Jags’ joy as they soar into top flight
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Forres Thistle 1, Inverness City 0
AN 18th MINUTE goal from Matty Davidson last Tuesday night all but clinched Forres Thistle’s passage through to the North Junior Superleague as it presented them with three of the four points they required to secure promotion.
They entered the game against the First Division champions, looking to gain revenge for the last gasp defeat in Inverness and it was clear that the players knew how much was at stake.
Both keepers were in action early on, M. Taylor saving from Jon Fraser in the fifth minute while Simon Bremner prevented M. Turner from putting the visitors in front, but it was shortly before the 20 minute mark that the game really came to life.
It began with the award of a penalty in the 17th minute when K. Masson appeared to have held Matty Davidson. Despite having missed at the weekend, the striker took the responsibility once again but this time his attempt to play it safe saw him strike it just off centre and Taylor turned it away for a corner.
However, Matty Davidson quickly atoned for that miss when he ran on to a throughball from Mark Pennie and slotted past the keeper before wheeling away to celebrate. It came at a time where Forres were on top, with Davidson and Matt Fraser going close in that same spell.
The game progressed towards half-time with both teams giving their all and showing a great deal of concentration in defence. Both keepers had one further save apiece, Bremner denying Turner once again while Matt Fraser took his turn to test Taylor.
There were loud appeals for a second home penalty when Lee Davidson appeared to have been pushed by K. Mason but, this time, the ref waved away the claims. Chris Ross and Steve McIntosh were booked either side of the break but more importantly City’s S. Thompson picked up two yellows, one for a foul and the second appeared to be for comments made to his own bench.
Despite this hindrance, Inverness City were playing some good football, with former St Johnston star Gary Farquhar pulling the strings, but they were unable to penetrate a well marshalled Thistle back line.
Indeed, it was at the other end where the Jags came closest to a goal with Jordan Robertson seeing his shot from close range saved before Alan Angus let fly from 25 yards and forced another fine stop from the diving Taylor.
The keeper then improvised well and used his feet to deny Matty Fraser a clincher, but it was all academic in the end as a well earned clean sheet moved the Jags to within a point of promotion.
Forres Thistle: S. Bremner, A. Angus, S. McIntosh, L. Davidson, C. Ross, D. McIvor, M. Fraser, M. Pennie, J. Robertson M. Davidson, J. Fraser. Subs: G. Masson, R. McKinnon, A. Maclean.
Inverness City: M. Taylor, K. Mason, S. Thompson, K. Macdonald, A. Fraser, G. Stewart, C. Masson, G. Farquhar, M. McKenzie, M. Turner, R. Thompson. Subs: I. Young, M. Mulligan, K. McKenzie, M. McLennan.
?Islavale 2, Forres Thistle 2
The Jags arrived at Simpson Park knowing that a point would be enough to secure automatic promotion, but anything less would leave the door open for Glentanar to pip them on goal difference.
Matty Milne returned to the side for this one, with Jordan Robertson dropping on to the bench. There was no shortage of attacking threat in the side, with Matty and Jon Fraser joining the likes of Matt Davidson, Alan Angus and Davie McIvor in a team set up to score.
There was an early claim for a penalty when, in the seventh minute, Matt Davidson appeared to have his heels clipped as he drove in behind the defence, but the ref waved play on.
The breakthrough arrived on the quarter hour when a Davie McIvor free kick from just outside the area was too hot for the ’Vale keeper to handle and Matty Davidson pounced on the rebound to net from close range.
Although the game was being dominated by the blustery wind, it was Thistle who always had the edge during the opening 45. They gained the reward they were looking for just a minute after the turnaround when a second goal appeared to have clinched promotion.
A cross in from the right wing by David McIvor that Alan Angus flicked on to Matty Davidson at the back post and he poked home his second of the afternoon to spark further celebrations. Everything seemed to be going perfectly to plan. However, an injury to Chris Ross upset the side’s rhythm and Islavale took advantage with two goals in little more than a minute.
The first came from a corner kick which was delivered into the heart of the penalty area which was diverted home by Darryl McPherson following a goalmouth scramble.
Minutes later, Lee Davidson was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area when, kneeling down, the ball came off the defender just inside the box. Kenny Hendry stepped up to beat Bremner.
It was now all hands to the pump as Islavale, pushed on by the wind, did all they could to grab an unlikely winner. Fortunately, the new look back four of Andy McIvor, Matty Milne, Lee Davidson and Steve McIntosh held firm throughout the final ten minutes to clinch the automatic promotion berth.
Forres Thistle: S. Bremner, M. Milne, S. McIntosh, L. Davidson, C. Ross (A. McIvor), D. McIvor, M. Fraser, M. Pennie, A. Angus (J. Robertson), M. Davidson, J. Fraser. Subs: C. Masson, G. Masson, A. Maclean.
