Keeper Fleming the hero as Gretna make a point
Last updated 12:33, Monday, 21 April 2008
Falkirk 0 Gretna 0: Rookie keeper Greg Fleming enhanced his growing reputation with a string of saves to earn Gretna a battling point at Falkirk.
During a disappointing game played in windy conditions, Fleming stood out as out-of-sorts Falkirk failed to net for the sixth time in their last eight matches.
The Scotland U21 keeper made a string of late saves to keep the home strikers at bay and give his side a crumb of comfort in a miserable season.
Falkirk enjoyed the possession throughout against the patched-up Borderers but Pedro Moutinho found Fleming an immovable force on more than one occasion, and substitute Russell Latapy and Kevin McBride shaved the goal frame.
Afterwards director of football Mick Wadsworth hailed Fleming, who is set to leave in the summer with Motherwell, Morton and Oldham Athletic watching him closely.
Wadsworth said: "Greg is terrific. I don't think he'll have a problem finding a club. I haven't seen too many better young goalkeepers.
"He's been absolutely outstanding. It was a top-class performance, he's gained us a point and got the lads a little bit of a rare bonus."
Rookie referee Steve O'Reilly came under fire from Falkirk fans for not awarding a late penalty after Carl Finnigan appeared to be felled in the area by Rostyn Griffiths.
O'Reilly instead gave a free-kick on the 18-yard line, and Gretna survived to hold on for a point.
Redundancies have shorn the Raydale Park side of a natural striker, but on-loan full-back Kyle Naughton did a good impersonation of an SPL marksman.
However, a lack of firepower was always likely to be their downfall, particularly against one of the top flight's impressive defenders in home skipper Darren Barr.
Ben Wilkinson almost gave his watching father, former Leeds United manager Howard, something to make the long journey worthwhile when he got on the end of Abdul Osman's cutback.
However, the on-loan Hull City midfielder got the ball stuck under his studs and couldn't direct his flick on target.
Fleming again impressed with a sound stop from Moutinho's 20-yard free-kick and a later drive as Falkirk stepped up the pressure with time running out.
But the home side was almost caught on the break when Supple was forced to touch Naughton's shot round the post to keep the scoreline blank. Gretna survived a late onslaught to hold on for a point.
MATCH FACTS
Gretna: Fleming, Barr, Meynell, Griffiths, Skelton, Osman, Wilkinson (Hall, 77), Deverdics, McGill (Baldacchino, 85), Kissock (Hogg, 89), Naughton, subs (not used): Krysiak, Robinson, Taylor and Sharples.
Referee: Steve O'Reilly (Scotland)
Bookings: Griffiths and Hall (Gretna)
Attendance: 4,490
