Civil Service Strollers welcomed Gretna 2008 to Christie Gillies Park this afternoon in a GeoSonic Lowland League mid-table clash. 

The home side went into the game on the back of a win against basement club Whitehill Welfare whilst the visitors lost out last week against East Kilbride.

The game burst into life in the opening minutes after Civil failed to clear from a throw-in and the ball landed at the feet of Ashley Kelly who fired the ball beyond Dabrowski to give the visitors the lead.

Civil almost leveled the game after a quarter of an hour after some great passing resulted in David Churchill threading a great ball into the box for Steven Froude but the defender reacted quickly at full stretch to clear the danger.

This attack injected some life into the home side and Churchill was next up to have a shot but his effort went just wide of the target.

Civil’s injury woes continued as Iain Ballantyne limped off after half an hour following a robust challenge in the middle of the park.

A mix up in the Strollers defence almost gifted Gretna their second of the afternoon but loan keeper Kevin Dabrowski was quick off his line to gather at the feet of the advancing Kevin Connelly.

The home sides best chance came just before the interval when a Ross Guthrie corner was whipped in and Kevin Waugh out-jumped the defence but his net-bound header was cleared off the line by the defender at the back post.

Despite Civil having long spells of pressure they went in at the half-time interval one goal down.

The men in red came out firing on all cylinder’s and piled on the pressure.

They were finally rewarded on the hour mark when a perfectly placed pass from McConnell found Andy Mair who slotted the ball beyond the keeper and low into the net.

Civil went looking for the winner and found it with fifteen minutes to go, Froude’s intelligent header over the defence caught them flat-footed and as the referee assistant flagged for offside against Jordan Hopkinson, Churchy ran through and prodded the ball into the net.

Despite the complaints from the visitors the goal stood and Civil ended worthy winners.

Civil are in Football nation Cup action as they welcome Jeanfield Swifts to Christie Gillies Park next Saturday.