Gretna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Deuchar 17, McMenamin 56, Paarpalu 80

Clyde. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Higgins 23, O'Donnell 65, Masterton 69

TEN-MAN Clyde looked to have secured a vital win until Kenny Deuchar helped bundle the ball into the net with just 10 minutes left.

He clashed with Craig McKeown who also got a touch to the ball as it spun high into the net following a throw from Erik Paartalu.

Deuchar said: "I'm claiming it, definitely. today's were my first League goal so I am delighted."

The match was a thriller as it swayed back and forward with incredible drama. Clyde's Paul McHale was red carded midway through the second half and Gretna goalkeeper Alan Main went off injured in the closing stages.

Deuchar started the ball rolling by ramming in an easy opener from six yards after Steve Tosh cut the ball back from the left in 17 minutes. But Clyde levelled when Chris Higgins headed a Stephen O'Donnell free-kick in via the post.

Gretna went 2-1 ahead with Deuchar again involved in the action.

He ran in to pressurise goalkeeper Peter Cherrie for a high ball. The goalkeeper tried to head clear outside his box only to send the ball looping into the air. Colin McMenamin latched onto it and steered a wonderful header into the empty net.

McHale was red carded for a second booking, but the decision seemed to inspire the visitors who levelled with a Stephen O'Donnell shot that deflected off Martin Canning and away from Main who got a touch but could not keep it out.

Suddenly Clyde were ahead as sub Steve Masterton smashed a 25 yard free kick into the wall and the ball deflected off Danny Grainger into the bottom right hand corner.

The game seemed to be drifting away from Gretna who were denied a certain penalty when Higgins brought down sub David Graham. But they somehow snatched a late leveller.

Paartalu hurled the ball in from the left and Deuchar emerged from the scrum with his hands aloft to claim the goal although it took a touch off McKeown before sailing into the net.

Man of the Match: McMenamin

Gretna: Main (Fleming 73), Barr, Granger, Tosh (Grady 69), Canning, Paarpalu, Jenkins, McGuffie, Deuchar, McMenamin (Graham 69), Skelton.

Subs Not Used: Townsley, MacFarlane.

Booked: Paarpalu, McMenamin, Graham.

Clyde: Cherrie, McGregor, Malone, Higgins, McKeown, McHale, Bryson (Masterton 58), O'Donnell, Hunter (Arbuckle 69), Imrie, Michael McGowan.

Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Harris, Hutton.

Sent off: McHale

Referee: I Brines.

Att: 1,118