Preston Ath 1 Gretna 2008 2

PRESTON Athletic fell to another home league defeat, with Gretna 2008 claiming the points at the Pennypit on Saturday.

The home side took the lead when Craig Pennycuik’s long goal kick was flicked on by Fabio Neto to Mark Smith, who then found Jason Young, and he fired past visiting goalkeeper Michael Ballantyne to put the Panners ahead on 12 minutes.

Craig Nisbet’s side continued to dominate the early play, Smith and Stevenson both going close, while the away side’s best chance was a free header from Jordan Little, but it failed to trouble Pennycuik.

The Panners went in a goal to the good at the break, but they were pegged back almost straight from kick-off, with Ellis Pearson levelling after a sweeping move.

Gretna struck again moments later as Pearson found Scott Norman, and he chipped Pennycuik to turn the game on its head.

Preston continued to push forward, and came close on 68 minutes when Stevenson hit the post, before Greg Bennie’s effort was tipped onto the bar by Ballantyne.

The Lowland League basement men were handed a further boost when the visitors had Jamie Hope sent off after he hauled down Carter – the resulting free-kick, though, was cleared easily by the visitors.

As the final whistle approached, Chris Inglis tried his luck from long range, before Stevenson hit the bar with a header, then Binnie’s effort was cleared to safety via the post.

Preston’s wait for a fifth league win continues, and they return to action with a trip to eighth-place Whitehill Welfare on Saturday.