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  • Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • Jags reach Cordiner Cup Final

    A closely contested and heated semi final encounter at Alness narrowly went the way of Cordiner Cup holders Tain Thistle as they beat Alness United in the semi final of the competition tonight.<div>As has been the case in all of their meetings this season, very little separated the sides in the first half, with both teams coming close with chances to score. A goal just before half time handed Thistle the lead when a Liam Rostock throw in reached the rising head of Jack Hudson to nod past Andrew Maitland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Liam Rostock capped off a fine performance with a goal in the second half just before the hour mark, heading home a cross from Arron Christie at the far post.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Craig Munro pulled Alness back into the game with a free kick which floated through a sea of Thistle defenders and into the net.  The game took an unexpected turn with eighteen minutes remaining when Mark Lamont was dismissed. Thistle battled through the remainder of the game with ten men and ultimately saw out the victory.</div><div><br /></div><div>The win sends Tain into the final of the Cordiner Cup which will be played at Inver this Saturday, June 4th against the winners of the other semi final, Balintore.</div>

  • Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • Thistle advance in Tom Hunter Cup

    Tain Thistle are in the third round (last sixteen) of the Tom Hunter Memorial Cup thanks to a confident and free scoring display against Peterhead United yesterday.<div>The game provided Daniel Cormack with an opportunity to test the depth of the Thistle squad with brothers Arron and Daniel Christie both absent, and top scorer Mark Lamont and midfield regular Chippie Mailley also left out of the side.  Dave Macgruer also dropped to the bench.<div><br /></div><img width="95%" src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/news/data/upimages/peterhead_2016.jpg"><div><br /></div><div>Thistle's opponents from Peterhead arrived in fine voice along with a handful of supporters.  The game started evenly with Peterhead forcing Johnny Allan into a couple of early saves before the difference between the sides began to tell. Liam Rostock, an early substitute for Gordy Mackay (head knock), opened the scoring when he slid the ball under Brian Stevenson.  The same player appeared to tap the ball over the line after a volley at the far post from Dave MacIver, however the goal was later attributed to MacIver.  Alan Duff made it three shortly after with a superb free kick curled into the top corner and Rostock doubled his tally after good work from Darran Goller. Goller scored a goal of his own on the stroke of half time after foxing Stevenson with a brilliant first touch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Liam Rostock completed his hat-trick with the sixth goal of the game a few minutes after the restart.  Two goals in the space of a minute followed as MacIver and Goller both netted their second and the former completed a hat-trick of his own four minutes later when he lashed the ball home after a spirited run into the eighteen yard box. Jack Hudson scored to take the scoreline into double figures, and controlling the ball well with a downward header, MacIver slotted the ball past Stevenson five minutes before time to make it 11-0.</div><div><br /></div> </div>

  • Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • Thistle look ahead to Peterhead clash

    <div>For the first time in six years, Tain Thistle will compete in the Tom Hunter Memorial Cup - a trophy which is played for between members of all the Scottish Welfare Football Association competitions in the Highlands, specifically Ross-shire, Strathspey & Badenoch, Moray District, Forres & Nairn, Montrose & District and North East Scotland (Aberdeenshire and surrounding areas).</div><div><br /></div><div>Thistle's last foray in the competition was against Lhanbryde United in 2010 for a Sunday afternoon tie played in a torrential downpour the day after Gala Saturday. Needless to say, it didn't end well, as Lhanbryde ran out 5-2 winners.  Now, six years on, Tain have re-entered the competition and having received a bye in the first round, the draw for the second round has handed them a home tie - against Peterhead United.</div><div><br /></div><div>Formed in 2012 by current manager Graeme Arthur, Peterhead United play as members of the North East Scotland FA in the association's second tier, known as the Soccerworld Scotland League. Their home is Catto Park, located next to Balmoor Stadium, the home ground of Peterhead FC.  Last year, they visited Moray in their Tom Hunter cup opener to play RAF Lossiemouth of the Moray District Welfare FA but lost out 5-1 on the day to a team that were flying high in their county league.  </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/news/data/upimages/peterhead_united.jpg" width="90%"></div><div><br /></div><div>Currently sitting in second place with seven games played, United have aspirations of promotion to the top tier of the North East Scotland set up - and if their results so far are anything to go by, they look to be on course to do just that.  They intend to bring a good travelling support to Tain for the tie, so a good crowd is expected on the day.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tain Thistle v Peterhead United kicks off an hour earlier than usual, at 2PM on Saturday, May 28th.  Supporters are encouraged to participate in our match day raffle (£1 per strip) for a bottle of malt whisky and a special edition match programme will also by available for sale at a cost of £2 per copy.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>A total of 43 teams from across the North of Scotland have entered this year's competition and just 32 now remain as we head into the 2nd Round. Three other teams representing the Ross-shire Welfare FA are involved at this stage:</div><div><br /></div><div> - Rothes 'A' vs Alness United</div><div> - FC Fochabers vs Contin</div><div><br /></div><div>Balintore were due to play Golf Inn FC of Montrose, however the Angus side have scratched.</div>

  • Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • Tain Thistle 2 Alness United 0

