Thistle - Victory slips away from Forres

A CRAZY ten minute spell at the start of the second half saw Islavale win this game 5-2 despite the fact that, for the other eighty minutes, it was Forres Thistle who had the edge and looked the likelier of the two sides to win the game.

The game got off to a lively start with two goals in the opening ten minutes. The first chance fell to the home side in the fifth minute and it was duly netted. Jamie Bagley crossed the ball into his former Lossiemouth team mate David Blackhall who volleyed it into the top corner of the net.

The game was level five minutes later when two former Rothes players clashed in the penalty area. Mark Hector felled Matty Fraser and from the resulting spot kick Callum Gemmell sent the keeper the wrong way.

Thistle built on this goal to put the pressure on the home side. Phil Robinson fired a shot at the keeper and then a cross from the number eleven was met by the head of Matty Fraser but once again the B Moir made the save.

The striker then fired a shot just past the post and he was again on target when John Ross played the ball through to him, but the keeper made another good stop. Islavale responded with a couple of efforts of their own, former Mechanics midfielder Kevin Collins fired over the bar while Thistle’s young keeper Steven Simpson did well to keep out George Cowie, saving the point blank effort with his feet before clutching the ball.

An entertaining first half ended with a flurry of chances. Phil Robinson struck a wonderful 30 yard effort that was tipped over the bar and then Davie McIvor picked out Matty Fraser and this time the striker was denied by the post.

David Blackhall and Davie McIvor had late efforts just before the whistle but there was little to suggest what was about to happen at the start of the second half.

Islavale came out like a train and they rattled in goal after goal to kill off the game as a contest. Paul Winton was claiming the first of this spell, although it appeared to be an own goal with the ball going in off Matty Milne then Kevin Collins and Paul Winton both netted from close range to make it 4-1 with just 51 minutes on the clock.

Thistle were stunned and the knockout blow was to be delivered soon after when George Cowie nipped in to complete the nap hand with another finish from deep inside the Jags penalty area.

The game was gone, but to their credit Forres recovered from this incredible spell to have the better of the last half an hour. Matty Fraser shot wide, Mark Pennie had a shot saved and then, finally, the number nine got the goal he had craved.

Mark Pennie played the ball into the feet of the Matty Fraser and he neatly turned his man and finished with aplomb. At 5-2 another goal may have made a difference and Thistle did have their chances. John Ross struck an effort that saw Moir add to his save count and then some great work in the left wing by Fraser saw him deliver the ball to sub Reis Gerard but the teenager’s effort grazed the top of the crossbar on the way over.

There was to be no dramatic turnaround and so the attention turns to next weekend and a trip through to Aberdeen to take on Glentanar.

Islavale: B Moir, D Stewart, M Hector, S Lamberton, K Mackay, P Winton, J Bagley, K Collins, D Blackhall, D Christie, G Cowie Subs: S Gair, R Macpherson, D Stewart, P Robertson

Forres Thistle: S Simpson, A Maclellan, A Mackintosh, S Lawson, M Milne, D McIvor (M Macphee), C Daly, C Gemmell (R Gerard), M Fraser, J Ross, P Robinson (M Pennie) Subs: G Masson, R Jack.