Forres Thistle start season with 3-1 cup win over New Elgin
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FORRES Thistle returned to competitive action with a 3-1 cup victory over New Elgin at Logie Park.
Goals from Brandon Hutcheson and Charlie Beck were added to by an own goal to see the Jags pick up three points in their first Grill Cup group match.
Thistle went ahead on 12 minutes as Hutcheson was played in by Danny Black to fire home from 16 yards.
Just two minutes later, though, there was a chance for New Elgin to level when the referee awarded a penalty for Dan Mcleod’s collision with Stewart Mclaren. Mclaren stepped up to take himself but Mcleod stopped his effort.
The Jags doubled their lead 10 minutes before half-time as Matty Fraser raced down the left-wing, causing trouble in the New Elgin backline before the ball bounced off Logan Poundall and in for an own goal.
Forres led 2-0 at the break, but only after Mclaren saw his free kick from 20 yards hit the outside of the post.
David McNamara halved the deficit just two minutes after half-time, knocking in after Mcleod had misjudged a corner, which bounced back off trialist David Bromley.
Bromley then teed up Beck to fire into the roof of the net and restore Thistle’s two-goal advantage on 53 minutes. Mcleod had to be sharp to deny New Elgin’s left-back Robert Forsyth on 67 minutes as the Jags saw the game out to win.
Forres played Dufftown away last night after the paper went to print. The Jags host New Elgin again on Saturday, this time in league action.
