Forres Thistle pick up first away victory in over a year after hitting back from two goals down to defeat New Elgin in North of Scotland League Championship

It’s been a long wait for victory on the road - but it arrived on Saturday.

Forres Thistle hadn’t won on away business in the North of Scotland League since last September, and faced a tough trip to New Elgin.

The wait looked like being extended when the home side raced into a two-goal lead, but Jags produced a memorable turnaround at Nicol-Togneri Park.

The Elgin side started well with Ben Stewart’s volley hitting the top of the bar, and it didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken by a double salvo.

Forres defender Luca McCullie misjudged a high ball and Aiden Mackenzie capitalised with a strike over Jags’ keeper Rian Wilson into the net.

Before the visitors could recover, Jordan Clark fired a fine finish into the top corner on 15 minutes to make it 2-0.

Thistle needed to respond quickly and they did, with Luke Robinson heading in from Ben Ross’ free kick.

And the scores were level five minutes before the break when Dean Boyce drove forward from left back and played in Logan Stalker to net into the bottom corner.

New Elgin regained their advantage on the hour when a free kick was headed across goal and Clark nodded in his second of the game.

The game entered its final 20 minutes with the home side still in front, but that was soon to change.

A mix-up at the back gifted the ball to Ross and he slipped it to Ricky Wardrop who made it 3-3.

Then on 81 minutes, Jags took the lead for the first time when Farquhar parried Kai Smith’s 20-yard blast but Evan Wilson scored the rebound.

Back came New Elgin with a Ryan McPherson lob which Wilson tipped over three minutes from time.

Instead of clinging on for victory, Thistle chased another goal and it came in the final minute when Wardrop twisted and turned on the right side and crossed for Smith to head in from close range and seal a 5-3 victory.