The Spartans made it seven wins on the bounce with a solid second half display that saw them maintain another clean sheet in a 0-3 victory at Raydale Park.
Sean Brown paired up with striking partner Blair Henderson from the off whilst there was a welcome return to the match day squad for Gavin Morrison following his long lay-off on the treatment table.
Brown was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet early on however his effort was ruled offside and the hosts breathed an early sigh of relief.
There was to be an unscheduled swap in Spartans personnel when Michael Herd limped off after just 12 minutes on the clock to be replaced by Gregor Woods.
Fine play in midfield by Spartans saw Bradley Whyte whip in a cross, but the header by Sean Brown didn’t muster enough oomph and was gathered by Alasdair Adams between the Gretna sticks.
The first half was certainly one for the purists and with previous fixtures between the sides offering interesting talking points, this affair failed to hit the headlines.
A free kick for Spartans from the edge of the box was punched behind for a corner by the alert Adams. The resultant corner saw Sean Brown head narrowly wide.
As the game trundled towards half time, there was a shout for a penalty from the hosts when Blair Carswell came out to make a last ditch tackle after a slack pass-back put the goalie under pressure. The Spartans keeper collided with the Gretna player on the edge of the six yard box but the Ref rightly deciding that the ball was won fairly and a coming together of players wasn’t enough to merit a spot-kick.
And with that, it was time to head to the sheds for reflection.
HT: Gretna FC 2008 0-0 The Spartans
Just seven minutes after the break, Spartans took the lead. A corner from Rhys Armstrong was nodded away but only as far as Mikey Allan who was lurking in space at the edge of the box. The Defender won’t have hit many as sweetly in his career and his right footed volley bulged the onion bag offering the keeper no chance.
A crisp strike by Jamie Dishington saw Adams scramble to get down low to push behind for another Spartans corner as Dougie Samuel’s side pressed to put further light between the sides.
Spartans made a change with Cammy Russell coming on for the industrious Sean Brown.
The tourists then doubled their lead. A long kick up the park from Blair Carswell, saw Jamie Dishington use his strength to beat his man before playing in Rhys Armstrong. The playmaker showed a slick pair of heels to whizz past the defender to glide along the bye-line before outfoxing another and slip the ball under the keeper to net his third goal in as many games.
Spartans made further changes with Gavin Morrison making his long awaited debut along with veteran Alan Brown and it was a chance for the Gaffer to rest up Blair Henderson and Rhys Armstrong.
The outcome of the match was then secured when Spartans grabbed their third. Gavin Morrison reacting in the middle of the park to pick up a loose ball and he sent it into the path of Cammy Russell who still had work to do before sending his a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
FT: Gretna FC 2008 0-3 The Spartans
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Kieran Watson