Gretna 1 - Derry 5

Well what can I say about this match that hasn't already been said, reported, written in various forums. It was truly an unbelievable night to be a Derry fan.

The Fans
The fans were over in force, vocal throughout the whole match and about 20 minutes afterwards. After each goal the stand erupted, people hugging and jumping up with those around them, whether they new them or not. I seem to be making more and more friends with every Derry game I go to, and running into lads I haven't seen in years.

The Team
I think the only thing I missed after reading match reports in about 20 different papers was a list of player ratings - for a result like that, you'd have to be giving them all 10 out of 10, even Forde with his heart stopping moments, but if it wasn't for his heroic saves in Gothenburg, would we have been here?

1-0 down after 12 minutes, their heads could have dropped, but they didn't, they kept their shape and kept to the game plan and it paid off, with 5 stunning goals, which I'll talk about in a bit. 1-1 going into half-time, and I've heard or read that the half-time team talk from Stephen Kenny was to advise the team of the comments made about the team from Gretna's management team - my God, did it work.

4 stunning goals in the 2nd half, and but ended Gretna's European adventure - it gave the fans something that they will remember for the rest of their life's, something that we'll be able to say in many years from now - "I was there".

The Goals
1-1 Darren Kelly
Pizza plays a superb ball from the centre circle out to Hargy, who's first touch was sublime, he swivels and floats the ball into the box and Darren Kelly powers it in at the back post. Great leap and accuracy to put it into the back of the net.

1-2 Kevin Deery
Ciaran Martyn fouled 30 yards from goal. Kevin Deery places the ball and places it in the top right hand corner of the goal. The placing was inch perfect, over the wall and into the corner the keeper was placed at - possibly the best goal I've seen in my life.

1-3 Kevin Deery
The goal above only rates as possibly, due to this goal, great work down the right, ball swung into the box and headed clear by Gretna. Up steps Deery to crack it with his right foot from 30 yards out into the top left, giving the keeper no chance. I'd rate this the best live goal I've seen in my life.

1-4 Ciaran Martyn
I actually missed this one, I was under the stand on the phone to my brother who was watching in Belfast. Now he's not a Derry City fan but he decided to watch the match and he says it was one of the best performances he's seen from any team in his life. All I heard was the stands above erupt, then he erupted down the phone about 2 seconds later. Martyn made a 20 yard dash with the ball at his feet, with some great control to take it round the keeper and cooly slot it home, past two defenders.

1-5 Ciaran Martyn
Gary Beckett plays a looping ball to the feet of Martyn who lets it run for about 5 yards before unleashing an unstoppable strike from 20 yards - again giving the Gretna keeper no chance.

The Verdict
What more can I say - unbelievable. If you haven't seen the goals, doirecity from www.derrycitychat.com has uploaded a montage of highlights from TV and video capturing the goals and the fans - check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WelpDm_Scd8 - breathtaking.

On Friday I picked up the Star and the Sun in Glasgow and then had great write ups about the match, with some classic gems listed below:

"And the only saving grace was the Irish champions ran out of time to rub even more salt into the most gasping wounds the biggest little club in football have ever suffered." - Bill Leckie - The Sun

"But fair play to the Croatian ref Marijo Strahonya, he kept the book in his pocket and tried to let it all flow. The only disappointment was when he blew for half-time. The pity for Gretna is he made them go back out again." - Bill Leckie - The Sun

"Gretna thought things couldn't get any worse but Deery followed up to show his shooting exploits weren't a one off." - Scott Burns - The Star

"The final insult came from the Derry fans who chanted, 'Let's all laugh at Gretna', as the final whistle went." - Scott Burns - The Star