STRATHSPEY 3 HUNTLY 1 !

It's back to the drawing board for Huntly manager John Teasdale as Strathspey Thistle recorded a shock but thoroughly deserved win over the Black and Golds at Seafield Park. The hosts were two goals to the good inside the opening 10 minutes of play as they looked up for the fight and it was a setback the visitors failed to recover from.

Indeed, the home side almost broke the deadlock before their double salvo. A scramble in the Huntly box led to Joe Hardie being denied by the post and then attacker Mateusz Bobrowski shot wide with an overhead kick as Strathspey served up an early warning of what was to come. It was a warning that was not heeded by the Black and Golds.

Having conceded an early goal last weekend, it was the Jags' turn to fly out of the traps this time around as they incredibly went two up with only 10 minutes played. With eight minutes played, Mark Gray did well to block Bobrowski's effort from a corner on the goal line but there was nothing he or anyone else could do as Terry Swinton turned the ball home with the full back up for the corner as the visitors failed to clear their lines.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors just two minutes later. Gary Sutherland stepped up to take a free kick 30 yards out and the centre half's thunderbolt crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. Referee Caryl Potten originally never awarded the goal but on the advice of his assistant, the strike stood to leave Huntly shell-shocked.

However, Huntly shook off their malaise to grab a goal back just three minutes later. The home defence failed to clear a free kick and the ball broke for Ritchie Taylor to turn back into the danger area. Returning defender Michael Dunn stooped to head the delivery home to bag his first goal for the club and it was game on again.

Half time: Strathspey Thistle 2 Huntly 1

The home side made sure of the win 20 minutes from the end after a moment to forget for Huntly goalkeeper Neil Hastie. The stopper raced from his line to try to gather a ball forward into the inside left channel. Mateusz Bobrowski profited as he advanced to curl home a left-footed effort.

Huntly pressed forward to get themselves back into the and the closest they came to grabbing a lifeline was when full back Graham Stark rattled the underside of the crossbar with a long range effort but the ball was hacked clear.

It was a deserved first win of the campaign for the Jags as they climbed back above Huntly in the league table. The Grantown club now sit on four points for the season while the Black and Golds only have last weekend's win over Rothes to show for their efforts.

Full time: Strathspey Thistle 3 Huntly 1