31/03/2018  |  League

Cumbernauld Colts   5  v  2  Gretna FC 2008

COLTS resurrected their Lowland League form securing their first win in seven games with a five star display against Gretna at Broadwood.

Jeff Fergus grabbed a brace and further strikes from Gavin Lachlan, Michael Wallace and Andy Hunter ensured a much welcome victory for the Broadwood men.

Kinsley Grandison and Liam Studholme responded for the visitors who now sit on three points ahead of Colts with two games remaining in the race for a top six finish.

Colts started with a spring in their step and took the lead in 3 minutes when Craig Holmes delivered a great ball to the back post and Fergus made no mistake with a thumping header into the roof of the net.

Colts had further chances to increase their lead in the opening 10 minutes and stand-in striker Hunter should have found the net on at least two occasions.

Colts continued to dominate and in 25 minutes they doubled their lead when Fergus turned provider by slipping the ball into the path of Lachlan who neatly placed the ball beyond Gretna keeper John Wightman. And the Cumbernauld men made it three with only 30 minutes on the clock when Fergus grabbed his second of the game with a low angled drive which sneaked in at the near post with Wightman at full stretch.

Colts appeared to be well in command, but Gretna got a lifeline in 32 minutes when Steven Kerr was harshly judged to have fouled Thomas Halleran and the ref pointed to the spot, and Grandison made no mistake with the spot kick.

Two minutes later Hunter should have regained the Colts three goal advantage but his close range effort crashed off the bar with Wightman well beaten.

However this entertaining game took another twist in 35 minutes when Gretna broke forward, and after a failed attempt by the Colts defence to clear the danger Grandison fired the ball across the face of goal and Studholme stabbed the ball past Ronan Fallens.

Colts dominance was much more evident than the scoreline suggested and they again started the second half brightly.

The hosts dominance was rewarded in 52 minutes when sub Connor McKenzie drilled the ball across the face of goal and Wallace nipped in at the front post to divert the ball past Wightman.

Colts then dealt their visitors the knockout blow in 66 minutes by securing the win when Holmes neatly fed the ball into the path of Hunter who made no mistake with a neat low finish past Wightman from just inside the box.

McKenzie almost made it six for Colts in 83 minutes when he was found in the box by Fergus but the youngster's shot was superbly blocked by Wightman from close range.

James Orr and Craig McKinlay will now be looking for a strong end to the season from their young side, with their next outing being the visit of Dalbeattie Star to Broadwood next Saturday.


Gretna 2008; Wightman, Studholme, Johnson, Hunter, Wadge, Fitzpatrick, Halleran, Pardini, Grandison, Pearson, McAnespie. Subs; Monaghan, Jakaitis, Irons.