Friday 22 June 2007, 7:15pm
Capaldi Cup 1st Round

CARR-BRIDGE 0-5 AVIEMORE THISTLE

Having been scoring goals for fun, and putting in some pretty decent performances of late, Carr-bridge should have gone into this game in a very confident mood. Unfortunately for the home side they ran into an Aviemore Thistle side on the top of their game, and were perhaps fortunate not to lose by a bigger scoreline.

From the very start, the visitors seemed hungrier and more determined, every player worked for each other, and they quite simply played Carr-bridge off the park. The most surprising thing about the early part of the game was that despite their dominance it took the visitors 18 minutes to break the deadlock, but when it did come it was a goal worth waiting for. Thistle’s Munro won his aerial dual with Zsedely, with the ball finding its way to the feet of Steven Heggarty, incredibly Thistle had four players bearing down on goal with only Sam Wilkinson in defence. Wilkinson tried to force his man wide, and with numerical advantage on his side the youngster should have probably passed the ball, but he showed the confidence which was sadly lacking in the Carr-bridge side by firing in a terrific shot from 25 yards which beat MacDonald in the home goal all end up to put Thistle 1-0 up.

The visitors continued to dominate and it was no surprise on 30 minutes when they increased their lead. Tulloch and Scott MacDonald were adjudged to have fouled Swinton out wide, Robertson’s free kick was met by an unchallenged Munro whose side footed volley from six yards made it 2-0

Thistle didn’t have to wait long for a third, Robertson was the creator with a great run and cross down the right. Rothney rose highest at the back post to power a header into net. Thistle were now cruising, their football was fast and free-flowing, and a number of their players, especially Robertson, Heggarty, McInnis and Munro must have caught the eye of watching Strathspey Thistle manager Donny MacLeod.

With half time approaching Carr-bridge shot themselves in the foot when Scott McDonald received two rapid fire yellow cards for dissent, leaving the home side down to ten men.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, Carr-bridge continued to squander possession, while Thistle passed and moved making the game look very simple. Rothney added a fourth with a simple tap-in on 58 minutes. And only top class keeping from MacDonald twice denied the ex Carr-bridge man his hat-trick. Heggarty bagged his second and his side’s fifth with ten minutes remaining, after some neat exchanges with McInnis, and Munro . Final Score 0-5.

All-in-all, a top class performance from Thistle: a good all round team performance led from the front by Rothney who terrorised the home defence all evening, ably supported by the movement of Heggarty. At no time in the game did the home side get the better of the Thistle midfield which dominated from start to finish. The visitors’ back four were so much in command that reserve keeper McIntyre never had a shot to save the entire game.

Carr-bridge MOM: McIntosh

Scorers: None

Team: G.MacDonald, McIntosh, Wilkinson, Zsedely, Cormack, Tulloch, Ritchie, S.MacDonald, Gordon, Forrest, Grant

Subs: Keogh (for Grant)
Not used: None

Booked: S.MacDonald
Sent off: S.MacDonald

Half-time: 0-3