Late drama leaves Jags manager gutted But Thistle have‘plenty of positives to take forward’
Scone Thistle manager Willie Laing admits he was gutted for his players following late drama at Farquharson Park.
The Jags welcomed Blairgowrie on Saturday afternoon for a Midlands League Perthshire derby, played in damp conditions following heavy rain.
Bottom of the table Scone were determined to kick-start their season and made the dream opening by carving out a 3-0 half-time lead.
Torran Juggins, Sean Hastie and Michael McBrearty had netted the goals for the home side who were well on their way to three points.
But Blairgowrie, 16th in the standings, mounted a second half comeback and quickly pulled two back thanks to Ian Plenderleith’s double.
As the game headed into its closing stages, battling Scone remained out in front and looked set to pick up a muchneeded victory.
Visiting attacker Gary Axworthy, an experienced operator, had different ideas and he netted a wonderful leveller in the 88th minute of the match.
It was tough to take for Jags boss Laing, who said: “The first half is exactly how we can play and have been playing in recent games. We took our chances and played some exciting football.
“I expected Blairgowrie to come out fighting as they always do and we allowed them back into the game by not doing the basics right. We dropped off them and gave them too much time which cost us.
“The leveller was a superb wonder goal from Gary Axworthy which, nine times out of 10, doesn’t happen.
“I need to look back at the footage but, again, he was given far too much time to turn and hit a shot from 25 yards.”
Laing went on to add: “I am gutted for the lads because they did put their all into the game.
“Although Blair levelled, we still had two or three clear chances to win the game near the end. There are plenty of positives to take forward into the second half of the season.
“The coaching staff and I believe there is plenty more to improve and push on this season.”
Blairgowrie’s Plenderleith, who mounted the visitors’ comeback, was not making any excuses for the first half performance.
“A woeful first half performance saw us three down and we needed a big response in the second half,” he said.
“Thankfully we got it and managed to get a point. We had chances to win the game which, on another day, we take.”
Heavy rain late in the week led to the postponement of Coupar Angus versus Arbroath Vics at Foxhall Park.
On the amateur football front, a number of games across Division One and Division Two were able to beat the weather.
Luncarty ASC netted a 3-2 win against Jeanfield Swifts in a top tier game that was switched to the North Inch.
In Crieff, Vale of Earn and Letham Community played out a heated 2-2 draw at Market Park. The hosts had an early twogoal advantage following goals from Euan Carter and Aaron Dawson but Dan Wood later netted a double for the Perth side.
Full amateur results from Saturday, October 30: Division One - Burrelton P-P Bridgeton, Jeanfield Swifts 2 Luncarty ASC 3, Kettins P-P Breadalbane, Vale of Earn 2 Letham Community 2. Division Two - Alyth 5 Kinrossie Caledonian 0, Ballinluig P-P Stanley, Fair City 8 Wolfhill 1.