4
mins
Colin Van Nishtelroy' was lauded, along with "Willie Gibson on the wing", who came inside in the fourth minute to curl in the opener.
They went away as enthusiastic as they arrived, chuffed at the result if not the dynamism of their side's performance. Fans, of course, care only for the end and not the means to it. If Gretna brought any they were observing some communal vow of silence.
This was the lowest crowd of the season, down on the previous record low against Falkirk at the same venue, the crucible of the young James McFadden let's not forget. And, given the continuing inability of Gretna to triumph, it's a fair bet that 1516 will not be a record by the end of the season. The half-time draw summed it up. A first prize of £65, about a enough for a couple of admissions, petrol money and a Bovril or two.
The defeat means the newly-promoted south of Scotland side have lost all three of their opening home games and are yet to win in the Scottish Premier League.
Abdul
Osman flashed a shot wide in the first minute for
Gretna, but three minutes later were trailing after
a wonderful finish from Willie Gibson.
Colin Nish released Rhian Dodds down the right and he drilled a cross to the far side of the box where Wullie Gibson curled a high shot past Greg Fleming from 15 yards.
Killie, who had already lost the services of centre-half Simon Ford through illness before the game, were forced into another change at the back when Ryan O'Leary was forced off after a clash of heads, resulting in a broken nose, for the Killie Under 21 international.
The Irishman Tim Clancy made his first team debut at left-back with Frazer Wright moving into the centre.
Jarvis,
on-loan from Norwich, doubled the visitors'
advantage after good play from Grant Murray and
Colin Nish.
Murray swung in a cross and Colin Nish did well to direct a header into the path of Ryan Jarvis, and the loan-man guided it into the bottom-corner from 12 yards.
But Gretna were handed a lifeline just before the interval when Murray chopped down Fabian Yantorno inside the box.
Colin McMenamin stepped up but his powerfully struck penalty crashed off the crossbar onto the goal-line before being cleared.
The home side were unlucky not to pull one back after 58 minutes.
Yantorno flighted in a delicious free-kick and substitute Erik Paartalu beat Alan Combe to the ball but saw his header hit the bar and bounce over.
Nish almost made it three when he raced on to a David Fernandez pass and lobbed Fleming but his effort hit the bar.
Gretna's energy and commitment could not be faulted and Mickaël Buscher drew a good save from Alan Combe,
The Frenchman struck a right-footed shot low to
the Killie keeper's left-hand side but he was able
to parry it away from danger.
Then Dodds was straight though only to shoot against
the advancing Gretna keeper.
The home support were finally given something to cheer when Skelton crashed in a wonderful volley from 20 yards with just seconds of the match remaining, having dispossessed Fernandez, who claimed he was fouled.
Sandy's Match Pic's are HERE
