Balloan Athletic moved onto 24 points, joint top of the Inverness Street League Division B, following a comfortable 9-0 victory over Thistle Colts. The win comes at a good time ahead of next weekend's Cup Final showdown versus Balloan Fury.

Athletic never really looked like losing this game as both teams got off to a slow start.  They had the first opportunity of the match when Jack McGilvray found an extra few yards in the box but his tame shot was gathered easily by Jack Grieve in the Thistle Colts goal. Just five minutes later, a fine piece of individual trickery from Clarke Hendry sent Gavin Urquhart free but his shot was well parried by Grieve. 

Fourteen minutes in Rowan Earl's pace beat two defenders and his cross-shot took a massive deflection and rolled passed the diving Grieve.

Number two followed minutes later. Brodie Watson's long ball was headed down by McGilvray into the path of Gavin Urquhart who coolly slotted it home.

Fine work by David MacLaren of Thistle Colts beat the Balloan defence but his shot went well wide. But straight after that phase of play Rowan Earl's pace rounded Grieve and he was brought down. McGilvray stepped up and fired a powerful right-footed shot past the keeper. From here on in it was plain sailing from Balloan as they made it four just before the break. Brodie Watson's fine solo run beat three defenders before he cleverly rounded the keeper before slotting it into the empty net.

Balloan started the second half just as they finished the first. Straight from kick off, Gavin Urquhart found space on the edge of the box and he unleashed a drive which nestled in the back of the net. But in all fairness Thistle Colts were playing well defensively but could not muster a chance together.

McGilvray got his second of the match after fine piece of work down the right by Calum MacDermott and his header looped over Grieve. Urquhart was causing all sorts of problems on the wing. His pinpoint cross found Watson but Grieve turned the ball over the ball expertly. But moments later Urquhart's deep cross found William Reid at the back post and he fired low into the bottom left corner of the goal. This was the start of an eight minute hat-trick from the youngster.

He grabbed his second just a minute later when another Urquhart cross found Reid as he slotted home again. And number three was not long after. Neil Davidson found the striker in acres of space before rounding the keeper and smashing it past the last ditch defender.

And the pain was nearly over for Thistle Colts but not before Watson tried a spectacular overhead kick which shaved the bar to the relief of Thistle Colts defence.

Despite the 9-0 loss, Thistle Colts defended well for long period but the difference in class was apparent as Balloan swept Thistle Colts aside to join Kinmylies at the top of the pile.