Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 4, 2007 12:20:18 GMT -5
Thurso 7 Invergordon 0 - report by Iain Grant
Willie Steven struck a blow for the golden oldies with his return to North Caley action on Saturday.
Mirroring veteran Craig Brewster’s display in his farewell match for Aberdeen, the Thurso joinery contractor proved age cannot disguise class.
The 41-year-old struck a first half hat-trick when playing in midfield for the Vikings before dropping back to give an assured performance at sweeper. His goals coming after an early brace from Jamie Mackenzie effectively killed Invergordon’s chances stone dead.
Thereafter, the visitors managed to limit the damage, helped in no small measure by several breathtaking misses in front of goal.
The shine was taken off the victory for the home men by a heavy aerial collision which left Mackenzie being helped off the park with a shoulder knock and displaying signs of concussion.
He is one of a clutch of regulars set to miss out on tomorrow’s visit to play Inverness City. Thurso kicked off into the face of a breeze and were soon on the offensive.
Willie Inrig was first to threaten the visitors’ goal with a second minute effort which flew just over.
The pressure paid off after 10 minutes when Mackenzie and Steven
created space for Lee MacDougall down the left flank.
His low cross was tucked past keeper Steven Campbell by Mackenzie.
Steven then went close with a header before his side increased their advantage on 14 minutes following a sweeping move begun by captain Kevin Miller. MacDougall found Mark Nichol who played in Mackenzie for his second.
The game then turned into the Willie Steven show as he helped himself to a 17 minute hat-trick. The first arrived on 16 minutes when he found himself in shooting range and netted with a first-time chip over Campbell.
Six minutes later, he latched on to a wayward pass in the home penalty box to score with a low drive.
He then made it 5-0 with an undemanding tap-in after MacDougall had done all the spadework. His third came after a lengthy stoppage following Mackenzie’s injury, which led to former Halkirk striker Derek Munro coming on to partner Nichol up front.
Invergordon were unfortunate not to get one back before the interval. A neat cutback from Neil Steven to the unmarked Allan Stone was undone by the latter’s abortive attempt on goal.
Home keeper Lee Allan then had to display sharp reflexes to thwart Jordan Mitchell.
The conversion of one of these chances would have given Invergordon manager Graham Stewart some feel-good factor to inject into his interval talk. As it was, his young side continued to be on the receiving end as Thurso looked to further press home their advantage.
After an undistinguished opening, the Vikings almost added to their tally when MacDougall’s assist and Munro’s deep cross invited a volley from Nichol which fizzed a yard wide of the opposite post.
Nichol was then just off-target with a header from MacDougall’s free-kick.
On 63 minutes, MacDougall teed up Nichol for what should have been a routine finish.
The striker made a hash of it but Graeme Reid was on the spot to lash the ball into the back of the net.
Reid then replicated Nichol’s sloppiness at the back when he dwelled on the ball, enabling Jamie McLeod to steal in and rifle a shot fractionally wide.
Thurso were getting plenty of joy down both flanks with both MacDougall and Martin Bain proving productive outlets.
The Vikings went 7-0 up when Nichol side-footed into the empty net after MacDougall’s steepling cross was spilled by Campbell.
The keeper magnified his mistake when his outspoken protest that he had been impeded earned him a yellow card.
Thurso somehow failed to add to their total despite continuing to have the visiting defence on the rack for the remainder of the game.
With 15 minutes left, Derrick Shearer’s pass into the box was neatly flicked on by Bain to Munro whose shot grazed the top of the bar.
Several minutes later, Reid and Nichol missed short-range gimmes, with the former wearing the reddest face after posting a serious
contender for miss-of-the-season.
They were the most glaring examples of a slackness in Thurso’s
play for which the comfortable lead was perhaps responsible.
With five minutes left, sub Michael Petrie put his team in trouble with an under-hit pass near the halfway line.
It was seized on by Alan Stone who would have had an unobstructed run in on Allan were it not for the backtracking Steven.
The veteran got his young team-mate out of jail with a superb saving tackle on Stone, at the expense of a corner.
In the closing stages, Invergordon pair Alan Renwick and Scott MacGruer were booked for late tackles.
Back-to-back home wins have got the Vikings off to a cracking start but they face a very demanding assignment at North Kessock tomorrow.
Lee MacDougall’s wedding rules out both him and Graeme Reid while Miller is on holiday.
With Steven unavailable and Jamie MacKenzie facing a spell on the sidelines, manager Duncan Gray has no shortage of headaches.
On the plus side, Nigel Mackenzie and Des MacLeod are back in the frame after injury.
Thurso – Allan, Shearer, Reid, Miller (Petrie 66), Sutherland, Steven, Bain (Bell 81), Inrig, Nichol, J. Mackenzie (Munro 30), MacDougall.
Invergordon – Campbell, Whyte, Kennedy, C. Stone, Cooper, Mitchell, A. Stone, Renwick, McLeod (MacGruer 66), Steven, McCormick. Sub (unused) – Reid.
