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          Rose & Thistle FC 4 v 0 Blackwater Badgers            (Division 2)

Team: Conetta, Marshall, Leach, Marsden, Walker, Harris, Holman, Waygood, Gadsen, Scales
Subs: Pickett, Gray, Totten, Allery, Miller

The home match against Blackwater Badgers came at a good time for Thistle with 4 straight league wins propelling them up the table to within reach of top spot. Conetta employed the same 4-3-3 formation that has brought such success recently. A few changes to the starting line up, Scales getting a start up front with Allery moving to the bench.

Thistle started brightly against an ordinary looking Badgers side, and it should have been 1-0 in the first minute, as Scales was played through but hit the bar with his effort. And it could have been 2-0 when a good attack down the right finding its way into the centre and a goalmouth scramble with Waygood and Scales coming close. Badgers rarely threatened during the first half with Conetta not having to make a save of any note. The defence was looking pretty solid although there was trouble with the high ball in some windy conditions. Thistle took the lead midway through the first half when a ball in from the left seemed to strike a Badgers arm in the box and the ref, gave a somewhat 'soft' penalty. With normal penalty takers Miller and Allery benched, Scales had the chance from the spot and made it one-nil with a good finish into the top corner, 1-0 Thistle.

Half time came with Thistle looking comfortable but with only a 1 goal lead to show for their domination.

The 2nd half started as the first began, Thistle dominating but not looking like scoring. Holman in particular, who had taken a few crunching tackles in the first half, was showing excellent positioning screening the back four. A second goal came from Thistle and it was a second for Scales. Good play down the right by Lindley and as the ball made its way across the edge of the box Scales struck a good shot into the bottom left corner, 2-0 Thistle. Scales was now thinking of a Hat-trick but blazed a shot from the edge of the box over. The first change came when Holman came off with a knock and Allery coming on, making it a 4-4-2, and almost immediately got himself injured as 2 Badgers defenders looked to close him down. Thistle by now knowing the game was done made it three-nil when an excellent Gadsen corner found Waygood at the near post with a good header, 3-0 Thistle. The second sub came with Harris making way and Miller coming on to the right wing, Lindley moving central. It was four-nil soon after as some decent midfield play found Allery over the top and after jinking past a couple of defenders smashed a shot through the keeper, who in all fairness should have done better, 4-0 Thistle with Allery getting his customary goal. The final sub came as Waygood, came off for Totten to come into central midfield who helped stirdy up the midfield. The final few minutes were played out with no real scares as it finished 4-0. Good games alround, well done to Conetta, Marshall, Leach, Marsden and Walker for a deserved clean sheet.

A fifth straight league win puts Thistle top of the league with the best goal difference in the Division acting as en extra point.