League

Shanklin Park
Spectators: 7886 (Terracing: 5915, Seating: 1814, VIP seats: 157) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Samuel Colyear started the match with the kick off. Dylan Parlane charged in rather forcefully in the 3rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Dylan Parlane the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Gretna getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Dylan Parlane hit a great ball. When Phillip Forrester came up free with the goalie in the 9th minute, the Gretna fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Phillip Forrester couldn't finish the play. In the 10th minute Phillip Forrester shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eric McGilchrist saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Ivan McSimon fell near the penalty area in the 12th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Scottish Highland AFC's protests and gave Ivan McSimon a yellow card for diving instead. Alistair McAslan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eric McGilchrist having to interfere. Scottish Highland AFC's Eric McGilchrist played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Simon Crozier in the 25th minute of play. Simon Crozier took the ball and in the 27 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Eric McGilchrist. Eric McGilchrist dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. In the 32nd minute, Samuel Colyear got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Dean McLea kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. Dean McLea fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Freddie McTire having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Gretna's zone, Samuel Colyear stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Freddie McTire came out of the goal and Samuel Colyear tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Phillip Forrester struck a weak shot in the 46th minute. Eric McGilchrist didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Gretna.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Phillip Forrester made a kick off. A hard shot 59 in the game by Aaron McCodrum from a close distance when the talented Eric McGilchrist managed to make a qualified save. Scottish Highland AFC's players were relieved. If Dean McLea had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Anthony Mein during the 62nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Gretna's Anthony Mein got a free kick in the 62nd minute. Simon Crozier received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Eric McGilchrist tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 71 minutes, Phillip Forrester managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Gretna's supporters crossed their fingers, but Phillip Forrester was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The crowd rose to their feet as Gretna's Phillip Forrester slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Eric McGilchrist. That made the score 0-2 after 83 minutes of play. Simon Crozier who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 88thth minute tested the skills of Eric McGilchrist when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Simon Crozier struck a weak shot in the 89th minute. Eric McGilchrist didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Gretna. Scottish Highland AFC's Dean McLea got a good chance for a goal in the 93rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The Scottish Highland AFC supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Gretna's performance. The match ended with a win for Gretna.