Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 17, 2009 13:52:22 GMT -5
Thurso 3 Alness United 0 - Report by Iain Grant
The Vikings rounded off what has been a difficult MSIS North Caley league campaign on Saturday with a solid victory on a foul day at the Dammies. Thurso are destined to finish fifth or sixth after having won as many points as they have conceded with a return of seven wins, seven defeats and four draws.
It has been a season of reconstruction for the former champions under new manager Stevie Reid.
After fielding a platoon of players and experimenting with a range of formations, he is close to knowing his optimum line-up when all are fit and available.
Personnel problems again affected Saturday’s selection which resulted in emergency call-ups for former striker Des MacLeod and veterans Iain Elder and Kevin Warner.
United arrived at the Dammies in the wake of manager Tommy Regan’s departure to take charge of Brora Rangers. A move which earlier this week he rescinded because of work commitments.
Alness, minus three players picked for Brora’s scheduled trip to play Deveronvale – were looked after by Craig Vass.
Vass, the manager of Ross-shire Welfare league champions Black Rock Rovers, and veteran defender Keith Dingwall, are to see United through to the end of the season.
The Vikings were quickly on the offensive in a first half which they dominated despite playing into the face of a bone-chilling wind, which was laced with heavy showers.
Jamie MacKenzie announced his return with a typically inventive contribution in the heart of the midfield.
His release to Lee MacDougall ended with the wide man’s centre being struck narrowly wide of the target by MacLeod.
MacDougall was the source of the opening goal on 12 minutes when his cross from the left was met by Andrew Cumming’s firm header at the back post.
MacLeod missed a great chance to make it 2-0 12 minutes later when he missed the target after visiting keeper Grant Robertson had spilled a long-range effort from Grant Steven.
Another Cumming header produced a fine stop from Robertson before MacKenzie’s involvement in the game ended was after he was injured in a clash with the keeper.
Alness seldom threatened with their best chance of the half falling to Shaun Robertson whose rasping shot on 38 minutes testing home keeper Michael Gray.
The elements, if anything, deteriorated after the interval, with both sides striving to keep the ball below knee-height to prevent play being dictated by the vagaries of the wind.
The Vikings retained the upper hand with Steven flashing a header just wide and Petrie inches away from connecting with Cumming’s cutback from the byeline.
The visitors responded with a menacing raid on the hour-mark which would have counted had James Cochrane been able to get more power on a six yard volley.
The action quickly returned to the other end where sub Elder created openings for MacLeod and MacDougall in quick succession.
MacLeod’s strike came back off the legs off Robertson while MacDougall’s beat the keeper only to rebound off the inside of the right post.
Petrie had a 25 yarder well fielded by Robertson as Thurso’s failure to capitalise on their dominance left them exposed to the classic counter-punch.
Stuart Murray had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty rejected before
the Vikings got the cushion of a second goal after 78 minutes.
Robertson must have seen MacDougall’s fizzing free-kick late and did well to get down low to make a parry low at his far post.
The keeper contrived to recover to save Derrick Shearer’s follow-up but the full-back was not to be denied his first counter of the season as he slammed the loose ball into the net from a couple of yards out.
Two minutes from time, Shearer almost gave Alness a lifeline when he baulked Vass as the latter drove into the penalty box.
The visitors’ hopes were however dashed when Gray not only kept out sub Andrew Maitland’s spot-kick but blocked Murray’s follow-up.
Insult was added to the injury in the final action of the game when MacLeod gathered a MacDougall assist before stepping past a defender and slotting the ball wide of Robertson.
Thurso’s next match is a home Jock MacKay Memorial Cup semi-final versus Muir of Ord Rovers or Invergordon on April 4.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Shearer, Steven, Forbes, Inrig (Warner 85), Cumming (S. Sinclair 85), Petrie, MacLeod, MacKenzie (Elder 31), MacDougall.
Alness – Robertson, Wright, Bremner, Stewart, Campbell, Douglas (Vass 80), Cochrane (Maitland 65), Robertson, Murray, Reid, Sinclair
(Miller 41).
