Thistle stay on top

LOCHAR Thistle beat Newton Stewart away from home in the league for the first time since August 2018 last Saturday. The visitors claimed a 3-2 victory at Blairmount Park against the Creesiders to remain at the top of the table. In a cagey first half chances at both ends were limited, although Hugh Cameron did well to clear off the line following a Newton attack. The action certainly arrived in the second half as five goals came in a 19 minute spell. Lochar struck first on 48 minutes when good pressing from Lewis Todd saw the Thistle captain intercept on the halfway line, his pass found Finlay Kennedy who in turn released Robbie Ferguson who fired a 20 yard effort low into the bottom corner. Todd was the architect again as Lochar doubled their lead three minutes later. He laid the ball on a plate for Kennedy to fire home with the left foot. The home side made a triple change to try and get back into the game. And it seemed to work as they came storming back with a goal after 59 minutes: the ball falling kindly to Newton’s Marc Whyte who rifled past Konar Pietsch to halve Thistle’s lead. Newton kept the pressure on and Pietsch had to save well to preserve the lead, however, the equaliser soon arrived on 66 minutes. A cross from the right was glanced home by Robert Middleton who grabbed himself a yard of space to head home. But Newton’s joy was short-lived, as Lochar went in front a minute after the kick off. A good attack saw Scott Milligan find Kennedy in the box. The midfielder was able to get his shot away and beat the keeper. Both sides had chances in the time that remained, but Lochar survived the final minutes to claim a superb victory on the road. Up at Sanquhar, a Rio Little brace along with a goal from Josh McVinnie and Robbie Simpson helped Abbey Vale to a 4-1 win at Nithsdale Wanderers in the league. This weekend Lochar host Newton Stewart in the league, while Vale entertain Nithsdale in the quarter final of the League Cup.