UniBond Premier

28th July 2007

Attendance -

Team - David Campbell(Richard Heiniger 45), Dom Wilson(Mitch Lund 45), Karl Charlton, Jamie Ramm, Andy Raw, James Harmsworth, Ant Ormerod(Vince Rouja 66), Darren Thornton(Mike Vickers 55), Tony Hackworth, Danny Brunskill(Sonny Andrews 66), Lee Nogan(Carl Heiniger 55).

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Gretna ruined Whitby's new stand opening celebrations, as the Scottish Premier newcomers, who fielded nine first-team players, romped to a 5-1 win at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.

After a sedate opening, Eric Paartaly threatened first for the visitors with a dangerous 25 yard effort that skidded narrowly wide.

But it was Town who opened the scoring six minutes before half-time when last season's 29-goal leading scorer Danny Brunskill was pushed on the right edge of the 18-yard box. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a Whitby penalty and Brunskill had no hesitation in despatching the ball inside the bottom left corner of the net.

A minute later, Blues' player-manager Lee Nogan fired inches wide from the edge of the area after a neat build-up, but it was the away side who ended the half, the strongest and deservedly levelled on 45 minutes.

Paartaly again came close from distance, before Uruguyan striker Fabian Yantorno was given time to set himself and sidefoot into the bottom-right corner of the Whitby net.

Yantorno clearly meant business and promptly put his side ahead ten minutes after the restart after poking the ball home completely unmarked.

Whitby should have levelled just after the hour when Tony Hackworth was sent clear one on one with keeper Greig Fleming. However, the former Livingston stopper parried a low effort and Darren Thornton following up, inexplicably drove over the top when faced with an open net.

Brunskill hooked inches too high from the edge of Gretna's penalty area on 63 minutes with Yantorno, a minute later, bringing a fine near post stop from substitute keeper Richard Heiniger.

Heiniger's brother Carl, on for Lee Nogan in the second half, wasted no time stamping his authority on the match, driving goalwards from 20 yards and bringing a good low save from Fleming.

Colin McMenamin for Gretna chipped just over from 18 yards, with Fraser McLaren replacing Yantorno a minute later.

15 minutes from time, Gretna notched a killer third. Left-back Gavin Skelton saw his initial drive well parried by Heiniger, but the ex-Carlisle midfielder sidefooted home the rebound for 3-1.

Whitby's one shaft of light, was former Stokesley striker Sonny Andrews coming off the subs bench and treating fans to a fine range of skills and touches. In fact it was Andrews' incisive play that released Hackworth once again. This time the big striker chose to round Fleming and walk the ball home, but the 20-year-old keeper was equal to the task, winning the ball at Hackworth's feet and clinging on to deny the lively striker.

With Whitby making seven second-half changes, it was perhaps no suprise when Gretna netted two late strikes to put an interesting sheen on the result. On 89 minutes, a simple right-wing cross was nodded firmly past Heiniger by substitute McLaren.

And right at the death, former Gateshead forward Nicky Deverdics laid on a simple pass for Colin McMenamin who slotted goal number five past Heiniger and his young makeshift defence.