Forres Thistle maintain push for North Region Junior Championship promotion with victory over rivals Newmachar United

Forres Thistle gave their promotion hopes a big lift with a crucial win over one of their rivals on Saturday.

Jags hosted Newmachar United, who sat four points above them in third place in the Championship with the top four going up to the Premier League next season.

The home team, which some players missing due to a stag weekend, made the perfect start when Craig Robertson floated over a diagonal ball from close to the halfway line and it was met at the back post by the head of top scorer Brandon Hutcheson to score on six minutes.

It got even better for Forres on the quarter-hour mark as Charlie Beck nodded in a Neil Moir corner to double their advantage.

Newmachar hit back just before the half hour, Calum Reid heading against the bar from a Greg Wood cross to the far post.

First scorer Hutcheson threatened to add to his tally, firstly with a 20 yard shot saved by the keeper, then another effort close to half time which went a yard wide of the target.

Thistle finished the half on top and with their 2-0 lead intact.

They could have wrapped victory up just after the hour mark when a free kick flew into the Newmachar box and was missed by the keeper but Moir could only nod it into the side netting.

Hutcheson then produced a good run but his effort on goal failed to over-exert the Newmachar goalie.

The match was back in the melting pot midway through the second half when United’s Ryan Cormack went through on goal and rounded Forres keeper Daniel McLeod to make it 2-1.

Thistle now looked uneasy with Cormack almost adding a quick second, rattling the post from an angle. McLeod then made a fine save, while Jags finished on top with Toby Clark striking a post as the home team held on.