footymad Previewer
Gretna extended their lead at the top of the table to five points and shot themselves into the record books.

The Black and Whites chalked up their 12th successive league win to break Inverness Caledonian Thistle's third division record.

Gretna got off to a great start when David Bingham fired them in front after just four minutes. Gavin Skelton won the ball with a great sliding tackle that broke for Kenny Deuchar to burst through the defence and square it for the onrushing Bingham to fire into the corner of the net.

Stenny were unlucky not to level ten minutes later when Joseph Savage fired in a brilliant 20-yard drive that smacked back off the crossbar.

And Savage again went close in the 34th minute when he worked his way into the box but stumbled under pressure then David Mathieson to save his low shot.

Ryan McGuffie added a second when he jinked to the byline, cut in and blasted into the net from a narrow angle.

Skelton could have added a third just before the break but shot wide at the near post from Deuchar's pass.

The visitors were still posing a threat and Mathieson saved well from David McInally, before the Warriors had a strong penalty appeal waved away when Keith Knox went down in the box.

But Gretna added a third in the 73rd minute when Jamie McQuilken fired in a cross and Bryan Gilfillan glanced his header into the bottom corner.

Stenny were reduced to ten men in the dying seconds when Robbie Henderson was shown a second yellow card for chopping down Deuchar.