A share of the points was a fair result for these two promotion chasers. However, Gretna will be annoyed at the nature of their demise in the last nine minutes.
The visitors started the stronger and Chris Innes and James Grady had two early chances. However it was Thistle who should have taken the lead after five minutes when Graham Dorrans tricked his marker with a fine piece of skill but shot weakly past the far post.
The game continued to ebb and flow with Thistle enjoying the bulk of the possession. However, the home side went behind on 23 minutes when David Bingham capitalised on some poor defending and his pass found Kenny Deuchar, whose shot was parried into the path of Ryan McGuffie.
The second half started with Gretna again in the ascendancy and it was no surprise they extended their lead after 51 minutes when Deuchar challenged keeper Colin Stewart for a high ball, and the loose ball fell to the head of Innes who could not miss from three yards.
At this stage Thistle looked a beaten side and Gretna appeared to confirm their authority when Deuchar scored the third after 73 minutes.
Thistle did claim a goal back after 81 minutes when a Stephen McConalogue volley found the top of the net just inside the far post.
This goal lifted Thistle and they pulled another one back after 85 minutes when Billy Gibson got on the end of a Dorrans cross to score from sx yards.
A minute later the comeback was complete when Dorrans latched on to a Scott McCulloch through ball and beat the on-rushing keeper to score into the empty net from 16 yards.
The game ended three-apiece, and it was clear from the rapturous applause of the Thistle support of which side was happier with the point.
A