North juniors Forres Thistle defeat higher league opposition in Dufftown to start Elginshire Cup campaign on positive note
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FORRES Thistle upset the odds by beating Division 1 Dufftown 3-0 in their Elginshire Cup opener on Saturday.
Already assured of promotion from the second division, Jags silverware hunt took them into cup competition with their first match in the s-x-team group stages of the tourney.
Dufftown have had a strong campaign, just missing out on promotion to the Superleague.
But they found themselves a goal down to Forres when the returning Scott Moore played in Charlie Beck for a strike on goal.
Beck's effort was saved by ex-Elgin City and Lossiemouth keeper Stewart Black but Jags captain Mattie Davidson followed up to net on 24 minutes.
Black then pulled off a save from Neil Moir while Gregor Ewan fired narrowly over as the home side finished the first half on top.
It was 2-0 seven minutes after the break when Beck nodded in a Davidson corner.
The home side added to their lead in controversial circumstances, with Dufftown disputing a penalty award given for Jack Macarthur's tackle on Beck.
Forres ignored the protests and Moir netted from the spot on the hour mark.
Jags thought they had a stronger penalty claim when Moore appeared to be pulled down but this time play was waved on.
Black saved well from Moore late in the game, and a bad afternoon for Dufftown got worse when ex-Rothes, Deveronvale and Lossiemouth defender Michael Dunn was sent off for a second booking for handball.
Forres sub Damian Niedzwiedz almost added a fourth at the death but Black saved again.
Jags return to league action this Saturday, away to New Elgin.