Ref – Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay.
Willie Steven struck a blow for the golden oldies with his return to North Caley action on Saturday.
Mirroring veteran Craig Brewster’s display in his farewell match for Aberdeen, the Thurso joinery contractor proved age cannot disguise class.
The 41-year-old struck a first half hat-trick when playing in midfield for the Vikings before dropping back to give an assured performance at sweeper. His goals coming after an early brace from Jamie Mackenzie effectively killed Invergordon’s chances stone dead.
Thereafter, the visitors managed to limit the damage, helped in no small measure by several breathtaking misses in front of goal.
The shine was taken off the victory for the home men by a heavy aerial collision which left Mackenzie being helped off the park with a shoulder knock and displaying signs of concussion.
He is one of a clutch of regulars set to miss out on tomorrow’s visit to play Inverness City. Thurso kicked off into the face of a breeze and were soon on the offensive.
Willie Inrig was first to threaten the visitors’ goal with a second minute effort which flew just over.
The pressure paid off after 10 minutes when Mackenzie and Steven
created space for Lee MacDougall down the left flank.
His low cross was tucked past keeper Steven Campbell by Mackenzie.
Steven then went close with a header before his side increased their advantage on 14 minutes following a sweeping move begun by captain Kevin Miller. MacDougall found Mark Nichol who played in Mackenzie for his second.
The game then turned into the Willie Steven show as he helped himself to a 17 minute hat-trick. The first arrived on 16 minutes when he found himself in shooting range and netted with a first-time chip over Campbell.
Six minutes later, he latched on to a wayward pass in the home penalty box to score with a low drive.
He then made it 5-0 with an undemanding tap-in after MacDougall had done all the spadework. His third came after a lengthy stoppage following Mackenzie’s injury, which led to former Halkirk striker Derek Munro coming on to partner Nichol up front.
Invergordon were unfortunate not to get one back before the interval. A neat cutback from Neil Steven to the unmarked Allan Stone was undone by the latter’s abortive attempt on goal.
Home keeper Lee Allan then had to display sharp reflexes to thwart Jordan Mitchell.
The conversion of one of these chances would have given Invergordon manager Graham Stewart some feel-good factor to inject into his interval talk. As it was, his young side continued to be on the receiving end as Thurso looked to further press home their advantage.
After an undistinguished opening, the Vikings almost added to their tally when MacDougall’s assist and Munro’s deep cross invited a volley from Nichol which fizzed a yard wide of the opposite post.
Nichol was then just off-target with a header from MacDougall’s free-kick.
On 63 minutes, MacDougall teed up Nichol for what should have been a routine finish.
The striker made a hash of it but Graeme Reid was on the spot to lash the ball into the back of the net.
Reid then replicated Nichol’s sloppiness at the back when he dwelled on the ball, enabling Jamie McLeod to steal in and rifle a shot fractionally wide.
Thurso were getting plenty of joy down both flanks with both MacDougall and Martin Bain proving productive outlets.
The Vikings went 7-0 up when Nichol side-footed into the empty net after MacDougall’s steepling cross was spilled by Campbell.
The keeper magnified his mistake when his outspoken protest that he had been impeded earned him a yellow card.
Thurso somehow failed to add to their total despite continuing to have the visiting defence on the rack for the remainder of the game.
With 15 minutes left, Derrick Shearer’s pass into the box was neatly flicked on by Bain to Munro whose shot grazed the top of the bar.
Several minutes later, Reid and Nichol missed short-range gimmes, with the former wearing the reddest face after posting a serious
contender for miss-of-the-season.
They were the most glaring examples of a slackness in Thurso’s
play for which the comfortable lead was perhaps responsible.
With five minutes left, sub Michael Petrie put his team in trouble with an under-hit pass near the halfway line.
It was seized on by Alan Stone who would have had an unobstructed run in on Allan were it not for the backtracking Steven.
The veteran got his young team-mate out of jail with a superb saving tackle on Stone, at the expense of a corner.
In the closing stages, Invergordon pair Alan Renwick and Scott MacGruer were booked for late tackles.
Back-to-back home wins have got the Vikings off to a cracking start but they face a very demanding assignment at North Kessock tomorrow.
Lee MacDougall’s wedding rules out both him and Graeme Reid while Miller is on holiday.
With Steven unavailable and Jamie MacKenzie facing a spell on the sidelines, manager Duncan Gray has no shortage of headaches.
On the plus side, Nigel Mackenzie and Des MacLeod are back in the frame after injury.
Thurso – Allan, Shearer, Reid, Miller (Petrie 66), Sutherland, Steven, Bain (Bell 81), Inrig, Nichol, J. Mackenzie (Munro 30), MacDougall.
Invergordon – Campbell, Whyte, Kennedy, C. Stone, Cooper, Mitchell, A. Stone, Renwick, McLeod (MacGruer 66), Steven, McCormick. Sub (unused) – Reid.
Ref – Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay.