Mistakes cost Jags in second half defeat to 10-man Huntly
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Strathspey Thistle boss Charlie Brown believes wrong choices led to a 2-1 defeat in their Highland League match with Huntly last night.
Kris Duncan opened the scoring for the Grantown side before a goal from Robbie Foster drew the away side level.
Despite Huntly going down to 10 men in the second half, Thistle could do nothing to prevent a decisive strike from Andy Hunter as the visitors left Grantown with the three points.
Brown said: "It was a difficult defeat to take as the boys gave it their all. We had a few decent opportunities but couldn't convert them.
"When we did take the lead we looked comfortable, but again we started to make wrong choices leading up to the mistake that led to their equaliser.
"Again in the second half we started brightly, but couldn't find that killer pass or finish that some of our offensive play deserved.
"Immediately after the sending off, we made another mistake and they have gone in front.
"After that, they made a few changes and shut up shop."
The Jags started the game well, and were presented with a chance within four minutes after a stray pass from Ryan Sewell back to his goalkeeper was intercepted by Jake Thomson.
But the Jags midfielder failed to hit the target, steering his shot wide of the post.
Moments later, the visitors needed a goal line clearance to prevent Jordon Wardrope finding the net after he connected with a corner.
The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes when Duncan pounced on a loose ball to give Strathspey the lead. The goal followed good work from James Fraser who tested Euan Storrier with a shot he could only parry.
Huntly drew level in the 23rd minute when Foster capitalised on a defensive lapse before rounding Robert Donaldson and slotting the ball into the net.
The Jags breathed a sigh of relief 10 minutes later when an attempted Wardrope clearance from a Michael Dangana cross hit the bar before the danger was then averted.
The woodwork came to the rescue again two minutes later when a Sewell shot hit the underside of the bar.
Good work between Liam McDade and Thomson down the left hand side almost led to Strathspey retaking the lead, but the eventual finish from James McShane was sent over the bar.
Chances followed for both sides with Donaldson denying Jack MacIver and Storrier thwarting a McShane chance.
With 20 minutes to go, Logan Johnstone was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Logan Ross, reducing Huntly to 10 men.
The Jags had no time to contemplate their man advantage though, as Huntly took the lead just a minute later, Hunter making no mistake with a finish high into the net.
Donaldson had to be alert in the latter stages to prevent attempts for Brodie Allen and Gavin Elphinstone as time ran out on the Jags' chances of an equaliser.
Strathspey – Donaldson, Jordon Wardrope, Skinner (Ballam 86), McDade, Mackenzie, Fraser (Lawrence 79), McShane, Cuthbert, Logan, Thomson, Duncan
Subs not used – Trialist, Innes, Russell
