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  • Thistle reach Coronation Cup Final | Latest News | Tain Thistle AFC
  • Thistle reach Coronation Cup Final

    Tain's defence of the Coronation Cup continued today as they secured a place in the final, squeezing past Fortrose Union in the narrowest of fashions with a penalty shoot out win after 120 minutes failed to separate the sides.<br /><br />Rhys Shewan had given Fortrose a shock first minute lead after Thistle had hit the post to narrowly miss out on an immediate goal. The home side grasped control of the opening stages of the game that followed and through the crossing ability of Daniel Christie, both Alan Duff and Darran Goller sent headed efforts wide and over. Martyn Farquhar was next to try, firing just over the bar catching a stray free kick first time. At the other end, both Rhys Shewan and Kieran Fitzpatrick were unlucky for Fortrose, testing the Jags defence with clever dribbling and pace, but unable to find a goal.<br /><br />Battling hard in what had become a very competitive game, the Jags finally scored an equaliser from a corner. Daniel Christie's cross found its way out to the edge of the eighteen yard box where Martin Smith was waiting to lash the ball home with authority to make it 1-1. The goal was a deserved reward for Smith who had held the ball up well in the game thus far.<br /><br />A flurry of corners followed for Thistle with Liam Rostock enjoying the best chance, before the half ended with a few nasty exchanges, forcing referee Billy Murray to speak to both team managers during the interval.<br /><br />The complexion of the second half changed considerably when Darran Goller found himself clean through on goal only to be taken down. The offending Fortrose player was then dismissed, leaving Fortrose to play the remainder of the game with ten men - an uphill task for the Black Isle side!<br /><br />Despite the man advantage, the score remained 1-1 in normal time, Fortrose having bolstered the defence in a successful attempt to stifle frequent Thistle attacks. The proverbial game of chess was now being played as Tain embarked on thirty minutes of extra time against a Union side with their backs firmly against the wall.<br /><br />Chances were plentiful. Martin Smith, Liam Rostock, Paul Cowie and Martyn Farquhar were all unlucky not to score as Fortrose expertly held their line and perhaps inevitably, the game went to penalties.<br /><br />Anyone who has followed Tain Thistle in recent years will know all too well that penalty shoot outs have not ended well, however today the script was rewritten. Both sides scored all five of their allotted spot kicks before sudden death kicked in and stepping up for Tain was Martyn Farquhar - not renowned for his penalties! Despite the pressure mounted upon him by the bellowing Fortrose touchline, the Tain stalwart lashed the ball high into the net to make it 6-5 to Tain and the pressure moved to the Fortrose man, who fired into the on rushing hands of Johnny Allan in the Tain goal. The penalty had been saved and Tain advanced to the cup final!<br /><br />The game was an exasperating one, but one that will be remembered for a while, as it possessed everything that a memorable game should have.<br /><br />Thistle now travel to Dingwall to defend the Coronation Cup against a side who will most certainly be favourites in Alness Athletic. The game is scheduled for 3pm next Saturday, June 21st.<br /><br /><b>Team:</b><br />Allan, Cameron, Davis, Brand, Duff, Cowie, Farquhar, D Christie, Smith, Goller, Rostock (Cattanach 115)<br /><br /><b>Subs not used:</b><br />Sutherland, Durrand<br /><br /><b>Goals:</b><br />Smith 29

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