Strathspey Thistle dumped out of Scottish Cup at first hurdle
The Jags participation in this season’s British Gas Scottish Cup campaign has ended at the first time of asking yet again.
The Grantown side was dumped out of the competition after suffering a 6-0 loss to East of Scotland League Premier Division side Sauchie Juniors at Seafield Park on Saturday.
Much was expected from Thistle following an excellent performance seven days earlier against Nairn County.
However, they were no match as the visitors controlled the first round tie for long spells in the comfortable victory over the Highland League side.
The home side went into the tie looking to record only their second victory in 11 outings in the national competition.
Their last victory in the famous old cup had come back in season 2019-20 when they overcame fellow Highland League side Lossiemouth by virtue of a 2-1 success at Seafield Park.
The Jags lined up with two enforced changes from the side that had done so well at Station Park.
Ethan Rae made his Scottish Cup debut when he replaced the unavailable Euan Storrier between the sticks, while Conor MacPhee returned from injury to the defence in place of injury victim Cameron Lisle.
The match opened with both sides looking to take a stranglehold on proceedings early on and it was the visitors who came close to the breakthrough after 12 minutes.
Ross Kavanagh burst into the box after neat build up involving Isaacs and Fisher before home keeper Ethan Rae raced from his line to deny the striker with a fine block on his six yard line.
Eight minutes later the deadlock was broken in sensational style.
Juan Cardoba lost possession on the touchline to Connor Williamson who, in turn found Stuart McDowall on the edge of the home box.
The winger took a deft touch to control before smashing a superb 25-yard drive high into the postage stamp corner past the helpless Ethan Rae for the opener.
Minutes later, and with the visitors maintaining their impressive start to the tie, Ross Kavanagh fired a 20 yard drive inches beyond the far post.
The home side countered and a strike from Paul Brindle brought a fine near post save from Sauchie keeper Sean Robertson as the home side looked to get back on level terms.
The Sauchie keeper was called into action again moments later when he pushed away a James McShane free-kick, and recovered to save at the second attempt as the Jags went in search of the equaliser.
But the pressure continued to grow on the Seafield Park side and they went further behind with 13 minutes of the first period remaining.
When the hosts failed to clear their lines following a Kavanagh corner, the ball fell to Jack Thomson on the edge of the box.
The giant centre back fired in an effort that cannoned of a defender and looped into the hands of the keeper.
However, Rae unfortunately allowed the ball to slip from his grasp and over the goal-line for the visitors second of the match and leave the home side with a mountain to climb.
The second period got underway with the home side desperately looking for the next goal in an effort to claw their way back into the tie.
However, after 55 minutes, it was the visitors who effectively killed the tie as a contest when Mark Smith headed home following a free kick on the right touchline.
The home side countered when substitute Kieron Chalmers tested the Sauchie keeper with a dipping 20 yard drive that he held confidently.
Minutes later Brindle weaved his way to the byeline and only a fine challenge from Thomson denied Filip Franczak getting a shot away.
The visitors by now were playing a high line with the home side looking to find a way through a well marshalled defence in which Jack Thomson, Ross Hutchison and skipper Lucas Williamson were in no mood to be breached.
It was no surprise when the visitors added their fourth after 65 minutes.
Following fine build up involving Isaacs, Smith and Kavanagh, David Churchill swept home with a clinical finish to the delight of the travelling support.
The visitors added to their goal tally with two goals inside the final 10 minutes from the impressive Ross Kavanagh.
Number five arrived on 80 minutes, when he was allowed to waltz through the home defence from inside his own half, to beat Rae with a fine left foot effort.
Five minutes later the midfield man burst from the halfway line, evaded a Conor MacPhee challenge and clinically beat the keeper with a carbon copy finish to round of the scoring.
The closing stages saw the visitors maintain their stranglehold on the match while, the home side struggled to breakdown a well organised Sauchie rearguard.
Hopes were high going into the tie of securing a result in the Scottish Cup and progressing further, with a second round tie eventually awaiting the winners in the shape of last season’s League champions Buckie Thistle.
Boss Ryan Esson is sure to be bitterly disappointed in his side’s performance for they played nowhere near the standard they have played in recent weeks and were undone by a well drilled Sauchie side who progressed to the next round on merit.
Next up is a home match versus Banks O’Dee on Saturday.
Strathspey Thistle: Ethan Rae, Stephen Rennie (Kieran Duffty) Alistair Nixon, James McShane (Lewis Mackie) Conor MacPhee, Filip Franczak, Juan Cardoba (Caelan Mutch), James Fraser (Jamie Calder) Paul Brindle, Liam Shewan (Kieron Chalmers) Josh Race.
Subs not used: Robbie Flett (gk) Aaron Doran
Match referee: Jordan Kinnon
