DESPITE going ahead from a goal of the season contender, Gretna 2008 suffered a 3-1 defeat to Tranent last Saturday in the Lowland League.
Anvils striker Iain Anderson opened the scoring for the visitors with a fantastic strike following a driving run forward.
But just before the half hour mark Euan Bauld equalised for the home side.
Ben Miller overturned the scoreline five minutes into the second half as he added a second for Tranent.
And Harry Girdwood scored a third late on after Gretna’s Hayden Tait had been shown a red card following a poor challenge.
Speaking post-match, Black and Whites gaffer Vinnie Parker was keen to focus on the positives, which included a ‘brilliant’ first half and debut for youngster Kayn Cranston.
However, he could not hide his disappointment at some refereeing decisions, the red card and the end result.
Parker said: “In the first 45 minutes I thought we were brilliant. We were full of energy and we really went after them.
“I thought we defended their threats extremely well. They’re a really good side and not many teams will come up here and take points.
“But I thought we were brilliant in the first 45 and Iain Anderson’s goal was absolutely exceptional. It’s a great run and it’s an absolutely brilliant finish, a piece of real quality.
“And then we failed to defend our box from a corner which is disappointing.”
Parker added: “In the second half we didn’t start too sharply, but I thought we absorbed the pressure they brought on us.
“And then the referee ruined the game, for me. There’s been a kick-out, which is a red-card, the linesman has flagged it to the referee and he’s refused to deal with the situation. The same boy then pops up and scores.
“So, I think we can find ourselves extremely unlucky today off the back of refereeing decisions, because I feel today they’ve had a massive impact on the outcome of the game.
“We go down to ten men after that, it probably is a sending off. I feel he (Tait) didn’t have to make that decision.
“After you go 3-1 down with ten men it’s near on impossible to come back from.
“But I’m proud of the lads’ effort. I thought we battled really hard with ten men, the sun was out and it was a warm day. But it’s disappointing to go down the road with no points.”
This Saturday the team head to Linlithgow, Parker said: “We are going to be with out Hayden Tait, but hopefully we will have Greg McCaragher back.
“It’s not going to be an easy trip, they’re a decent team. But I think if we can apply ourselves the way we did for 50 minutes today then I think we’ve got a chance of getting something.”
