So near and yet so far for Jags

New Elgin....................................................5

Forres Thistle...............................................2

FORRES Thistle gave table-topping New Elgin a fright at Pinefield on Saturday, but in the end the Jags were unable to hold on to a 2-1 lead, and fell away in the closing stages.

An early free kick from John Ross flew well wide, while David Wilson shot into the side netting as the two teams traded some opening blows. On the quarter-hour mark, Alan Burgess forced a save from Simon Bremner with a header, before that man Wilson shot over, forcing Bremner into action again.

There then came a couple of attempts that more than tested whose luck might be in. Firstly a long-range floated effort saw home keeper Cieran Wilkinson temporarily unsighted due to the sun, but he managed to clutch the ball at the last moment. Then at the other end an inswinging corner from Marc Connolly struck the top of the post.

It may have been fairly even-stevens up to this point, but it was the Jags who ended the half as the stronger of the two sides. A Donnie McCulloch shot was parried by Wilkinson, but Charlie Beck fired the rebound wide of the mark.

The midfielder would not miss the same chance twice, and in the 43rd minute a shot from Phil Robertson came back to Charlie Beck, who slammed it high into the net. It looked to be enough to clinch a deserved lead at the break, but right on half-time Connor McKenzie fired a bobbling ball home to make it 1-1.

New Elgin went close twice in the opening few minutes of the second half. Alan Turner headed a Burgess cross just wide, then Mark Sim was played through, but placed his shot wide of the goal.

The game ebbed and flowed, and it was Thistle who were to step up and take the lead in the 55th minute. Charlie Beck put a defence-splitting pass through to Matty Fraser, who ran on to slot the ball past Wilkinson.

It could have been 4-2 when Phil Robinson broke in down the inside left. He had the option to cut the ball back or to let fly, and when he chose the latter, the young stopper made a good save to deny him.

It was a crucial stop, as it was from that point that New Elgin took a grip of the game. They levelled when a corner from the left by Stuart Strathdee was headed home by Mark Sim at the far post.

Alan Turner netted a third, prodding home from close range, and it took a number of fine saves from Simon Bremner to prevent the scoreline increasing quickly. He could not prevent two further goals going in.

After a good run down the left by Davie Wilson, past four players, the ball was cut back to sub Lee Shanks, who netted. Then, in the closing stages, Sean Davidson placed a fifth into the back of the net to put an unfair gloss on the scoreline.

It was a disappointing end to what had been another promising performance by Ian McLeod’s side. Next week they will make the short trip along the A96 to face Nairn St Ninians.

New Elgin: C. Wilkinson, G. McKenzie, S. Milton, S. Sim, G. Irons, C. McKenzie, A. Burgess, S. Davidson, D. Wilson, A. Turner, M. Connolly. Subs: K. Stewart, M. Sim, A. Munro, S. Strathdee, L. Shanks.

Forres Thistle: S. Bremner, C. Daley (M. Pennie), D. McCulloch, S. Lawson, M. Milne, A. McIvor, A. Maclellan, J. Ross, M. Fraser (M. MacPhee), C. Beck (R. Gerard), P. Robinson Subs: A. Mackintosh, D. McIvor.