Jags' season ends with defeat
The curtain came down on Strathspey Thistle’s third Highland League season with a 4-0 defeat from a Clachnacuddin side that leapt up the league table in the final month of the campaign.
After the game, Jags boss Brian Ritchie thanked his team for their efforts and admitted that they came up against an on-form team.
He said: "Clachnacuddin have been on an excellent run and they have a number of quick, intelligent players, so they were a real handful. To be fair to the guys they put in the effort, especially in the second half and never let the heads go down.
"I have never known a season like this where we have been so unlucky with injury, and the squad tonight reflected that with only being able to list four subs, some youngsters drafted in, and a number of the players who featured having come on board in the second half of the season.
"So I can’t be critical of the lads."
It was always going to be an uphill battle last Wednesday evening for Strathspey given their lengthy injury list.
Willie Ridgers, Andrew Klarkins and Paul Robertson were all missing, with the former’s absence meaning a return to the number one jersey for Lindon O’Brien.
The young stopper was beaten in the 12th minute when a long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by the Jags’ defence and Sam Urquhart pounced on the chance and he drove a low shot into the back of the net. O’Brien did brilliantly moments later to parry a Gordon Morrison header.
The best effort from the Jags came from a Davie Robertson corner which was met by recent arrival Robbie McRae and he was unlucky to see his header come crashing back off the post.
However, midway through the half the home team were dealt a blow when Sam Urquhart took the ball in at the edge of the box and he took it around the young keeper and rolled it into the back of the net.
Clach were now in full flow and they added a third in the 41st minute when Colin Williamson met a Allan Pollock corner to give the Lilywhites a 3-0 lead at the break.
Early in the second half, Stevie Dunn handled a pass back giving the home team an indirect free kick which was played back to Adam Macleod but his effort was blocked and Stevie Dunn pounced to claim.
The scoreline looked to have gone to 4-0 when Sam Urquhart followed in on a Scott Morrison effort that rattled the crossbar but the offside flag came to the rescue of Thistle.
However, the Jags were hit for a fourth goal deep into stoppage time. A corner kick was blocked away by the home defence, but only as far as Paul Brindle who sidestepped a defender from 12 yards and slotted low into the corner.
Strathspey Thistle: O’Brien, Sutherland (Slinger-Race 85), Wardrope, Ireland, Munro, Reinsons, McRae (McShane 77), Macleod (G Smith 74), Bobrowski, Tulloch, Robertson. Subs: Peters.
Clachnacuddin: SDunn, Tatters, Milne, Ross, Williamson, Macleod (Morrison 83), Dougal, Pollock (Callum 79), Morrison (Brindle 76), Graham, Urquhart. Subs: Reid, Duncan.
Scorers: Urquhart (12, 22), Williamson (41), Brindle (90).
Booked: Paul Brindle (84).
Referee: C. Potten.