Strathspey Thistle put in battling display against Highland League title contenders
Aberdeenshire Cup finalists Banks O’Dee were made to work hard for the points at Seafield Park at the weekend before eventually winning 4-1.
The Aberdeenshire side currently sit fourth in the Breedon Highland League and continue to keep the pressure on the top three teams – Brechin City, Brora Rangers and Inverurie Loco Works as the quest for the top spot grows for the quartet with every passing week.
The visitors arrived in the strath in confident mood following their midweek Shire Cup success over Aberdeen.
The Spain Park side made six changes to their starting line-up from the side that had defeated the Pittodrie side just three days earlier.
Ramsay Davidson, Jevan Anderson, Max Alexander, Andy Hunter, Scott Milne and Hamish MacLeod all found a starting berth while, Alasdair Stark, Mark Gilmour, Michael Phillipson and Lachie MacLeod were among those who found a place on the bench.
The home side were forced into five changes from the side that had gone out of the Scottish Cup to Sauchie Juniors seven days earlier.
Jamie Calder, Sam Cairns, Kieran Duffty, Lewis Mackie and Caelan Mutch all came into the starting line-up.
Paul Brindle was ruled out with a groin injury skipper James McShane was unavailable, while Cameron Lisle and Liam Shewan dropped to the bench.
The home side found themselves a goal behind in just the sixth minute.
A poor defensive clearance presented striker Andy Hunter with the opportunity who rounded Euan Storrier and swept home the opener.
But nine minutes later the home side were deservedly back on level terms.
Filip Franczak found Caelan Mutch on the edge of the visitors box, from a free kick, he delivered a cross into the near post area leaving Kieran Duffty with the opportunity to beat Daniel Hoban with a right foot drive for the equaliser.
Four minutes later a blistering 20-yard effort from Hamish MacLeod stung the hands of Euan Storrier as the Spain Park side looked to regain the initiative.
The home side had grown in confidence as the match progressed.
Six minutes later they came close to grabbing the lead when another Filip Franczak free kick found Jamie Calder at the back post and only a timely challenge from Jevan Anderson denied the Jags centre back as the pace of the match increased.
The visitors countered and were back in front on the half-hour.
Euan Storrier brilliantly pushed an Andy Hunter drive onto the crossbar, however, Iain Vigurs was on hand to knock home the rebound from six yards.
A minute later the home side came close to restoring parity following neat build up down the left wing involving Alistair Nixon and Stephen Rennie.
When the cross was delivered into the area Caelan Mutch was only inches away from heading the equaliser.
The home side almost fell further behind on the stroke of half-time, when Hunter tested Storrier from close range with an angled drive that forced the keeper into a fine full length save.
The opening exchanges to the second period saw both side’s looking to add to their tally the best of which saw Hoban get down well to save following a James Fraser free-kick, as the home side looked to get back on level terms.
Caelan Mutch was only inches away from restoring parity after 63 minutes when he got on the end of a cross.
However, with the visiting defence hesitating, he headed narrowly beyond the far post with Hoban a spectator.
With 20 minutes remaining the home side were to pay for those missed opportunities.
Slack play on the edge of the box allowed the visitors to take possession and when the ball found substitute Michael Phillipson on the edge of the area he wasted no time in despatching a left foot drive past the helpless keeper from 18 yards.
The home side responded, and in the 82nd minute neat build up saw substitute Liam Shewan race onto a through ball at the edge of the box and only a timely challenge from Nathan Cooney denied the midfield man a clear sight at the target.
With the match flowing from end to end Max Alexander was only inches away for the visitors with an 18 yard effort.
With the match still in the balance, it was the visitors who made the points safe in the final minute to secure the points.
A corner found substitute Lachie Macleod at the far post and his final effort was adjudged to have crossed the line following consultation with the far side linesman.
This was very much a spirited performance from the home side who battled well throughout against one of the top four teams currently in the Highland League.
Missed opportunities again appear to be the order of the day, together with lapses in concentration at vital times.
Next up is a Breedon Highland League match against Inverurie Loco Works on Saturday.
Strathspey Thistle: Euan Storrier, Alistair Nixon, Stephen Rennie, Conor MacPhee, Jamie
Calder, Filip Franczak, Sam Cairns ( Liam Shewan 81) James Fraser (Scott MacDonald 75)
Kieran Duffty, Lewis Mackie ( Juan Cardona 58) Caelan Mutch
Subs not used: Kit Fletcher (gk) Cameron Lisle, Aaron Doran.
