Southern Counties F.A. Challenge Cup
Quarter Final
Wednesday 4th February 2026
Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.49
Mid Annandale 3 Gretna 2008 5, attendance 87
32’ 0-1
34’ 0-2
48’ 0-3
61’ 1-3
69’ 2-3
74’ 3-3
82’ 3-4
89’ 3-5
@ New King Edward Park
Matthew’s Loaning
Lockerbie
DG11 2NB
£4 Admission
No Programme.
I’d seen Mid Annandale play a home game at King Edward Park back in July 2003, when they lost 1-2 to Dumfries in a South of Scotland League, League Cup 1st Round match, which was played on a grass pitch near the changing rooms. They still use the same buildings, but have since developed a 3G pitch, sandwiched between the railway line and some industrial buildings and this is now known as ‘New’ King Edward Park, complete with seated stand and spectator areas along each touchline, although the side with the dugouts was only occupied by ‘hangers on’ tonight. There’s a toilet block and a tea bar too, with hot food and drinks and the usual sweets/chocolate etc. available.
The match was South of Scotland League (9th) versus Lowland League (17th), with the visitors being the cup holders. There wasn’t a great deal to separate them early on, but when Gretna broke the deadlock after 32 minutes, poking in from close range following a knock down from a corner, followed by a second goal two minutes later, it looked to be heading for an easy away win. When they made it 0-3 three minutes into the second half, cutting in from the left and smashing a shot high into the far corner, it looked like it was game over. Just after the hour mark Mid Annandale pulled one back though and eight minutes later they got a second, poking a through ball past the ‘keeper from the edge of the box, having won the race to a through ball. The comeback was completed five minutes later, when a corner from the right was fumbled by the ‘keeper and volleyed in from six yards. As we entered the last ten minutes Gretna missed an open goal at the far post, somehow heading wide of the target from a couple of yards out, but it only took them another two minutes to edge back in front, when a slick three man move was squared across the edge of the box and finished with a low shot into bottom corner of the net. They made certain of the win in the last couple of minutes, when a corner from the right wasn’t cleared and ended with a shot from the corner of the six yard box that went in off the far post to make it 3-5.
The final whistle went at 21.43 and I was glad I was staying overnight in Carlisle, before taking a leisurely drive home in the morning. Just leaves me with Lochmaben left to do in the South of Scotland League now.
