In a moment that perhaps suggests the real Gus MacPherson has been abducted by aliens, Saints started with three strikers for this one with Mehmet, Dargo and Jim Hamilton all in from the start. Alan Reid returned from exile while there was also a place for the rarely seen Garry Brady.
After some results this season, it would not have been a surprise if Gretna had taken something from this game despite their troubles and boy did they go close. While Hamilton nearly scored early on, Gretna had two good chances in the first quarter of an hour. A cross found Ryan Baldacchino unmarked at the back post only for the winger to completely miss the ball, while Danny Hall headed just wide after Chris Smith flapped at a freekick.
Fortunately, that was as good as it would get. The unlikely figure of John Potter nearly put Saints in front when he volleyed Andy Dorman's free kick just wide, with another free kick from Dorman being well saved by Greg Fleming. The breakthrough came just after, Hamilton flicking the ball through for Dargo to ram past the Gretna keeper. You could almost hear the relief, both from him and the Saints support.
Suddenly, the striker's confidence went through the roof and he began to show us what we've been missing since he signed. A volley over from Maxwell's cross was quickly followed by a good lob that was just too high before he was even more unlucky to hit the post. Fingers crossed he'll bag a few more before the end of the season.
Saints doubled their lead just after half time. Dorman's shot was saved by Fleming and while the resulting corner was cleared, the next one wasn't. Will Haining's effort was blocked and fell to Mehmet, whose shot was deflected past Fleming to allow the home fans to breathe a little more easily.
It was Gretna who started to play after that, Nicky Deverdics twice going close with headers. They then introduced quite possily the hairiest young man I've ever seen in the shape of John Paul Kissock. Despite looking like Captain Caveman, the on-loan Everton youngster could play a bit and began causing our defence some problems.
Fortunately, most of Gretna's efforts were long range ones and Hamilton nearly wrapped things up when his header hit the bar. By this stage, Saints had handed a debut to Mark Docherty and Marc McAusland also made his bow late on. The only other chance of note came through another sub, Stewart Kean, but he shot straight at Fleming when he should have burst the net.
All in all not the best Saints performance you'll ever see but it got the job done. Three points, embarrassment avoided, SPL place secure, Dargo's first goal, youngsters get a debut. Not a bad days work all things told.