Forres Thistle 1 Islavale 0: Jags move into league's top three
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A NARROW win over Moray rivals Islavale has moved Forres Thistle up to third in the North Region Junior Championship.
With the game heading for a stalemate, Neil Moir stepped up with just four minutes to go and fired home the winning goal.
Brandon Hutcheson had the best chance of the opening period, driving an effort just past the post from 20 yards after half an hour.
After a quiet first 45, there was more to talk about in the second half. Jags goalkeeper Daniel Mcleod had to be alert to deny Brodie Christie just three minutes after the restart.
John Ross passed up a big chance to give Forres the lead just a minute later when he was played through one-on-one with ‘Vale keeper Ryan Brindle but was denied.
Just after the hour mark, Charlie Beck was fouled in the box from a corner and the referee pointed to the spot.
But Brindle again got the better of Ross – this time from the spot – comfortably saving a poorly-taken penalty.
Neil Moir’s free-kick on 65 minutes was tipped over by Brindle, and at the other end Mcleod had to make a good save to deny Kyle Stewart one-on-one.
With just under 10 minutes to go, Neil Moir got into the box – but his lobbed effort drifted just over the crossbar.
With the game seemingly headed for a 0-0 draw, a corner landed at the feet of Moir, who touched and fired a low drive through a ruck of players and in for 1-0.
The win moves Thistle up to the lofty heights of third place, with 11 wins and 35 points from their 18 Championship matches.
The Jags welcome on the of the two teams above them in the table – Sunnybank – to Logie Park on Saturday. Kick-off is at 1.30pm.
