Deverdics inspired Gretna to victory with a superb opening goal

Gretna showed they could cope without departing top-scorer Kenny Deuchar with a goalfest against sorry Kilmarnock.

Nicky Deverdics fired the hosts into a 27th minute lead with a terrific long-range effort before Rhys Meynell headed home John-Paul Kissock's corner.

Despite protests, Craig Barr's 44th minute header was ruled to have crossed the line to make it 3-0 at half-time.

Mickael Buscher added a fourth on 58 minutes before Simon Ford and then William Gibson spared Killie's blushes.

Interview: Gretna caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth

Interview: Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies

Striker Deuchar signed a deal with Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake on the morning of the game.

Kilmarnock opened purposefully with Mehdi Taouil causing Gretna early problems with his trademark mazy runs down the left wing.

Spurred on by a vocal travelling support, Killie took the game to Gretna who struggled to hold possession inside the visitors' half.

Neat play on the left allowed Craig Bryson space, and his wicked out-swinging cross foxed the Gretna defence.

But Danny Invincibile was unable to connect and the score remained goalless.

Gretna settled and began to look more like the side that caused Rangers problems at the weekend.

And after 27 minutes they took the lead.

Deverdics pounced on a loose ball 25 yards from goal and hit a powerful shot beyond Chad Harpur for a superb opener.

Kissock was the main creator for Gretna and it was fine play by the Liverpudlian which brought about the corner which led to the hosts' second.

Kissock took the corner himself and while Kilmarnock froze Meynell coolly headed home from seven yards.

In controversial circumstances, Gretna amazingly went 3-0 up in the 44th minute.

Barr's looping header beat Harpur but Frazer Wright seemed to clear off the line.

However referee John Underhill, taking advice from his stand-side linesman, gave the goal.

Buscher sensationally made it 4-0 after 58 minutes when he fired the ball high past Harpur from Meynell's neat through ball.

Ford grabbed a consolation goal for Killie after 71 minutes with a well-placed header from Gibson's cross.

Ten minutes later Gibson made the score look more respectable with Killie's second but it was too little too late and Gretna ran out deserved winners.

The victory means that the Borderers have narrowed the gap to nine points between themselves and second-bottom Killie.

Gretna: Fleming, Barr, Innes, Hall, Naughton, McGill, Meynell, Buscher (Wilkinson 65), Skelton, Kissock (Makinwa 60), Deverdics (Griffiths 82). Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Baldacchino, Hogg, Schultz-Eklund.

Booked: Barr, Innes.

Goals: Deverdics 27, Meynell 39, Barr 44, Buscher 59.

Kilmarnock: Harpur, Hamill (Fernandez 70), Ford, Frazer Wright, Hay, Invincibile, Fowler, Corrigan (Gibson 54), Bryson, Taouil, Johnston (Dalglish 46). Subs Not Used: Rascle, Di Giacomo, O'Leary, Clancy.

Booked: Invincibile.

Goals: Ford 72, Gibson 83.

Att: 1,545

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).