IT was a disappointing night for Gretna FC 2008 in the capital last Friday as they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Hearts under 21s.
Gregor Crookston slotted home the opener for the home side before Connor Dow fired home a second before half-time.
Taylor Hogarth made it three for the Wee Jambos early in the second half.
Jordan Holt pulled one back for the Anvils to reduce the deficit, but Aiden Haddow was quick to restore the three goal cushion for Hearts.
Speaking after the defeat, Parker said: “It’s been a tough night, there’s no doubt about that. We lost really poor goals and it’s not as if we’ve been cut open at all.
“We’ve been in the game and we’ve been competitive. But you can’t give four goals away to a team like that and expect to take anything from the game.
“I thought for large portions of the game tonight we had loads of control and we were creating good chances.
“But that’s not me tonight, I take full responsibility for that. The boys have been brilliant up until now.
“Tonight the effort was tremendous, but you can’t come up here and give lads, who are full time, four goals.
“It gives us a massive mountain to climb. On the whole it’s been a disappointing night.”
Tomorrow afternoon it is back to Raydale for the penultimate home league encounter of the season against Civil Service Strollers.
Parker wants to take maximum points from the final three Lowland League fixtures.
He added: “We need to go for it. We’ve got three games left in the league and I’d really like to go and get maximum points from those last three games and have a really strong finish to the season. I think that’s what the lads deserve.
“When we played Civil away it was a really tight game, so I’m looking forward to getting them back down to Raydale Park.
