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  • Thistle knocked out of Pattison Cup

    A windy afternoon at the Recreation Grounds saw the Jags suffer their first defeat of the season yesterday, as they were KO'd in the final minutes of a gritty encounter by league leaders Invergordon Social Club.<br /><br />Daniel Christie was the only casualty following an eventful midweek thrashing of Balintore, with the midfielder dropping out of the squad on Saturday morning. The Pattison Cup semi-final was to be Thistle's ninth game in the space of just over four weeks, and signs of burnout were certainly evident as the Jags, who ripped Balintore apart only days prior, struggled to move out of first gear.<br /><br />Many of Invergordon Social Club's older players have returned to the side this season, and their experience is vastly evident; the defence limiting the freedom of Messrs Goller, Durrand and Burry during a stubborn first half. <br /><br />Martyn Farquhar however, who has had an eye for goal for most of the season, will surely be disappointed not to have tested Wilde, failing to pull the trigger on two occasions when he found himself through on goal.<br /><br /><img border="0" align="none" alt="" src="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/newstest/data/upimages/socialtain22.jpg"><br /><br />It was Thistle who had the first near miss of the game however with a Colin Burry corner, the winger rattling Wilde's crossbar after his cross looped in with the assistance of a strong wind.<br /><br />At the other end, chances were also few and far between and it took a free kick in the middle of the park to finally make the difference just minutes before half time. With the ball sent into a packed box, it was Chris Graham for the Social Club who found himself in enough space to stab the ball home for a 1-0 lead.<br /><br />The tide turned in Social's favour thereafter and the home side began to pressure Thistle for a second, but thanks to resolute defending from Arron Christie and Kyle Oliver, the flow of attacks was stemmed. The next goal in fact came for the Jags, largely against the run of play.<br /><br />Substitute John Maclellan, who replaced Brian Cameron with a quarter hour left on the clock, showed determination in beating his man on the right wing, before cutting inside the box to nick the ball between the legs of Wilde at his near post for a stunning equalizer. The goal makes it four goals in four games for the striker who is certainly attracting attention as a game changer.<br /><br />Celebrations were short lived however as former Jags' defender Keith Dingwall broke Thistle hearts with a headed goal, restoring Social's lead within minutes of the leveller.<br /><br />Any chances of a Thistle comeback were swiftly killed off in the dying stages when referee Billy Murray took exception to Andy Durrand's frustration following a controversial penalty denial, as he dismissed the mild mannered winger for using strong language. Bookings followed for Farquhar and Burry, during a heated exchange as the Jags protested Durrand's sending off.<br /><br />With the game's competitive element firmly in the gutter, it was down to Thistle stopper Steven Wemyss to prevent further goals for Social, pulling off a tremendous one-on-one save before stopping a long range effort at the end of time.<br /><br />The result hands the Jags their first defeat of the season after an unbeaten run unmatched by any previous Tain Thistle side. As we head into June, Thistle's players and coaching staff can look back on what was, on the whole, a very successful month in May.<br /><br /><b>Team:</b><br />Wemyss, Sutherland, Johnston (Graham), Oliver, A Christie, Cameron (Maclellan), Farquhar, Brand, Durrand, Burry, Goller<br /><br /><b>Subs not used:</b><br />D Nimmons, Stainke<br /><br /><b>Goals:</b><br />Maclellan 78<br /><br /><b>Bookings:</b><br />Farquhar, Burry<br /><br /><b>Red Cards:</b><br />Durrand<br /><br /><b>Man of the Match:</b><br />Arron Christie<br /><br /><b>Match details:</b><br /><a href="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=451">http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=451</a><br /><br /><b>Match gallery:</b><br /><a href="http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/media.php?dir=2011/05.28%20vs.%20Social%20Club">http://www.tainthistle.co.uk/media.php?dir=2011/05.28%20vs.%20Social%20Club</a><br /><br />In other semi final, Inver were handed yet another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Balintore, who bounced back from a midweek embarrassment to beat their Seaboard rivals by 5 goals to nil.<br /><br />Invergordon Social Club and Balintore will now meet at Portmahomack in the Pattison Cup final, this Saturday, June 4th.

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