Strathspey Thistle hopes sunk by three goals in first half-hour
Three first half counters from the home side effectively killed of any hopes of Strathspey Thistle taking anything from their meeting with Fraserburgh at Bellslea Park.
Goals from Sean Buther and a Scott Barbour brace inside the opening half an hour left the Grantown club with a mountain to climb at the interval.
Boss Ryan Esson made six changes to the side that played well for an hour against title chasers Brechin City in midweek.
Zach MacPhee, Daniel Whitehorn, James McShane, Paul Brindle, Caelan Mutch and James Fraser all came into the starting line-up against the Broch.
It was the home side who got off to the perfect start with the opener after just two minutes.
Fraser Mackie weaved his way to the byeline and crossed for Sean Butcher to slide home the opener from inside the six-yard box.
Two minutes later Euan Storrier came to the visitors rescue when he raced from his area to blunt the threat of home striker Sean Butcher, who was lively throughout.
Stuart Laird was only inches away from doubling the home side’s advantage with a right foot effort that drifted inches wide of the target.
The visitors were forced into an early change when keeper Euan Storrier limped of to be replaced by youngster Ethan Rae after just 14 minutes following a clash with Broch striker Sean Butcher.
The home side doubled their lead five minutes later when Scott Barbour raced into the box and from an oblique angle beat the keeper at his near post with a superbly struck left foot drive.
The visitors responded and three minutes later, a cross from Caelan Mutch almost presented Cameron Lisle with the opportunity to reduce the leeway before Dylan Robertson got back to avert the danger.
The home side added a third after 26 minutes, when Barbour raced clear of the defence to beat the advancing Ethan Rae with a clinical finish to grab his second of the match.
The second period opened with the visitors on the attack, and they reduced the deficit after 49 minutes.
Caelan Mutch picked up a ball in midfield before running on to beat Barbour with a superbly struck lob from the edge of the box that left keeper Joe Barbour helpless.
Four minutes later, back came the home side with a Dylan Robertson header that beat the keeper but hit the top of the crossbar.
The visitors came close to reducing the lead further after 65 minutes when Caelan Mutch raced clear of the defence but with a clear run in on keeper Joe Barbour wasted the opportunity by pushing the ball too far ahead with the stopper racing from his line to clear the danger.
Nine minutes from time saw the home side get in behind the Jags defence but from Fraser Mackie’s cross to the far post Jamie Calder did well to hold off the challenge of Sean Butcher.
The final opportunity of the match arrived with just two minutes remaining when striker Logan Watt raced to the edge of the box, however, his 20 yard right foot effort brought a fine save from substitute keeper Ethan Rae.
The opening 30 minutes were where the game was won and lost.
However, the visitors came out with a completely different mindset on the resumption, pulled back a very good effort to claw their way back into proceedings, and should have added to the scoreline with the opportunities created.
Next up for the visitors is a meeting with Wick Academy at Seafield Park on Saturday, in an effort to secure three valuable points and in doing so remain clear of bottom spot.
Strathspey Thistle: Storrier (Rae 14) Franczak, Z.MacPhee, Whitehorn, Mc Shane, Lisle (Nixon 81) Docherty, Brindle, Mutch (Duffty 73) Fraser (Mackie 81) & Morrison (Calder 46).
Subs unused: C.MacPhee & Doran.
Match referee: Nathan Clac-Mansfield.