The Well Wins Keep Coming

Hughes was favoured over Lasley for this encounter with our tenants and a decent crowd of 6431, swelled by the 'free kids' offer, turned up in the December gloom.

Smith sets up an attack

Gretna were quick off the blocks and Smith had to make the first of two important stops in the opening minute when Yantorno fired a fierce effort on target. We replied with a McGarry shot before Smith produced an impressive stop, again from Yantorno, following a bit of a goalmouth scramble.

Much of the first period saw the ball sweep from end to end but we began to dominate towards the break. Porter took a good ball on the halfway line and his quick turn allowed him to escape his marker and charge into the right side of the box. He picked out McCormack at the far post but the pass was intercepted.

A healthy looking Main Stand

We had a series of corners which saw the Gretna defence reeling. Clarkson has an effort blocked two yards out, a Porter header hit the post and a Craigan header was cleared off the line. The deserved opener came in forty three minutes when Paterson's cross was knocked down by Porter to Clarkson. His hooked shot found the net.

The relegation candidates started the second half intent of finding an equaliser but though they couldn't be faulted for effort they failed to test our defence for any sustained spell. Porter got the second when McCormack's corner was headed into the six yard box by Craigan. The tall striker was in the right place to head into the goal.

McGhee made two substitutions - Fitzpatrick and Lasley replaced McGarry and Paterson. Later Darren Smith came on for McCormack.

Clarkson put the game beyond doubt with fifteen minutes remaining when he fired low form a fairly tight angle to beat Fleming at his near post.

Any thought Motherwell fans had about the reliability of our defence should be washed away after seeing the problem faced by Gretna. They looked really shaky at every set piece and it seems inconceivable that they can escape relegation. They are now nine points adrift.

We can travel to Tynecastle next week comforted by the knowledge that we are six points ahead of Hearts and our recent form suggests that there is every chance of maintaining that gap. Overall it was solid show and we deserved the win.