Gretna girls seal first home victory in style

HISTORY was made at Raydale Park on Sunday as Gretna FC 2008 Ladies and Girls recorded their first ever home victory with a stunning 7-1 win over Newton Stewart Ladies in the SWFL League Cup. In their second competitive season, this result was Gretna’s second ever win. From the first whistle, the Black and Whites showed hunger and belief. Courtney Nelson fired the hosts ahead on 15 minutes before Siobhan McMinn doubled the advantage with a tidy finish. Nelson struck again on the half-hour mark, and McMinn converted a penalty shortly before halftime to give Gretna a commanding 4-0 lead at the break. Newton pulled one back with a penalty midway through the second half but the afternoon belonged to Gretna. In the final 15 minutes, Claire Rae produced a blistering ten minute hat-trick to seal an unforgettable win in front of the home fans. Manager Shaun Harrison said: “I couldn’t be any prouder of this group of players. From the day I came in, I’ve said there’s a squad here ready to burst out and surprise people – today they did just that. “To get our first home win at Raydale Park and our second win ever as a team is a huge milestone in our journey. “The spirit, belief and togetherness these girls showed today is exactly what this club is all about. “I also want to thank my coaching staff, Claire Kirkpatrick and Nori Fian, for their brilliant work and support, and Iain Martin for keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. “This is only the beginning.” Gretna play their final fixture of the cup group stage on Sunday away to Cumnock.