It may be traditional for any bridegroom to feel a sense of discomfort during his stag party but surely no man deserved to suffer like this.

Around 40 friends of Andy Dorman, the St Mirren midfielder, traipsed north from England to take in this game as part of his pre-marital shindig.

They snaked noisily into the stadium, eagerly anticipating what would surely be an engrossing contest. By half-time, however, they were silenced, either stunned by the wretchedness of the football or because they had all slipped into a coma.

By the end, the poor groom must have been questioning why his so-called friends would humiliate him in this manner and thinking Saturdays spent touring furniture stores with his future wife might not be too bad. It really was that poor.

On what was, in all likelihood, their stricken club's last ever away match, fewer than 100 Gretna fans made the trip.

Those who did were rewarded with a performance that, while short on goalmouth chances, displayed a determination to go down fighting.

Tomorrow night's fixture against Hearts at Fir Park could represent the final curtain call if a buyer cannot be found before the weekend.

Mick Wadsworth, the Gretna manager, said: "It will be sad if it all ends. I hope the people of Gretna can reinvent the club."