Strathspey Thistle aiming to end their Highland League duck
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Strathspey Thistle will be bidding to end their duck this weekend after their previous scheduled game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
The Jags had been due to travel to Keith’s Kynoch Park but the venue was deemed unplayable on Saturday match day morning after doubts had been raised by the hosts the evening before.
Attention has turned to hosting Deveronvale at Seafield Park this Saturday with a 2pm kick-off – another game against a bottom half side.
Thistle boss Rob MacCormack said: “Keith wanted to give the game as much chance as possible to go ahead but it was not possible in the end.
“It is frustrating as it means it is another game to catch-up on and now next Wednesday night away which is not ideal but it is the way it is and we will just have to get on with it.”
There is a spot of goods news for the Grantown side with James McShane back in training and available for selection for the weekend after injury and new signing Liam Shewan will also be available.
The forward has joined on loan from Rothes until the end of the season and was top scorer at Nairn during the 2019/2020 season.
Attacking midfielder Daniel Whitehorn will also be available to play adding to his options for extra firepower.
MacCormack said: “We have had really good numbers at training in recent weeks so I think our squad is becoming much stronger with a lot more depth.
“I should have a full squad to select from for the first time in a long time.”
MacCormack hopes his players can make amends for a disappointing performance last time out at home when they trailed 3-0 at home to Lossiemouth after just 10 minutes and never looked like getting back into the game.
He said: “We will look to be much better and hopefully come out with the win on Saturday.
We need to give ourselves the best opportunity and we know that conceding early on in games makes it an uphill task.”
Meanwhile visiting assistant boss Ritchie Davidson believes a ‘deep dive’ into his side’s season could trigger a turning point in the club’s fortunes.
Vale lost 4-0 at home to champions Brechin City on Saturday, a result which Davidson and boss Craig Stewart saw as unacceptable in their quest to drive the Banff club further up the Highland League table.
Deveronvale are without a win since the opening day of the season in July.
“We had a deep dive into our season so far. It’s a fact on our games so far. The numbers are not great and there’s games where we have shot ourselves in the foot with two-goal leads.
“We must learn from that.”
Saturday's other results: Banks o’ Dee 2-0 Fraserburgh; Clach 0-1 Rothes; Brora Rangers 3-2 Forres Mechanics; Huntly 0-1 Formartine United; Nairn County 2-1Turriff United; Wick Academy 2-1 Inverurie Locos.
