Thistle keep in touch at the top

LOCHAR moved back into second spot in the South of Scotland League last Saturday following a comfortable 4-0 victory over Lochmaben at the NWCC. In a bright opening 20 minutes, both sides had chances that could have seen the game played out in a different manner. However, the opener came on five minutes. It was a well worked Lochar move that ended with Jack Caskie latching on to Dev Nicholson’s pass to advance into the box, the youngster made no mistake and shot home sending the keeper the wrong way. Thistle doubled their lead on eight minutes and it came rather fortuitously. A Finlay Kennedy free kick was floated into the box and Craig McKeand’s header somehow squirmed under the Lochmaben keeper’s body. Konar Pietsch was called into action on 17 minutes and made a fine diving save that preserved the Lochar lead and from that moment on Thistle kept control of the half. Kennedy then made it three when he gathered the ball in the middle of the park before outstripping the defence and firing low into the bottom corner. It took Lochar six minutes in the second half until they increased their lead, and it was a bit of experience that created the goal. Hugh Cameron played a quick free kick midway into the Lochmaben half that found Todd lurking on the edge of the box, the captain controlled, swivelled and fired into the top corner to give Lochar a four goal advantage. A good three points keeps Thistle in touch at the top of the table. They visit Kirkcudbright on Saturday to face St Cuthbert Wanderers in the league. Elsewhere, last Friday night Abbey Vale lost 4-2 to Newton Stewart under the lights at the NWCC. Rio Little and Reece Nicoll scored for the New Abbey side. On Saturday Vale travel to Stranraer on league duty.