Turriff Thistle 1 - Maud Junior FC 0
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Turriff Thistle began their 2021-2022 pre-season programme with an organised and controlled performance against Maud Juniors from the North Superleague at the Haughs on Saturday.
With nine pre-season games played in preparation for the 2020-2021 season, before everything was locked down again, the Jags have returned with a much-changed playing squad due to the loss of several players through moving on or retirement.
From the 2019-2020 team that was chasing the Division 1 championship and promotion to the Premier Division, Ewan Clark stepped up to Rothie Rovers when they joined the Junior ranks, Dylan Buxton moved to Fyvie F.C. and Andy Paton has recently signed for St. Marnans.
In addition, Phil Burnett, Mo Morrison, Mark Robertson, Chris Strachan and Lewis Hendry have all decided to call time on their playing careers and the Club would like to thank each and every one of them for their magnificent contribution to the team’s success and history and wish them well with their new challenges.
As well as retaining the core of last seasons squad, Romanian goalkeeper Radu Chirita and defender Johnny Buist, both members of the 2017-2018 League Championship winning team, have returned to re-sign for the Jags.
In addition, manager Chunk Duncan, has welcomed several promising local youngsters to pre-season training and was keen to give as many as possible a run-out during this first pre-season match.
These young players include Colin Bain Jnr. and Lee Stuart, the sons of Thistle Legends Colin Bain and Jamie Stuart, plus Calum Anderson, Kyle Chalmers, Lewis Loi, Oliver Morgan, Jamie Milne, Liam Murray, Bruce Mair and Callan Reid.
The match kicked off in glorious sunshine and Maud were first to apply pressure, as both teams adjusted to the return to competitive football, however, Thistle were well organised in defence with Mitchell Allan playing in front of a back four of Mike McCombie, Kian Beaton, Neil Chapman and trialist, Callan Reid.
All Maud’s attempts to penetrate this defensive line were snuffed out and any ball that was floated over their heads into the danger area was easily and confidently mopped up by Jordan Ogg.
The Jags midfield probed and prodded at the Maud defence through Greg Miazek and trialist Lewis Loi in the centre, Regan Fowlie, wide right, and Dan Sorley, wide left, but couldn’t produce the final ball to club captain, Ryan Morrison, who ploughed a lone furrow spearheading the attack on his own.
Both teams had their fair share of the game but neither could breach the opposition’s defence although Ogg was the busier of the keepers in the first half.
The first change came on the half hour when Joe Bisset replaced Loi who was nursing an injury after his impressive debut providing ample service to both wide players as well as being on the receiving end of some hefty tackles driving forward at every chance he got.
Goalless at half-time, the second half saw only one change for Thistle as Lewis Cheyne replaced Ogg in the Jags goal, however, regular substitutions were made throughout the half every 5 – 10 minutes to give everyone on the extensive bench some game-time.
In 55 minutes trialist Calum Anderson came on for Chapman then in 60 minutes Steven Wight replaced Allan.
The game burst into life in 68 minutes when a long ball forward from Sorley put the Maud defence on the wrong foot and was brilliantly picked up by Fowlie in the clear, however, his low shot beat the advancing keeper but scraped past the outside of the post.
The deadlock was broken barely a minute later when the Jags won a corner kick that Sorley floated perfectly for FOWLIE to rise at the back post and bullet an unsaveable header deep into the heart of the Maud net.
The substitutions continued with trialist Colin Bain Jnr. on for Reid, trialists Jamie Milne and Liam Murray replacing Miazek and Morrison then trialist Kyle Chalmers for Anderson.
With all the changes being made Maud created several changes to equalise, their best one being a free header from a corner which was shot past the post.
A final substitution saw Lee Stuart on for Milne before Thistle almost doubled their lead when an acrobatic, diving header by Wight from a Fowlie cross just curled narrowly over the Maud bar.
Maud fought until the final whistle for an equaliser and, although a draw would have been a fair result, the Jags victory will give a massive confidence boost to the entire squad and especially to the nine trialists who all played their part on the day.
Turriff Thistle: Jordan Ogg (Lewis Cheyne 45), Mike McCombie, Kian Beaton, Neil Chapman (Calum Anderson 55)(Kyle Chalmers 75), Callan Reid (Colin Bain Jnr 69), Mitchell Allan (Steven Wight 60), Regan Fowlie, Greg Miazek (Jamie Milne 70)( Lee Stuart 80), Lewis Loi (Joe Bisset 30), Dan Sorley, Ryan Morrison (Liam Murray 70).
Pre-season Fixture News:
The following fixtures have been arranged as part of the Turriff Thistle pre-season programme before the proposed start of the 2021-2022 season on Saturday, August 7.
Saturday July 10 - Turriff Thistle v Aughnagatt Barons -The Haughs- KO 1.30 pm.
Saturday July 24 - Turriff Thistle v Kemnay Amateurs - The Haughs - KO 1.30 pm.
Saturday July 31– Turriff Thistle v Glendale Amateurs -The Haughs - KO 1.30 pm.
