Missed chances prove costly for Turriff in loss to Clach
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Turriff United suffered a 3-0 league defeat at the hands of Clachnacuddin at The Haughs on Saturday.
The Inverness side took the advantage through a brace from James Anderson.
United had a chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty, but striker Matthew McDonald's spot kick was saved.
Ryan Mackintosh secured the three points for The Lilywhites when his high long range effort landed in the Turriff net.
United had an early chance when Jordan Cooper sent in a cross but McDonald could not get anything on it.
A Clach free-kick found Anderson at full stretch and he was unable to get a foot on the ball to send it goalwards.
Turriff threatened with a corner and a rebound ball fell in the direction of Ethan Smith who tried to get a header on to it.
Anderson got into space in the United box, however, Rhys Clark was there to thwart him before he could get a shot away.
Clach were having a good spell of play and Anderson again proved to be a threat when a dangerous cross was fired towards him but it was just too high.
A corner from the visitors was delivered by Blair Lawrie and Turriff goalkeeper Tim Findlay decided to punch it away rather than catch the ball, with the Clach players unable to capitalise on the rebound.
The away side's pressure paid off when a ball was played to Anderson in the United box and he slotted it into the open net from close range.
They nearly doubled their lead when Mackintosh was in a good position with Findlay there to deny him.
Turriff looked to get back into the game with Rory Brown firing a shot at goal which went wide.
A good ball was then played to Keir Smith, however, the Clach defence chased him down and dealt with the threat at the last moment.
As the first half came to a close Clach were back on the ascendancy. Calum Black sent a good ball into the Turriff box which none of the attackers were able to get on the end of to take their chance.
After the break Turriff had the first opportunity when Reece McKeown was through on goal with his effort being blocked.
The visitors then increased their lead when a cross found Anderson and he headed the ball into the net to score his second.
Turriff had a strong period which saw Dylan Stuart try a shot from distance which was saved by Clach goalkeeper Daniel Rae.
A great opportunity then came to them when a penalty was awarded. McDonald stepped up to take the spot kick and it was saved by Rae.
They kept pushing for a goal and Cooper fired a shot which Smith got a foot on to but it was just wide.
The away side then put the game out of sight when Mackintosh hit a long range speculative effort towards the Turriff goal which went over Findlay, who was at full stretch, and landed in the net to make it 3-0.
Clach's Martin Callum hit a deflected shot goalwards which was saved by Findlay.
McDonald had the last opportunity of the match but it did not trouble the visiting keeper.
United's assistant manager Jamie Lennox said: "Looking over it as a whole it wasn't a 3-0 game.
"The two teams were very even and there wasn't much between them apart from they looked like they wanted it slightly more.
"They took their chances when they came and as has been the story of our season we had the chances and we just haven't took them.
"We haven't got that ruthlessness in us to change these games and we are getting punished for it.
"The penalty was massive there is no getting away from that.
"With 15 minutes to go you put that away it is anybody's game and we would be on the ascendancy then.
"When that didn't go in you could see we were deflated. We then lost the third goal and after that it was game over.
"The positive to take from the match is we are still creating chances but we just need to step up as it is getting to that time of the season.
"Hopefully by the next game at Lossiemouth we will have three or four of our key players back as well."
