Gretna 6 Albion Rovers 2

Last updated : 20 November 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Kenny Deuchar hammered five goals as Gretna extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Third Division.

The big striker took his tally for the season to 16 goals, the same as his partner David Bingham.

It was the third time this season that Rovers had been hit for six by the Borderers.

But the visitors could take plenty of consolation from their overall performance particularly in the second half when they had a real go at the home side.

Bryan Gilfillan headed home Gretna's first goal, and Deuchar made it 2-0 before Rovers were given some hope seconds before the interval when Andy Aitken deflected Jered Stirling's shot into his own goal.

But the deadly Deuchar punished Rovers with four second-half goals, and the only reply came when Paul McManus latched onto a poor back-pass by Mark Birch.

Deuchar also went close on two other occasions as Gretna showed their edge in class.

Gretna were not at their best in the first half, but stepped up the pace after the break with Bingham causing problems with his intelligent passing.

Rovers winger Marc McKenzie was generally at the heart of their best raids and McManus was rewarded for his hard-working performance with a goal.