Ref – Mr G. John, Wick.
The Vikings rounded off what has been a difficult MSIS North Caley league campaign on Saturday with a solid victory on a foul day at the Dammies. Thurso are destined to finish fifth or sixth after having won as many points as they have conceded with a return of seven wins, seven defeats and four draws.
It has been a season of reconstruction for the former champions under new manager Stevie Reid.
After fielding a platoon of players and experimenting with a range of formations, he is close to knowing his optimum line-up when all are fit and available.
Personnel problems again affected Saturday’s selection which resulted in emergency call-ups for former striker Des MacLeod and veterans Iain Elder and Kevin Warner.
United arrived at the Dammies in the wake of manager Tommy Regan’s departure to take charge of Brora Rangers. A move which earlier this week he rescinded because of work commitments.
Alness, minus three players picked for Brora’s scheduled trip to play Deveronvale – were looked after by Craig Vass.
Vass, the manager of Ross-shire Welfare league champions Black Rock Rovers, and veteran defender Keith Dingwall, are to see United through to the end of the season.
The Vikings were quickly on the offensive in a first half which they dominated despite playing into the face of a bone-chilling wind, which was laced with heavy showers.
Jamie MacKenzie announced his return with a typically inventive contribution in the heart of the midfield.
His release to Lee MacDougall ended with the wide man’s centre being struck narrowly wide of the target by MacLeod.
MacDougall was the source of the opening goal on 12 minutes when his cross from the left was met by Andrew Cumming’s firm header at the back post.
MacLeod missed a great chance to make it 2-0 12 minutes later when he missed the target after visiting keeper Grant Robertson had spilled a long-range effort from Grant Steven.
Another Cumming header produced a fine stop from Robertson before MacKenzie’s involvement in the game ended was after he was injured in a clash with the keeper.
Alness seldom threatened with their best chance of the half falling to Shaun Robertson whose rasping shot on 38 minutes testing home keeper Michael Gray.
The elements, if anything, deteriorated after the interval, with both sides striving to keep the ball below knee-height to prevent play being dictated by the vagaries of the wind.
The Vikings retained the upper hand with Steven flashing a header just wide and Petrie inches away from connecting with Cumming’s cutback from the byeline.
The visitors responded with a menacing raid on the hour-mark which would have counted had James Cochrane been able to get more power on a six yard volley.
The action quickly returned to the other end where sub Elder created openings for MacLeod and MacDougall in quick succession.
MacLeod’s strike came back off the legs off Robertson while MacDougall’s beat the keeper only to rebound off the inside of the right post.
Petrie had a 25 yarder well fielded by Robertson as Thurso’s failure to capitalise on their dominance left them exposed to the classic counter-punch.
Stuart Murray had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty rejected before
the Vikings got the cushion of a second goal after 78 minutes.
Robertson must have seen MacDougall’s fizzing free-kick late and did well to get down low to make a parry low at his far post.
The keeper contrived to recover to save Derrick Shearer’s follow-up but the full-back was not to be denied his first counter of the season as he slammed the loose ball into the net from a couple of yards out.
Two minutes from time, Shearer almost gave Alness a lifeline when he baulked Vass as the latter drove into the penalty box.
The visitors’ hopes were however dashed when Gray not only kept out sub Andrew Maitland’s spot-kick but blocked Murray’s follow-up.
Insult was added to the injury in the final action of the game when MacLeod gathered a MacDougall assist before stepping past a defender and slotting the ball wide of Robertson.
Thurso’s next match is a home Jock MacKay Memorial Cup semi-final versus Muir of Ord Rovers or Invergordon on April 4.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Shearer, Steven, Forbes, Inrig (Warner 85), Cumming (S. Sinclair 85), Petrie, MacLeod, MacKenzie (Elder 31), MacDougall.
Alness – Robertson, Wright, Bremner, Stewart, Campbell, Douglas (Vass 80), Cochrane (Maitland 65), Robertson, Murray, Reid, Sinclair
(Miller 41).
Ref – Mr G. John, Wick.