Battling Thorn top league after win over uni
Five in a row for Athletic
Thorn Athletic moved to top of the Caledonian Premier League after seeing off Strathclyde University 2-0.
The victory – courtesy of goals from Ross Perrie and Craig McMahon – made it five out of five for manager James Donnelly’s team.
But yet again it was another hard- fought triumph against the students who are a far better side then their position at the foot of the table suggests. It was a nervy opening half hour with both teams having a couple of half chances to open the scoring but to no avail.
Thorn had forced a few corners but hadn’t manage to capitalise.
It looked as though the game was heading to half-time goalless until a minute before the break Jack Doak nodded the ball on at the front post from a throw in and Ross Perrie slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
It was the perfect time to score and Thorn went in at the break with their tails up.
Into the second period and it was still a tightly contested game with not much between the teams. Perrie had the best effort with a rasping rising effort from just outside the box that whistled over the top of the bar.
Finally the killer second goal arrived on the hour mark when a mix up between a Uni defender and keeper saw McMahon emerge with the ball and the goal gaping.
He kept his composure to slot the ball home from an angle much to the delight of the home touchline at Johnstone Hub on Saturday.
Thorn rang the changes to shore things up for the remainder of the game and saw it out with an important clean sheet.
Manager Donnelly said: “We have played Strathclyde twice now and beat them 2-0 on both occasions but they are a good side.
“We stuck to the task again and didn’t give away many chances but crucially we took our own chances when we got them.”
This week Thorn are set to face Westerlands away in the Premier League.
On Tuesday, the side had three players in the Caledonian Select to face East Kilbride FC at the K-Park.
Skipper Ryan Crawford, Joe Rae and Jamie White all got the nod.
Craig McMahon was also called up but was unavailable due to injury.