Gretna 1-2 Inverness CT

Apr 6 2008 Rob Fairburn At Fir Park

RELIEVED Caley ended their miserable losing streak - in front of a record low crowd for the SPL.

Just 431 fans were at Fir Park - 70 less than when Gretna played Dundee United last month - as the credibility of the league suffered another major setback.

Roy McBain and Don Cowie were on target for Inverness in the second half.

But the embarrassingly low crowd witnessed a bizarre game as Caley wasted a glut of other chances before Gretna almost salvaged a point with a late rally.

Apart from the empty stands, the match was played on a threadbare pitch. Only a handful of police officers were on duty inside the stadium and there was no match programme - all making it feel a bit surreal.

Gretna's cash crisis has led to the situation and they were without a sub keeper yesterday.

Inverness had lost seven on the trot coming in and you could only sympathise with their fans as they passed up a series of chances.

Craig Brewster's side could have been three up inside five minutes.

Keeper Greg Fleming foiled both Dennis Wyness and Phil McGuire early on with point-blank stops.

Then defender Gavin Skelton came to the rescue with a last-ditch saving tackle after Wyness rounded the No.1.

Caley were unlucky in 34 minutes when Markus Paatelainen did everything right, cutting inside Rostyn Griffiths and curling a delightful shot past Fleming.

But the Finn's effort hit the inside of a post and bounced into the grateful goalie's hands.

However, Paatelainen had no excuse three minutes later when he missed a sitter.

David Proctor burst through the defence and his effort was saved by Fleming. The ball fell to Wyness who rolled it along the goal-line with Paatelainen just a yard away.

But fearing he could be offside he remained inactive and allowed the ball to trickle past.

Seconds later Caley appeared to be awarded a penalty when referee Mike Tumilty pointed to the spot after Abdul Osman handled.

But after talking to assistant Willie Conquer he ruled the offence was outside the box.

Ross Tokely was booked for some backchat to Conquer and when Cowie finally took the free-kick it went high and wide.

Gretna were rarely seen in attack but five minutes after the break John Paul Kissock struck the junction of the bar and post with a rasping 20-yarder.

However, Inverness continued to pass up openings with Wyness, Dougie Imrie and Barry Wilson the main sinners.

It looked to be one of those afternoons when Imrie was booked for diving after rounding Fleming. But the ex-Clyde man persisted and was instrumental in Inverness netting twice within 60 seconds.

First, he teed up McBain in 71 minutes to drill a low left-foot shot past Fleming.

Imrie then sent Cowie clear and although Fleming parried his attempted lob, the Caley man kept his cool to volley the loose ball home from 15 yards.

Gretna rallied in the closing stages and pulled one back in 80 minutes.

Michael Fraser couldn't hold Kyle Naughton's stinging effort and Craig Barr had the easy task of tapping home the rebound into an empty net.

But despite being cheered on by their tiny band of followers there was no morale-boosting comeback as the relegated club plunged to another defeat.

MATCH STATS

3 SHOTS ON 7

6 SHOTS OFF 7

1 OFFSIDE 1

10 FOULS 6

1 CORNERS 7

1 BOOKINGS 2

REF WATCH

MIKE TUMILTY changed his mind over a possible Caley penalty but fair play to him as it was the right call. Comfortable day. Rating: 6/10.