Black and Whites striker Reece Paterson opened the scoring with his second goal in as many weeks.
As the game wore on the home side continued to create chances but were unable to extend their lead.
And that came back to bite just after the hour mark when Tuacenio Dos Santos equalised for the visitors to salvage them an important away point.
Speaking after the match Anvils manager Vinnie Parker said: “It’s 100 per cent two points dropped. I think we’ve created enough chances in the first 20 minutes to firmly put it to bed.
“We’ve not taken our chances, and in the changing room after the game there was a real sense of frustration.
“If we pick the bones out of it, and look at the positives, we’ve created loads of chances.
“We need to be taking these chances and it’s come back to bite us.”
The two sides meet again this Saturday at the Dumbarton Football Stadium.
Parker added: “What can we change? Maybe something in our shape up the front end. Maybe try and get another man forward.
“We need to put the chances to bed.”
And the boss left a final word of the year with the Gretna supporters.
He said: “The support has been absolutely fantastic. I’d like to think we’re playing quite attractive football.
“We’re competitive and we look like we’re going to win games. I think people are getting good value for money.
“We want to grow that. And in order to do that we need to be successful.”
