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Tain Thistle 5-0 Social Club
Tain Thistle made history last night by beating Invergordon Social Club by 5 goals to nil to win the Ross-shire Welfare League Championship.<br /><br />Manager Arron Christie becomes the first Thistle boss to secure the league, leading a welfare side who have made a habit out of setting new club records this season. Christie recalled Calum Macdonald who stepped in to partner Robbie Ross up front, while Andy Durrand made way for James Rice at left back in the only other significant change to the side.<br /><br />A nervy starting eleven and a raucous sideline were settled with the first goal after eight minutes, in the most unlikely fashion. The Jags scored when Social goalkeeper Scott MacGruer gifted Liam Rostock the opening goal, believing the winger's shot to be going wide. The ball trickled across the face of goal before nestling in the far corner, much to the amazement of MacGruer and the crowd.<br /><br />At 1-0, Thistle looked radiant, and before long the attacking force of Rostock was once again too much for the Social Club. Referee Matty MacLelland awarded a penalty to Thistle for a foul on the inside of the eighteen yard box and top scorer Robert Ross made no mistake with the spot kick. After 15 minutes, Tain were cruising at 2-0.<br /><br />Michael Brand was unlucky not to have scored on a number of occasions in the first half, as his aerial prowess twice found him heading goalward only for Social to clear the ball off the goal line.<br /><br />The third goal came from clever play from Calum Macdonald who shot at goal; only to see his effort deflected into the path of Daniel Christie, who finished expertly.<br /><br />A good tempered second half saw Thistle playing some of the best football they have played all season, Ross and Rostock both getting on the score sheet once more to make it 5-0; the latter producing the finest of chips over MacGruer to cap off a brilliant team performance.<br /><br />The win crowns Thistle as the 2009 Ross-shire Welfare League champions -- the first time the club has ever won the prestigious competition.<br /><br />Club chairman Niall Harkiss reserved thanks for everyone connected with the club.<br /><br /><i>"I've spoken to many people over the past week who have a connection with this wonderful club. People who play or have been players in the past, current and former committee members and spectators like myself. Today has been the result of the hard work of all those people, and to see the genuine delight on all of their faces makes what we do here extremely worthwhile. Tonight's victory is as much for our current playing staff and committee as it is for those have served the club in years gone by."</i><br /><br />Post match, Railway Hotel manager Alan Nimmons was the perfect host, providing food, entertainment and a venue for the jubilant players and committee. <br /><br />Thistle will now contest the Charity Shield against Ross-shire Club on August 15th, at Grant Park. <br /><br /><b>Team:</b><br />Martin, Brand, Rice (Oliver), A Christie, Dingwall, Goller, Rostock, D Christie, Farquhar, Macdonald (Reid), Ross (McGaw)<br /><br /><b>Subs not used:</b><br />Nimmons, Durrand<br /><br /><b>Goals:</b><br />Rostock 8, 77<br />Ross pen 13, 56<br />D Christie 42<br /><br /><b>Man of the Match:</b><br />Nobody, they are all brilliant!<br /><br /><b>Match details:</b><br /><a href="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/tpl/matchdetails.php?id=202">http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/tpl/matchdetails.php?id=202</a>
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Thistle to feature in Football Manager 2010
Once again, Tain Thistle will be fully featured in Sports Interactive's multi million selling game Football Manager, as FM 2010 is prepared for release. The Thistle data team will be working directly, over the coming weeks, to edit and update the team for the upcoming 2009/10 season.<br /><br />Thistle hit the national headlines last year when the North Caledonian league club were introduced to Football Manager for the first time, with every signed player and staff member represented in the game.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/archivednews.php?subaction=showfull&id=1227107913&archive=1230251381&start_from=&ucat=&">Thistle hit the headlines in November 2008</a>
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Ross: "We can do it"
<img border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/news/data/upimages/razraz.jpg">Robert Ross is no stranger to pressure. He has had his fair share of footballing ups and downs since he first pulled a Tain Thistle shirt on over ten years ago. The stalwart striker is expected to take the field for Thistle this Wednesday at Grant Park, against season long rivals, Invergordon Social Club in a game which could see Tain Thistle win the Ross-shire Welfare League title for the first time in the club's thirteen year history.<br /><br />Thistle were handed a last day league decider against the Social Club when Terry Stirling's Alness Athletic side drew 1-1 with Dingwall's Ross-shire Club. For Robert Ross, the news was bitter sweet as he netted against Cromarty to push Tain closer to the title. Only a week prior, the powerful forward had watched the title race split open when Stephen Macallum's 95th minute strike denied Thistle a three point lead. At full time the participants cleared -- all but one, as a devastated Ross slumped to the ground, powerless to accept that the glorious chance to win had just passed his side by.<br /><br />But Ross is ever the optimist.<br /><br /><i>"It was a really hard one to take. Everyone put in so much effort and to see it disappear in a split second was difficult to accept. Luckily it's in our hands again and I just hope that we are up to the task."</i><br /><br />As one of the club's all-time goalscorers, Ross first netted for the club eleven years ago, at the age of only 16, scoring his first goal of many in May 1998, as Gordon Burry's Tain Thistle were handed an 8-1 defeat to the Morven. Ross has gone on to score over 60 goals for the club, second only to Garry Perks in Thistle colours. Despite prolific scoring and a successful spell at Portmahomack between 2004 and 2006, one thing has eluded Ross throughout his storied career - a league winner's medal.<br /><br /><i>"A league medal would mean a lot to me. I've never won a league with any team. It's going to be a hard game, but I think we can do it. To get a goal and to win a medal would be a perfect way for me to bow out, in what could be my last game."</i><br /><br />A candid Ross never gives too much away, and as his future remains uncertain beyond the current Welfare football season, rumours of a move to North Caledonian rivals Invergordon are sure to add a twist to this Wednesday's game against Invergordon's famous Social.<br /><br />Thistle have enjoyed good league form against their Invergordon counterparts, beating Social 5-0 at the Recreation Grounds, but high stakes Cup encounters hae seen a penalty shoot-out loss and a last gasp 3-2 win for Tain both home and away.<br /><br />For the Jags' faithful supporters however, the game is not about the future of any player within it, nor the season-long rivalry between the sides. For the club, Wednesday adds the finishing touch to a fairy tale unmatched in the history of Welfare football in Ross-shire. <br /><br />The same Tain Thistle that conceded 100 goals in 16 games in 1998 finishing with only one point have evolved to become the best team in Ross-shire. Through over a decade of hard work from leaders such as Gordon Burry, Billy Russell and now Arron Christie and Steven Martin, Thistle need only 3 points to remain two points ahead of their Dingwall rivals, Ross-shire Club, to secure the Ross-shire Welfare Football Association's greatest prize - the league championship.<br /><br />The all important game takes place this Wednesday evening, at Grant Park with a 7.30pm kick off. With Ross-shire Club fully expected to take 3 points at home against Inver, all eyes will be on Tain. Now, only time will tell.
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Thistle play Alness in Coronation Cup semi
Following Alness Athletic's 2-1 triumph over Cromarty, Tain Thistle will now visit Alness Academy Park for the semi final of the Coronation Cup, this Saturday, August 1st with a 3pm kick off.<br /><br />The two sides last met on league business in Alness on July 1st, with the Athletic men running out winners by the odd goal in a seven goal barn burner.
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Thistle receive bye
Tain Thistle have been awarded a bye in this weekend's Coronation Cup 1st Round, due to the withdrawal of the Sutor Inn. Thistle will now go on to the play the winner of the quarter final tie between Cromarty and Alness, away from home on the 1st August, in the semi final.