Thistle share spoils on opening day

Lochar Th 1-1 Stranraer Reserves

LOCHAR kicked off their South League title defence at Wilson Park on Saturday, and they had to settle for a share of the points as Stranraer Reserves battled well in an entertaining 1-1 draw. Thistle were quick out the blocks and took the lead on three minutes when excellent play on the left from Finlay Kennedy saw the youngster surge into the box before firing an effort on goal that the keeper could only parry into the net. To Stranraer’s credit they did not let this unsettle them and they grew into the game. With a sustained amount of pressure the away side drew level on 24 minutes when slack marking from Lochar at a throw in saw Dunn scuff an effort that crept in at Darren Martin’s far post. Robbie Ferguson had a great chance to put Thistle in front before the break when he anticipated a poor back pass but the big striker’s effort agonisingly went wide when one-on-one with the keeper, The second half ebbed and flowed with some end-to-end football played as both teams went toe-to-toe. Substitute Jordan Muirhead cracked the bar with a header from a Kennedy corner, while fellow sub Scott Milligan saw a lob over the keeper drop just wide. Martin had to be alert to make an excellent one handed save as Stranraer looked to get a second, although Lochar did look more threatening in the final stages of the game but a Ferguson header was just off target and Milligan was ruled offside after he had rounded the keeper and was through on goal. Up next for Ritchie Maxwell’s men is Lochmaben at Whitehills Park.