Familiar story as Jags squander host of great opportunities in Wick loss
The frustration was etched on boss Ryan Esson’s face at the final whistle after watching his side go down 3-2 to Wick Academy at Seafield Park on Saturday.
This was a match that the home side on paper were capable of taking something from.
Well though they played at stages throughout, they lost goals that were avoidable at vital times in the match to annoy Esson even further.
Make no mistake, this was a match in which they created numerous opportunities over a keenly contested 90 minutes.
However, they failed to convert those opportunities into goals - a recurring problem this season - to leave the Jags boss seething in the aftermath.
The opening exchanges were brisk with both teams looking to get that early breakthrough and take an early stranglehold on proceedings.
Home keeper Ethan Rae was called into action as early as the second minute when he got down well to block a Kyle Robertson effort at full stretch.
The youngster excelled yet again within two minutes with a super save to deny Academy skipper Mark MacAdie.
The home side countered, and Cameron Lisle was only inches away from breaking the deadlock with a shot from the edge of the box.
However, the first goal was not long in coming - in the 10th minutes.
Mark MacAdie won the ball in midfield before releasing Kyle Henderson on the edge of the box, and the striker ran on to beat the helpless Rae with a drive from 15 yards.
The home side came close to levelling the match four minutes later when.
First Daniel Whitehorn and then Filip Franczak went close with a powerful 18 yard effort that the keeper saved at full stretch.
The home side continued to push forward and deservedly levelled the match after 20 minutes.
A Filip Franczak free kick into the danger zone was headed back across for James McShane to fire home the equaliser at the far post.
The Jags now had their tails up and two minutes later a fine four man move ended with Lewis Gallacher saving well from home striker Paul Brindle.
The visitors responded and almost regained the lead in the 35th minute when Kyle Henderson swept a free kick inches wide of the far post.
With four minutes of the first period remaining the visitors did regain the advantage when from the edge of the box Mark MacAdie took a touch before beating Ethan Rae with a powerful effort from 18 yards.
Things were to get worse for the home side when the visitors extended their lead within two minutes of the restart.
David Allan set up Euan Kennedy who swept home a powerful effort after the home side had failed to deal with the danger on the edge of their own penalty area.
But back came the Jags, and two minutes later they came close to reducing the leeway when a Paul Brindle effort drifted agonisingly past the far post.
The same player missed the chance of the game just afte the hour mark when Cameron Lisle found him with both time and space however, the striker wasted the gilt edged opportunity when he swept over the bar from two yards with the keeper beat at his near post.
To their credit, the home side continued to put pressure on the Scorries defence with Brindle and Daniel Whitehorn further failing to convert from good position.
Caelan Mutch went close moments later when he swivelled to fire an effort past the far post.
With 12 minutes remaining only a brilliant save from Ethan Rae denied the visitors a fourth as the match continued to be played at a furious pace.
Within 60 seconds the keeper was in action again when he pushed a MacAdie drive onto the post.
Daniel Whitehorn set up a grandstand finish when he capitalised on hesitancy in the visitors defence before running on to beat Gallacher with an excellent finish in the 82nd minute.
However, the Jags were unable to gran an equaliser.
Overall, it was a frustrating 90 minutes for the home side with numerous good opportunities spurned.
The evidence was there for all to see and the expression on Esson’s face at the final whistle said it all.
Strathspey Thistle: Rae: Franczak, Nixon (Z.MacPhee 56) Whitehorn, Laidlaw, McShane, Lisle, Shewan, Brindle (Lawrence 85) Docherty (Mutch 64) Morrison (Calder 56)
Subs not used: Flett (Gk) Mackie, Duffty, Doran