The Anvils picked up a point following a thrilling 3-3 draw against Open Goal Broomhill at Raydale Park on Saturday.
They should really have secured all three points in the six goal thriller but, again, were hindered by individual errors – the fist of which was within 45 seconds for the second match in succession as Alan Cook scored for the visitors.
Gretna soon made up for their slow start equalising through Sam Muir and taking the lead through captain Jack Dickinson. Broomhill equalised before halftime through Finlay Malcolm to send the sides in level at the break.
The second half started at the same fast pace as the first and Gretna took the lead. Kyle Higgins who impressed throughout dribbled past a few defenders to set up Carlisle United loanee Lewis Bell for a sublime third goal and a well deserved lead. Unfortunately Broomhill hit back straight away as Gary Fraser levelled the game again.
Energy levels seemed to sink away a bit after this and while rookie keeper Dominic Duffy made a few good saves, Gretna could not force a goal at the other end and the teams settled for a share of the spoils.
Speaking after the game, Gretna assistant manager Robbie Park said: “Again, we shot ourselves in the foot, and it seems to be the story of our season.
“We play great football but individual errors sometimes can cause and create problems for us and that’s what happened in the first 90 seconds.
“We responded brilliantly.
“In the second half we came out all guns blazing again, go 3-2 up and immediately concede.
“I actually felt we were a bit more ruthless than them. Maybe on another day we could have went on to win the game.
“But credit to the players. They’ve got over the hoodoo that’s been hanging over them.”
Next Sunday Gretna will travel full of confidence to Edinburgh to face league leaders Spartans and Park says the team can now start afresh after bringing the losing streak to an end.
Park said: “There’s no losing streak anymore, and the players start afresh.
“We feel as if we owe them one because last time down here we got beat 3-0. We were all over them and they’ve scored an absolute screamer.
“We threw the kitchen sink at it and they punished us in the last minutes with another two goals.
“But the boys have got the belief to go there and, I would say, disrupt their party because I think if Spartans win then they’re in a strong position to win the league.
“We’re wanting to get the team to finish as high as possible in the table and show people down here that this club is on an upward trajectory.”
Meanwhile, ex Gretna, Dalbeattie and Annan striker Russell Currie began his football career down under in style with a hat-trick for Goulburn Valley Suns in the NPL Victoria 3.
The Shepparton based side beat Baroondara – Carey 4-0 in their season opener on Saturday.
