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    Tain Thistle 1-3 Golspie Sutherland

    <img class="imgright" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/news/data/upimages/russpic.jpg">A tough display at the newly rotated Grant Park ended with Golspie Sutherland advancing to the semi final of the Jock MacKay Cup while also notching a further three points in the North Caledonian league in today's "double header".<br /><br />John Oliver could enjoy a near complete squad for today's tie, with travellers Chris Mailley and Darran Goller back from holiday and Russell Lawrie shaking off a groin strain to become available.<br /><br />Thistle started the game in lively fashion, with Darran Goller unlucky not to have put his side in the lead on 3 minutes. Clever link up play between Russell Lawrie and Goller led to the winger finding himself one on one with the Golspie stopper, the latter standing up to the challenge. Lawrie also came close to finding the net in the opening stages, watching his effort sail just past the post.<br /><br />Golspie struggled to find their way in the first half, thwarted on the counter numerous times by a steadfast Thistle defence of Mailley and Mackay. The Tain men found themselves out of luck however on the half hour mark as the visitors found the net with their first effort. An early call for offside was waved off by the referee before Golspie's Krystoff Mikula was able to round Steven Martin to make it 1-0.<br /><br />Tain were undeterred however and finished the first period as the more likely side, Lawrie again hitting the side netting following some silky wing play, and Martyn Farquhar coming very close with a 20 yard dip.<br /><br />Thistle started the second half with the same vigour and soon were rewarded for the efforts. Lawrie and Goller linked up again, with the latter connecting with the killer touch to place the ball beyond Budge. <br /><br />At 1-1, Tain were back in the game and could very well have taken a lead through Lawrie, had the striker not been unsuccessful with a lobbed effort from close range.<br /><br />Golspie did not waste time in restoring their lead however, with a second goal on 68 minutes. Following a counter down the wing, goalkeeper Steven Martin was pulled wide and rounded for a predator's toepoke from Mikula for his second.<br /><br />Within minutes, Golspie had rounded off their afternoon with a fortunate third; Stuart Thomson pouncing on a loose ball after Martin had failed to hold.<br /><br />Despite the 3-1 scoreline, Thistle battled on and were handed an opportunity for the remaining ten minutes as Golspie were reduced to ten men. The Golspie offender had been handed a second yellow for a bad challenge on Lawrie and Chris Mailley came extremely close to pulling a goal back when his set piece effort cannoned off the bar.<br /><br />The result keeps Thistle in 6th place in the North Caledonian League, but sees Golspie advance to the semi final of the Jock MacKay Cup - ending Thistle's debut season in the NCL cup competitions.<br /><br />Thistle have five games remaining this season, with trips to Golspie, Halkirk and Thurso awaiting scheduling and home games against Muir of Ord and Bonar Bridge still to be played.<br /><br /><b>Team:</b><br />Martin, Sutherland, Farquhar, Mackay, Mailley, Brand, Cowie (Durrand), Smith, Goller, Christie, Lawrie<br /><br /><b>Subs not used:</b><br />K Oliver, Murray<br /><br /><b>Goals:</b><br />Goller 53<br /><br /><b>Bookings:</b><br />Farquhar 38, Cowie 42<br /><br /><b>Match details:</b><br /><a href="matchdetails.php?id=381">Click here</a><br /><br /><b>Man of the Match:</b><br />-

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