Jags deal stinging blow to Helensburgh’s title hopes
South Lochaber Thistle 4 Helensburgh 0 Greater Glasgow AFL – Division 3
SOUTH Lochaber Thistle cruised to a four-goal victory over Helensburgh on Saturday after an impressive attacking display which draws them closer to the top of the table at the expense of their visitors.
The Kinlochleven side now look to exert pressure on the leading pack as this win means they sit just three points off second spot in the league.
With this game being one of the few matches in Scotland to beat the weather, Saturday’s fixture at Kinlochleven offered an ideal opportunity for South Lochaber to cause an upset with title challengers, Helensburgh, who themselves are looking to catch league leaders Newshot AFC.
Relieved
Thistle started the brighter of the two sides in the opening exchanges and were unlucky when Danny Mackintosh hit the post early on, before the ball bounced safely into the relieved keeper’s hands.
The scoring was eventually opened after a well-placed Martin Munro cross was met in the box by an excellent Andrew McLean header, putting the Jags 1-0 up.
The lead could have been extended on a further two occasions in the first half. The first came when a Dave Forbes free kick was comfortably saved by the keeper. The next big chance of the half fell to Sean Noble who, after a great piece of play, found himself free inside the area but was unfortunately unable to convert the rebound.
At the half-time break, the teams went in with the score still at 1-0 and with Thistle ruing their missed opportunities.
The home side came out strongly after the break and started the half well, again applying pressure on a hard-working Helensburgh side that were determined not to concede.
Free kick
South Lochaber were eventually able to double their lead, however, after a great piece of play from Danny Mackintosh saw him fouled 25 yards out. Dave Forbes stepped up to bury the free kick into the keeper’s bottom left-hand corner. The strike made it 2-0 and put the Jags firmly in the driving seat.
With them now in the ascendancy, Thistle were beginning to play some slick attacking football. Martin Munro and Danny Mackintosh linked up well after some beautiful play an they combined well in the penalty area before Mackintosh finished coolly past the stranded Burgh keeper.
With the result of the match looking increasingly like a foregone conclusion, Andrew McLean found one final burst of energy to surge forward from midfield and slot neatly past the keeper to complete the scoring.
Resolute
For all of the home side’s attacking play, the team’s resolute defensive exploits should not be overlooked as they managed to keep a clean sheet against a Helensburgh side in good form.
With the full-time score finishing 4-0, this result will give South Lochaber great confidence in the final stage of the season. The team sit in fourth place in the league with 22 points, eight behind leaders Newshot and just three behind second-place Bellaire.
The Lochaber boys take on Bellaire in Kinlochleven this Saturday.
South Lochaber Thistle: Cooke, Kennedy, Lopez, Rodger, Ferguson, Duncan, Noble (Morrison) Forbes, Mclean (C Cameron), Munro (Doull), Mackintosh (Tot).
Man of the match: John Ferguson.