Jags fail to capitalise on defences

THREE second-half goals gave Islavale the three points at the end of a game that was a lot more evenly matched than the scoreline suggests.

It was Thistle who were the hungrier of the two teams from the kick-off, and it took a good save from P. Robertson to keep out a Craig Daley effort in the fifth minute as the teenager opened his legs to find the space behind the ’Vale defence.

Daley was denied once, but there was no stopping him four minutes later as he ran on to meet a Charlie Beck corner and bullet a header home to give the Jags the lead. Beck then went close to adding a second when he shot just wide from a Mark Pennie through ball.

Man of many clubs, David Blackhall, pulled Islavale level with a near-post header from a corner kick before firing over the bar as he attempted to turn the game on its head before the break, but when the half-time whistle arrived, the score was still 1-1.

The second half opened with a flurry of chances which were ultimately to decide the shape of the game. Forres created two gilt-edged chances, but failed to take advantage of them while a goal from the visitors took the wind out of Thistle’s sails.

Just after the break, a Charlie Beck ball to Pennie saw the veteran midfielder cut the ball back to Andrew Stables, but from six yards out, he put his first-time effort wide of the gaping goal. Stables then tested the keeper with a shot from a Craig Daley assist before disaster struck at the other end.

Craig Cormack struck a shot that Simon Bremner appeared to have covered until an unfortunate deflection off Matty Milne took it into the goals.

The game was opening up, and both teams had chances. Mark Pennie shot wide from a Charlie Beck cross while Simon Bremner saved from another Blackhall effort.

The feeling it just wasn’t going to be Thistle’s day was underlined when A. Stacey, who had made an impressive debut, was harshly red-carded; then in the 78th minute Dave Christie netted a third for the Vale after a hand-ball in the build-up was missed by the referee.

The fourth goal proved to be inconsequential, although Stuart Lamberton relished the chance to rise at the far post to head home a cross from Shand as the home side’s thoughts began to turn to this weekend’s home clash with Glentanar (2pm kick off).

Forres Thistle: S. Bremner, S. Lawson, A. McIvor (D. McCulloch), A. Angus, M. Milne, A. Stacey, C. Beck, M. Pennie, C. Gemmell, A. Stables, C. Daley. Subs: G. Masson, R. Gerrard, A. Mackintosh, F. Anderson.

Islavale: P. Robertson, P. Winton, S. Grant, K. Mackay, D. Stewart, D. Christie, K. Collins, G. Shand, D. Blackhall, G. Cowie, C. Cormack. Subs: M. Anderson, S. Lamberton, D. Cormack, S. Gray, B. Moir.