PICTURES: North region Junior midweek action as Forres Thistle score seven against Burghead Thistle
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FORRES Thistle gave their promotion hopes a big lift with a resounding victory over derby rivals Burghead Thistle.
The Moray pair were involved in a ding-dong battle for the North Region Junior Division 2 title when the league was last contested before the pandemic.
But Forres seem to have the better promotion credentials this time round as they thumped their neighbours 7-1 at Logie Park on Tuesday night.
The opening exchanges were like a sparring session until the Forres Jags got their noses in front on 19 minutes.
Brandon Hutcheson nodded Craig Robertson's left wing ball across the keeper into the net to open the scoring.
Burghead's first telling attack sparked a quick equaliser as three defenders failed to deal with a ball into the box and it fell kindly for Jamie Davidson to steer into an empty net.
Neil Moir restored the home advantage with a tap-in following fine work by skipper Mattie Davidson.
Burghead couldn't live with the attacking prowess of Davidson and Hutcheson, and a third goal wasn't far away for the Forresians.
Ross Paterson's free kick from 25 yards out found the bottom right-hand corner.
Early in the second half Davidson found himself with acres of space on the left hand side and crossed it in to Hutcheson who tapped it in for 4-1.
Davidson got the fifth himself, collecting a perfect Moir pass to slot home.
The goals kept coming for Forres and on the hour mark, veteran striker Davidson took another Moir pass and turned his man before scoring his second.
Hutcheson again had a glorious chance after Alex Innes' superb run and cross, but the target man headed narrowly over.
Sub Sean McIntosh thought he had scored but an effort was ruled not to have crossed the line despite loud home protests.
Another man from the Forres bench, Charlie Beck saw his rebounded shot fall for Paterson to match Hutcheson and Davidson's double with a 12-yard strike to finish the scoring.
