Free-scoring Thistle hit 10

A RAMPANT Lochar Thistle cruised to a 10-0 victory against Wigtown and Bladnoch at the NWCC last Saturday. The two sides agreed on a venue change to allow the South of Scotland League clash to be played. Lochar had their intensity at a high tempo early doors, and it came as no surprise when scored a quick opener, Finlay Kennedy found space 20 yards out and he picked his spot to fire Lochar ahead. A couple of minutes later Lewis Todd controlled well in midfield to release Scott Milligan who slid the ball under the keeper to double Thistle’s lead. The scoring continued on 12 minutes when good play on the right between Craig McKeand and Johnny Heyes saw the latter find Kennedy whose effort was deflected past the keeper. Lochar continued to dominate proceedings and when Greig Corbett’s ball over the defence found Milligan homing in on goal, the striker made no mistake as he made it 4-0. A good passage of play in the midfield on 33 minutes ended with Kennedy again finding space in the box to curl home his hat trick. The galloping Craig McKeand found space down the right five minutes before the break to fire home a sixth. Kennedy got his fourth and Lochar’s seventh right on the stroke of half time. Thistle had the majority of the possession in the second half as Wigtown, to their credit, battled well to keep their opponents at bay. It took until the 70th minute before the lead was increased: McKeand heading home a Kennedy corner. And two quick fire goals from young on loan substitute Josh Kelly completed the scoring. Lochar’s attention now turns to the South Region Challenge Cup on Saturday. They travel to West of Scotland First Division side Kilbirnie Ladeside in the fourth round of the competition.

Meanwhile, Abbey Vale’s scheduled clash away to Creetown was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Vale return to New Abbey this weekend where they will come up against Stranraer in the first round of the Cree Lodge Cup.