Erskine put Jags to the sword FOOTBALL
Erskine 2
South Lochaber Thistle 1
GGPL – Division One
South Lochaber Thistle’s wretched start to the year continued with a disappointing result against an eminently beatable opposition, writes Peter Newman.
In what turned out to be a traditional game of two halves, Erskine dominated the first half with slicker passing and clinical finishing.
Jordon Morrison put the Jags to the sword for the visitors with a well-taken brace inside half an hour as SLT toiled in the wet conditions and were powerless to prevent Erskine going in 2-0 up at the half.
The low point of the game was in the first 10 minutes when Shaun Hendrie came off having twisted his knee with what looked to be ligament damage.
After half time team talks it was a very different game with SLT beginning to take a hold of the match, playing the sort of fast flowing expansive football that has been the hallmark of their success over the last three seasons.
It wasn’t long before a foul 30 yards out led to an opportunity for skipper Martin Munro to get a goal back – a fierce, whipped free kick leaving the Erskine keeper with no chance.
SLT then began to pile on the pressure with the keeper making a good save from Erik Tot before the keeper was again called into action with a high quality double save from Dave Forbes. Forbes was unlucky to drive a shot past the keeper’s left hand post.
SLT pushed on until the end but unfortunately the equaliser was not to come and Erskine ran out winners avenging their 3-1 defeat in their home game earlier in the season.
Highlights included a fantastic showing from half time substitute Steven Neil and his fellow ferocious defensive partners in Kieran Lopez, Lewis Campbell and Andrew Martin.
Manager Alan Gray said: ‘We spoke to the boys before the game about how we wanted to approach the game and yet we didn’t get the performance we were looking for in the first half.
‘That was not helped by losing such an important player as Shaun. However, at half time when we told the boys to try and enjoy their football and express themselves, we got the response we were looking for.
‘Stevie Neil did brilliantly off the bench and I’m confident when we have a full squad available, we’ll soon be in a good place to pick up the results our hard work deserves.’