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Mar 21 2007 Dumfries & Galloway Standard

GRETNA had to be content with a point at Almondvale on a day which saw St Johnstone cut their lead at the top to seven points.

The league leaders had to play second fiddle for much of the first half but, after David Graham struck a second-half equaliser, they had chances to take all three points.

Colin Stewart had an inspired game between the sticks for the home side but Gretna’s on-loan goalkeeper Zibi Malkowski also earned his corn with a string of decent saves.

Rowan Alexander was still absent and Davie Irons again took charge but it was Livingston who seized the initiative from the start.

Malkowski excelled to push away a free-kick from Lee Makel early on and Neil Teggart then came close with a header which was just a yard too high.

Steve Craig gave the home side reward for their early pressure when he shot his team ahead after 28 minutes when Gretna failed to deal with a long clearance from Stewart.

Livingston took heart from the goal and went in search of a second before half time but Gretna defended solidly.

But it was a different story after half-time. Martin Canning came within inches of an equaliser with a header that caught Stewart flat-footed.

The equaliser came after an hour after Stewart had pulled off a stunning save to deny James Grady but only succeeded in pushing the ball into Graham’s path.

The striker made no mistake to send the ball past the helpless goalkeeper and into the net.

Gretna looked as if they would go on to claim all three points but Stewart was in commanding form.

And it was the home side who almost snatched it as they staged a grandstand finish.

The dangerous Craig was not far away with a cracking shot which finished just wide.

Makel came even closer as he shot through a crowd of players but the ball struck the post much to Malkowski’s relief.

A point was just about fair and Irons admitted as much afterwards as Gretna close in on the title.

Livingston: Stewart; MacKay, Golabek, McPake, Miller, Mitchell (Fox 35), Walker, Teggart (Shields 86), Makel, Dorrans, Craig. Subs not used: Smylie, Hamill, Wight.

Gretna: Malkowski; Barr, Grainger, Canning, Innes, Jenkins, McGuffie (Paartalu 56), Nicholls (Hogg 56), Graham, McMenamin, Grady. Subs not used: Skelton, Berkeley, Fleming.