Strathspey Thistle suffer yet more late heartbreak
A dramatic last gasp goal denied a battling Jags side a deserved share of the points from their meeting with third placed Banks O’Dee at Spain Park.
Substitute Jevan Anderson broke Thistle’s hearts with time running out following a battling second half performance.
The Grantown visitors thoroughly deserved to take at least a point for their efforts after the break.
Andy Hunter had given the Aberdeen side an early advantage before Jags substitute Conor MacPhee swept home a deserved leveller with nine minutes remaining to the consternation of the home support.
Strathspey Thistle boss Ryan Esson rang the changes for the trip to Aberdeen from the side that had gone down to Buckie Thistle at Seafield Park midweek.
Alistair Nixon, Zack MacPhee and Scot Docherty were the only survivors against the Spain Park outfit.
The home side opened brightly and broke the deadlock after just six minutes when ex-Huntly striker Andy Hunter found the net to give the hosts the best possible start as they looked to close the gap at the top of the league over title challengers Brora Rangers and Brechin City.
With the home side pushing forward looking to extend their lead, only a super save from Euan Storrier denied Lachie MacLeod the second.
The keeper blocked the striker’s effort with his legs on the six yard line.
Strathspey were dealt a blow after just 20 minutes when youngster Lewis Mackie had to be substituted with what looked like a hip injury following a clash with Dee centre half Nathan Cooney.
Caelan Mutch came on as his replacement.
Midway through the first period Hunter went close to extending his side’s lead with a flashing header following a corner, that drifted agonisingly past the far post.
Former Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Motherwell and Cove Rangers midfield man Ian Vigurs was orchestrating things in the middle of the park.
And after 27 minutes, his ball down the left channel released Max Alexander who, with time and space, flashed a right foot effort inches beyond the far post with Storrier looking on.
Thistle had a let-off, with nine minutes of the first period remaining when Vigurs crashed a header against the underside of the crossbar, before being cleared by Jamie Calder following a corner.
The first period ended with Paul Lawson’s men holding the upper-hand, with efforts from MacLeod and Alexander going close in an effort to increase their advantage.
The second half opened with Dee on the offensive, and 10 minutes after the resumption they had the opportunity to increase their lead.
Referee Alex Ross pointed to the penalty spot after Storrier was adjudged to have upended Max Alexander.
However, the keeper redeemed himself with a fine save from the resultant spotkick.
The visitors went close to levelling the match after 72 minutes, when a long through ball opened up the Dee rearguard.
Caelan Mutch crossed and James McShane’s powerful header looked to be heading for the top corner of the net until Lachie MacLeod appeared from nowhere to head the ball clear from under his own crossbar.
With the home side now being pushed back, only a number of desperate challenges saw home side maintain their advantage.
However, with nine minutes remaining the visitors deservedly levelled the match in dramatic fashion.
Strathspey were awarded a free kick on the halfway line.
The home rearguard failed to deal with the ball, and when the ball broke to Conor MacPhee, on the junction of the box, the substitute took a touch before smashing home a powerful left foot effort past the helpless Daniel Hoban.
With four minutes remaining, only an acrobatic save from the home keeper saw him push a Jamie Calder header onto the underside of the bar as the visitors pushed for a winner.
The home side was awarded a corner with one minute of normal time remaining.
Alexander flighted the flag kick to the far post where substitute Anderson knocked home for yet more late heartache for the Jags.
Three minutes into injury time, substitute Liam Shewan almost salvaged a late point when he swivelled to smash an eight-yard effort off the post with the keeper a spectator.
The relief on Banks O’Dee manager Paul Lawson’s face on the final whistle said it all as his side trooped off to the dressing room.
Strathspey Boss Ryan Esson will have been proud of his side’s second half performance.
During the last half hour in particular they took the game to the Aberdeen side at every opportunity.
Strathspey Thistle: Storrier, Nixon, Z.MacPhee, Stewart, Calder, Lisle (Shewan 73) Mackie (Mutch 20) Whitehorn (Race 73) Docherty, Duffty (McShane 68) Fraser (C.MacPhee 68)
Subs not used: Rae (GK) Laidlaw, Doran.
Match Referee: Alex Ross
