Albion Rovers 0 Gretna 5

Last updated : 07 May 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Third division champions Gretna comfortably overcame a despondent Albion side with a 5-0 victory.

Contrast between the two sides was plain for all to see as Gretna were celebrating winning the League and going for all divisional records whereas Albion found out during the week that they were all to be released from their contracts at the end of the match.

As it proved it was all one-way traffic but Gretna could have been in front early on when a Ryan McGuffie cross was headed over the bar by Gavin Skelton at the back post.

However, it didn't take the visitors long before they were in front when David Bingham crossed for McGuffie to volley the ball home.

Gretna then doubled their advantage on 39 minutes when a Kenny Deuchar pass fell to the feet of Skelton to turn the last defender superbly and fire the ball home.

After the break it was much of the same as Gretna laid siege to the Albion goal.

They made it three on 55 minutes when Ryan Baldacchino picked the ball up on the right hand side and floated a cross to the back post which ended up drifting over Chris Fahey in the Rovers goal and into the back of the net.

Baldacchino grabbed his second and Gretna's fourth on 63 minutes when he fired a free kick through a crowded penalty area and into the back of the net.

The fourth goal took Gretna's goal difference to a 100 for the season and they weren't finished there.

McGuffie notched a brace with Gretna's fifth as he tapped home the ball from close range following a fine save from Fahey to deny Deuchar.

It could even have been more in the late stages as veteran striker Andy Smith went close on a few occasions but it wasn't to be and Gretna ran out comfortable winners and deservedly took the Division Three title.