    <div>Tain Thistle kept their 100% record for the season intact with a closely fought 2-0 home win against Alness this evening. With only a small list of short-term absentees, Daniel Cormack was able to name a strong sixteen for the Jags' first home league game of the season, welcoming Alness United to the Links for the first time this year.  </div><div><br /></div><div>The game began in the same cagey fashion as it did in Fortrose just a couple of weeks prior in the Merrythought Cup Final, with neither side able to make a break through in the early stages. Mark Lamont looked like the most likely to score first, teasing the Alness defence with a number of mazy runs and a particularly notable cross into the box which only narrowly missed the head of Darran Goller.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/news/data/upimages/2016_05_25_lammy.jpg" width="90%"></div><div><br /></div><div>The deadlock was broken on 36 minutes. A floated cross form Arron Christie looked as though it might be easily dealt with by Maitland, but ever a danger in the air, Dave Macgruer reached the ball first and headed it into the net to give Tain the lead.  At the other end, Johnny Allan was caught on the ground shortly after when he was dispossessed but a daring tackle from Dave Murray saved his blushes on the byline.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Alness United started the second half well, pushing the Thistle line back and the defensive pairing of Murray and Christie had to be on their toes.  There were chances for both sides as time ticked on though, with Craig Munro missing the target with a free kick for Alness and Mark Lamont shooting wide twice.  In a moment of controversy, referee Stephen McDade waved played on while the Thistle touchline began to celebrate a goal from a corner which appeared to have crossed the line before bouncing back out off the goal net.</div><div><br /></div><div>Johnny Allan was called into action on the hour mark when he tipped the ball onto the crossbar following a wicked shot.  A superb save at the other end from Andrew Maitland denied Mark Lamont as the Thistle striker volleyed toward goal from a looping cross and the Alness stopper turned the ball over for a corner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Alness hit the woodwork again on the 75 minute mark as they frantically chased an equaliser, but resilient defending and a portion of good fortune saw the Jags' goal remain unscathed.  With two minutes left on the clock, Arron Christie coolly played a corner ball across the face of the Alness goal and waiting to tap the ball home was Jack Hudson to net his eighth goal of the season and seal the points for the Jags.</div><div><br /></div><div>With nine points from nine on the board Thistle have done everything asked of them so far in the league campaign, sitting just behind Contin who have played a game more than the Jags.  </div>

  • Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • Tain fight back to claim extra time victory

    <div>A game of two halves produced an extra time thriller between two closely matched sides this afternoon as the Jags scored the necessary goals to advance to the Cordiner Cup semi final at the expense of Contin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ryan Dow capitalised on a Thomas Logie through ball on 19 minutes to slot the ball past John Allan from an angle to give the visitors despite the Tain keeper getting a slight touch, and several corners in succession added to Thistle's woes as they struggled to gain a foothold in the game.  Stand in keeper Karl Ross pulled off a couple of saves from the limited chances Thistle had before Daniel Christie eventually levelled the scores, taking a touch  from a Jack Hudson cross before rattling the ball past Ross into the back of the net.  Dow scored a near carbon copy of his opener minutes later to restore Contin's lead as they went in at the break deservedly in control.</div><div><br /></div><div>The same Tain who were labouring in the dreech conditions of rain and thunder reemerged for the second half and within a short time they fell 3-1 down, Connor Ross finishing well for Contin.  It was looking like cup holders were ready to head out of the competition with a whimper, were it not for the comeback that was to follow.  </div><div><br /></div><div>A sustained period of pressure began as Thistle concentrated their play on the wings and looked to heap pressure on Contin with balls into the box.  Melee after melee ensued in the area and with shots hitting the crossbar and chance after chance going begging it seemed only a matter of time before one would hit the back of the net - and it did with a quarter hour remaining - Jack Hudson claiming the final touch on a ball which sailed over Ross from a floated Chippie Mailley free kick.  </div><div><br /></div><div>At 2-3 the game was there to chase and Ryan Day seemed certain to have levelled the scores when he rattled the ball home from a tight angle - but the referee adjudged that Karl Ross had been fouled.  The equaliser finally came with eight minutes to go and from a Mailley ball again, Alan Duff pushed the ball over the line to make it 3-3.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/news/data/upimages/2016_05_21_contin.jpg" width="95%"></div><div><br /></div><div>Despite their best attempts, Thistle couldn't finish the job in normal time - and in fact they nearly lost it, as Ryan Dow popped up on the counter looking for his hat-trick but a save from Allan prevented the frontman from netting.  Moving in to extra time, a drab first fifteen minutes with neither side able to break the deadlock was easily forgotten before the real action began upon the restart. A burst of energy from Chippie Mailley saw the midfielder provide yet another assist, sending substitute Gordon Mackay through on goal for the striker to slide the ball past Ross and into the net!  Tain were in the lead for the first time in the game and now had one eye on a place in the semi finals.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Composed defending and strength in possession saw Thistle see the job out and with three minutes left they sealed the win. Jack Hudson did well to hold off his man and play the ball across the face of goal for the swooping Mark Lamont to slide in at the far post and push the ball through the hapless grasp of Ross.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Thistle now await the outcome of the other quarter final match between Alness United and Eastern Rose which will be played on Monday evening.  Owing to both Alness and Tain being involved in the Highland Welfare Cup next weekend, the Cordiner Cup semi final between Tain Thistle and either Alness or Eastern will be played on Monday, May 30th.</div>

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