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  • Matheson: "We can get a result" | Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • Matheson: "We can get a result"

    Conon Bridge native Ali Matheson signed with Tain Thistle with every expectation of sharing the goalkeeping spot, but the Jags' young custodian has landed a first team place thanks to a handful of confident displays in the opening stages of the season.<br /><br />A second generation keeper, the son of his father of the same name, Ali honed his skills as a product of the Clachnacuddin youth system, while also playing for neighbouring Maryburgh. Now 19, Ali has not been short of influences in his young career.<br /><br /><i>"My Dad has obviously had a big influence on my game, having played as a keeper for years with Conon and Maryburgh, but I also learnt a lot from my time at Clach, working with John Beaton and Gary Davidson."</i><br /><br />Thistle manager John Oliver is the latest mentor of Ali's career, the gaffer making him his first new signing of the season back in late July, adding to a budding young squad which already features a number of former Brora youth starlets.<br /><br />Having missed the season opener, Ali experienced a baptism of fire as he was thrown into the scrappiest of derby matches between Balintore and Thistle at Seaboard Park, to make his competitive debut for the club. It was the week after however when the former Clachnacuddin youth player began to raise the eyebrows of team mates and supporters alike with a confident and safe clean sheet against Invergordon.<br /><br /><i>"Beating Invergordon was a big occasion for the club, taking six points from our first three games but personally it was very pleasing to manage a clean sheet, especially against our league rivals."</i><br /><br />This Saturday, Ali plays his fourth game for the club becoming the first goalkeeper to play for Thistle in a cup tie. But the young stopper is not afraid of the task ahead in Thurso.<br /><br /><i>"It's always going to be a hard game, going all the way up there, but from the evidence of the last few weeks there is no reason why we can't get a result and move into the semi."<br /><br />"The manager has had a big impact on the club, and the results have shown that.</i>

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