Young Jags regain CMB Cup in battle with the Thistle Legends
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Turriff Thistle 4 - Turriff Thistle Legends 2
The CMB Cup returned to the possession of the current Turriff Thistle team after a hard-fought victory over their “Legend” counterparts at the Haughs on Saturday.
The match was played over three -30 minutes periods with nothing between the teams during the first and last of them, however, it was the second period that was the Legends undoing when they made nine changes to their starting line-up and the young Jags ran riot scoring four goals without reply.
The Legends controlled the majority of the first period and deservedly took the lead with a well worked goal from the boot of Phil Burnett which they held at the break.
The Young Jags found their game in the second period and overwhelmed the Legend with goals from Ross Strath, Ryan Catto, Ryan Morrison and Nathan Fraser.
The Legends regrouped in the third session and pulled a goal back from Neil Chapman with only six minutes remaining, however, it could have been a different story entirely if they had managed to score earlier.
The Jags, managed by Matthew Sim and Paryk Basta, lined up in their familiar 3-5-2 formation with Jordan Ogg in goal, Mitchell Allan, Mike McCombie and Ryan Catto as the back three, Kian Beaton, Joe Bisset, new signing Dylan Buxton, Greg Miazek and Regan Fowlie in midfield and Michael Harris and Ryan Morrison up front.
The subs bench consisted of Kyle Chalmers, Colin Bain Jnr., Shane Cogan, Lee Stuart and potential signings Ross Strath and Nathan Fraser.
The Legends, managed by Graham Buxton, started with a highly impressive 4-4-2 formation with Louie Simpson in goal, a formidable back four of Gary Duncan, Brian Killoh, Iain Massie and Neil Chapman, an even more formidable midfield of “Mo” Morrison, Phil Burnett, Martin McLeod and Steven Wight, then, if that wasn’t bad enough, they finished off with the goal machines that are Mark Robertson and Sean Smith.
The subs bench looked like another complete team with Kevin Gray, Jordan Gardiner, Stevie Raffan Steven Sharp, Jim Parker, Lewis Hendry, Scotty Thompson, Colin Bain, Paul Williamson and Tony Fullwood.
The Jags created the first scoring chance within the first minute when Buxton was dumped to the ground at the edge of the Legends box wide on the left and Morrison curled in the free kick narrowly over the bar.
For the first 10 minutes the Jags pressed the Legends back but could not penetrate that “granite” back four and the only shot in anger came from a Miazek 25 yard free kick that flew past the post.
After soaking up the pressure the Legends began to turn the screw on the Jags and in 13 minutes Mo Morrison broke through wide on the right and fired in a shot that skimmed Ogg’s bar.
Five minutes later a Wight free kick from the left flew over the bar as the Legends pushed the Jags back.
Robertson and Smith were creating havoc in the Jags box with Burnett running the show in midfield.
In 22 minutes Robertson found space on the left, hit the bye-line and floated in a cross for Mo Morrison to run onto from the right but he mistimed his volley and the ball struck his hand.
The Jags did not heed these warnings and a minute later Smith found space deep in the box and laid the ball off to Robertson whose low shot sneaked past the wrong side of the post.
The Legends reward came in 26 minutes when they took the lead with a brilliant goal to watch as Mo Morrison crossed from the right for Robertson to lay the ball off into the path of BURNETT who launched an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net giving Ogg absolutely no chance.
The Jags were shocked at going behind and managed to regroup and keep the Legends at bay until the whistle blew for the first interval.
The second period saw only Killoh and Chapman left on the pitch as the Legends introduced Gray, Bain, Parker, Gardiner, Sharp, Hendry, Thompson, Williamson and Fullwood to the match.
The Jags stuck with the same line-up but Strath was brought on for Beaton within five minutes and immediately came close to an equaliser when a Harris shot from just outside the box was blocked by Gray and as Morrison went to drive the rebound into the net Killoh came from nowhere to clear.
The match was all square in 38 minutes when a cross from Fowlie on the right into the six yard box was pounced on by STRATH and he slipped the ball into the net for his debut Thistle goal, nutmegging Gray in the process.
The Jags were, at last, getting their game together and a minute later Harris cut in from the left and curled in a shot that flew just past the back post.
Strath was impressive wide on the left and in 43 minutes he fired in a diagonal ball that was just missed by Morrison at the back post then in 45 minutes he drove in on goal from the left but his shot was well saved by Gray.
The Jags were well in command took the lead in 47 minutes, courtesy of their defence, when a McCombie cross from the left was met by CATTO at the back post to tap home from close range and score his debut goal for Thistle.
Fraser came on for his Jags debut in place of Fowlie before the restart and was involved in the build-up for the Jags third goal in 50 minutes which was scored by MORRISON with a snap-shot from the edge of the box that flew low into the corner of the net.
The Jags brought on Cogan and Stuart for Buxton and Bisset and Raffan sneaked on in place of Fullwood for the Legends then, in 57 minutes Morrison had to call it a day with a foot injury and Buxton returned to the match.
The Jags extended their lead in 58 minutes with another stylish goal when a Catto cross from the left was headed on by Harris in the box for FRASER to nip in at the back post for his debut goal.
The Jags could have added another before the second interval when a forward ball from Allan was met by Buxton in the box but he had to stretch to meet the ball and his lob dropped on the wrong side of the post.
The third period saw Bain Jnr. come on for Miazek and Bisset return in place of Strath for the Jags and Simpson, Duncan, Massie, Wight, McLeod, Mo Morrison and Robertson return for the Legends.
Within a minute of the restart Harris cut in from the right past three defenders and in on goal but his shot was brilliantly saved by Simpson at full stretch.
In 63 minutes Bisset was helped off with a leg injury and replaced by Beaton.
The Jags were looking for more goals and in 68 minutes Allan broke through on the left before slipping the ball to Harris but Simpson was on hand to block the shot with his legs.
Chalmers was introduced in place of Harris for the Jags and Burnett and Smith returned for the Legends as the rolling substitutions came thick and fast.
The Jags should have extended their lead in 76 minutes when Fraser burst free on the left and drove into the Legends box but chose to shoot himself with Buxton free in the middle and the ball flew past the back post.
As the match entered the final 10 minutes Bain tried his luck with a shot from distance which was well held by Ogg.
The Legends pulled a goal back in 84 minutes when hesitation in the Jags defence allowed CHAPMAN to nip in and roll the ball into the empty net from 3 yards.
With five minutes remaining Legends Manager, Graham Buxton, made a cameo appearance on the pitch as the Legends battled to the end.
The last action of the match came in 88 minutes when Miazek picked the ball up in his own half then strode through three or four tackles, played a one-two with Strath, drove into the box, however, Simpson spoiled the party and the sight of a sensational goal by brilliantly saving the final shot.
After the final whistle both teams enjoyed a well deserved refreshment on the pitch and Graham Buxton presented the CMB Cup to the winning captain, Ryan Morrison before the celebrations continued at The Kastille where the Man of the Match Awards were presented to Ryan Catto of Thistle and Neil Chapman of the Legends.
Commenting Thistle's Jock Bell said: "Everyone associated with Turriff Thistle Football Club would like to thank Brian Fowlie for refereeing the match, CMB Building Contractors for providing the after match refreshments, Henderson’s Country Sports for providing the trophies and The Kastille for providing the after match hospitality.
"The Club would also thank everyone who turned up to watch the match and who contributed to the scratch cards sold at Kastille.
"Your continued support is gratefully appreciated."
