Strathspey Thistle pick up great point in stormy clash at Forres
The battling Jags secured a fine point in a thrilling 3-3 draw in a stormy encounter with Forres Mechanics.
Both teams deserve a great deal of credit for their performance throughout the Breedon Highland League encounter at Mosset Park on Saturday.
Many were harbouring thoughts that the match may have to be postponed before kick-off with gale force winds and torrential rain in the lead up to the match.
But both teams battled gamely throughout to put on a show for the spectators in attendance.
The Grantown side’s goals came from Liam Shewan and Josh Race in the first half before trialist substitute Sean Ellis put the visitors ahead briefly in the second period.
Mechanics were quick out of the blocks and they were ahead in just the fourth minute.
Jordan Alonge latched onto a ball into the box at the far post and duly slipped the pass over the advancing Jags keeper Euan Storrier for the opener.
The home side came close to doubling their advantage eight minutes later, when following a wind swept corner, Calum Howarth arrived at the far post with time and space however, his close range effort drifted wide of the far post.
The home side were shocked when the visitors restored parity after 18 minutes following excellent build up play down the left flank.
Dylan Lawrence released Liam Shewan down the line and the midfield man raced away to beat the advancing Cameron Farquhar with a left foot effort that found the net via the far post.
With the weather getting worse by the minute, it was the visitors who now had their tails up.
Two minutes later Josh Race weaved his way into the box after collecting a Dylan Lawrence through ball.
But his deft lob over the keeper drifted agonisinsly wide of the target at the far post with the keeper a spectator.
On the half hour the home side were presented with an opportunity to regain the advantage but with Euan Storrier advancing from his line, striker Kyle MacLeod fired his effort from the edge of the box beyond the near post.
Back came the visitors and they went close yet again when Race took a cross on the edge of the box and his right foot effort brought a fine full length save from the Forres stopper Cameron Farquhar.
That miss was to prove costly for the Jags as the home side gathered momentum and regained the lead with seven minutes of the first period remaining.
A wind swept corner to the far post caused all sorts of problems to the visitors defence who watched as Euan Storrier failed to gather the cross ball and fell to the unmarked Jordan Alonge who duly knocked home the loose ball from close range.
The visitors response was swift, when James Fraser was only inches away from making it 2- 2, when his 20 yard effort beat Farquhar but drifted wide of the far post.
The visitors were not to be denied on their first half performance, and deservedly drew level on the stroke of half-time with a quality equaliser.
Dylan Lawrence was again the provider when his intelligent ball in behind the defence released Josh Race, who had time and space to outstrip the defence before beating the keeper with a clinical finish to put the teams in level at the halfway point.
Alistair Nixon could have given the visitors a half-time advantage in first half injury time however Farquhar pulled off another fine save, pushing the defender’s right foot effort round the post for a corner.
The second period opened in sensational fashion with the visitors almost grabbing the lead for the first time in the match.
Josh Race ran onto a long through ball but with the keeper advancing only succeeded in screwing his effort wide of the far post – when it looked easier to find the net.
However, the pressure finally told when on the hour the visitors grabbed the lead in style.
Referee Alex Ross awarded the visitors a free kick three yards from the touchline.
Filip Franczak flighted in the resultant effort for substitute trialist Sean Ellis to climb and head a picture book third for the visitors into the top corner of the net.
The home side countered and were back on level terms within five minutes with an effort of also real quality.
Full back Darren Mota raced onto a cutback on the edge of the visitor’s box to smash home a spectacular equaliser from 20 yards.
The final 20 minutes saw both side’s going close at either end.
Kyle Macleod passed up a gilt edged opportunity on the edge of the box while Josh Race again failed to hit the target with an effort that flew past the far post.
Both teams must take a great deal of credit for their 90 minutes of effort.
Forres went into the match as favourites to secure the points but they found Thistle in a no-nonsense mood and the Grantown side thoroughly deserved their share of the points.
Given the conditions throughout, Jags boss Ryan Esson will have been delighted to see his side’s battling qualities throughout and on another day they could possibly have taken all three points.
FORRES MECHANICS: Cameron Farquhar (GK) Kaiden Connolly, Darren Mota, Sam Nixon, Calum Howarth, Shaun Sutherland, Aiden Cruickshank, Mark McLauchlan, Kyle Macleod, Calum Frame, Jordan Alonge.
Subs: Ryan McRitchie, Charlie MacDonald, Liam Grant, Matt Jamieson, Jake Newlands, Josh Taylor, Ryan Ross (GK)
STRATHSPEY THISTLE: Euan Storrier, Alistair Nixon, Filip Franczak, James McShane, James Fraser, Conor MacPhee, Liam Shewan (Lewis Mackie 70) Josh Race (Stephen Rennie 80) Dylan Lawrence (Kieran Duffty 85) Caelan Mutch (Sean Ellis 46) Stephen MacDonald.
Subs: Cameron Lisle, Aaron Doran, Ethan Rae (GK)
Match referee: Alex Ross.