Post by Brian Mackay on Nov 11, 2009 17:37:17 GMT -5
Thurso 1 V Muir of Ord Rovers 0 - report by Iain Grant
The Vikings left it late before retaining their 100% record at the Dammies on Saturday.
Mark Nichol’s injury-time strike fuelled their PSG North Caley title charge, increasing their lead to six points at the half-way mark.
Rovers proved feisty opponents who played with a confidence and resilience gained by an eight game winning streak.
The visitors’ challenge flagged after the interval when keeper Robert Rose’s goal came under sustained attack
After surviving several close shaves, Muir mounted a late salvo when they almost delivered the proverbial sting in the tail.
But just as the home camp were settling for a share of the spoils, Nichol stole in to net the winner a minute into over-time.
Absentees resulted in the first-time pairing of regular centre-back Grant Steven and Stuart MacKenzie in the heart of Thurso’s midfield.
Muir meanwhile were missing regular keeper Martin Rae and frontman Tony Farquhar.
There was little to choose between the sides in a first half which yielded little in the way of breathtaking goalmouth action.
On a still, sunny day, the first chance fell to Jamie MacKenzie on 17 minutes.
His shot was well enough struck and needed agility on the part of Rose to pull off a one-handed stop low to his right.
The contest was focused on a cluttered middle third with both sides struggling to produce the killer pass or cross to pierce well-marshalled rearguards.
Rose was happy to see Nigel MacKenzie’s 30 yard attempt clear his bar shortly before Ewan Dance shot narrowly past at the other end.
The home side mounted an onslaught in the closing minutes of the half with Nigel MacKenzie against just off target and Rose almost being caught out by several, spiralling corners.
Thurso improved markedly after the turnaround, showing more precision in their passing and injecting more menace and variety into their attacks.
The MacKenzie brothers and MacDougall were regularly involved as Muir found themselves increasingly pinned in their own half.
Rose rose to tip a Nichol snap-shot over on 55 minutes with the striker’s cross-cum-shot shortly afterwards inches too far for the inrushing Stuart MacKenzie to connect for what would have been a tap-in.
The pressure was keep up and Jamie MacKenzie could have done better on 62 minutes with an unopposed far-post header.
Nigel MacKenzie was next to try his luck as his shot from just outside the box skimmed past the left upright.
Sub Graham MacNab was quickly involved after making his Thurso debut from the bench with his connection from a Nichol lay-off forcing a decent stop from Rose.
Muir thrive on the quickfire counterattack and one such sortie down the left wing required a perfectly-timed tackle from Steven to prevent Scott Morrison given a run-in on goal.
Nigel MacKenzie was enjoying plenty of licence down the right flank with one infield run on 70 minutes opening up an inviting view of goal only for him to drag his shot wide.
Thurso should have opened their account on 74 minutes when Nichol and Nigel MacKenzie linked up to set up MacNab who misued from six yards.
MacNab shortly afterwards joined Morrison in ref Graham John’s book for a dangerous tackle.
Muir’s purple patch began on 77 minutes with a flowing move which ended with Martin Callum’s wicked inswinging cross being headed clear by Andrew Bremner under intense pressure.
Four minutes later, Thurso keeper Michael Gray survived his first serious test of the day as he got down to block a dipping, first-time effort from Dance.
Three minutes from Time, the MacKenzies combined well with a clear sight of goal momentarily opening up for Jamie.
He will regret his decision against having a pop as defenders quickly filled the space and the move ran out of steam.
With Thurso set to draw their first blank at home, they snatched the dramatic late clincher.
It was created by MacDougall who won space for himself on the left touchline before manufacturing a peach of a cross.
His long-range delivery found the blind-spot between the keeper and his defenders with Nichol running in to volley which crept over the line off the flailing legs of Rose.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid rated the game as his side’s most physical test of the season. “They made it very difficult for us,” he said. “It was as tough a game as we’ve had and, to be honest, it looked as if it had a 0-0 draw written all over it. “Every time we got possession, they dropped to five at the back and we found to difficult to create chances.” Reid praised the unstinting workrate of his troops and their never-say-die spirit.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Bremner, Sinclair, MacDougall, Petrie Steven, S. MacKenzie (MacNab 61), Nichol, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie. Subs (unused) – Sutherland and Begg.
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Calvert, Geegan (Stewart 83), John Skinner, Brennan, MacMillan, Callum, Gair, Dance, Turner (Lyall 85), Morrison. Subs (unused) – Duncan and Farquhar.
Ref – Mr G. John.
The Vikings left it late before retaining their 100% record at the Dammies on Saturday.
Mark Nichol’s injury-time strike fuelled their PSG North Caley title charge, increasing their lead to six points at the half-way mark.
Rovers proved feisty opponents who played with a confidence and resilience gained by an eight game winning streak.
The visitors’ challenge flagged after the interval when keeper Robert Rose’s goal came under sustained attack
After surviving several close shaves, Muir mounted a late salvo when they almost delivered the proverbial sting in the tail.
But just as the home camp were settling for a share of the spoils, Nichol stole in to net the winner a minute into over-time.
Absentees resulted in the first-time pairing of regular centre-back Grant Steven and Stuart MacKenzie in the heart of Thurso’s midfield.
Muir meanwhile were missing regular keeper Martin Rae and frontman Tony Farquhar.
There was little to choose between the sides in a first half which yielded little in the way of breathtaking goalmouth action.
On a still, sunny day, the first chance fell to Jamie MacKenzie on 17 minutes.
His shot was well enough struck and needed agility on the part of Rose to pull off a one-handed stop low to his right.
The contest was focused on a cluttered middle third with both sides struggling to produce the killer pass or cross to pierce well-marshalled rearguards.
Rose was happy to see Nigel MacKenzie’s 30 yard attempt clear his bar shortly before Ewan Dance shot narrowly past at the other end.
The home side mounted an onslaught in the closing minutes of the half with Nigel MacKenzie against just off target and Rose almost being caught out by several, spiralling corners.
Thurso improved markedly after the turnaround, showing more precision in their passing and injecting more menace and variety into their attacks.
The MacKenzie brothers and MacDougall were regularly involved as Muir found themselves increasingly pinned in their own half.
Rose rose to tip a Nichol snap-shot over on 55 minutes with the striker’s cross-cum-shot shortly afterwards inches too far for the inrushing Stuart MacKenzie to connect for what would have been a tap-in.
The pressure was keep up and Jamie MacKenzie could have done better on 62 minutes with an unopposed far-post header.
Nigel MacKenzie was next to try his luck as his shot from just outside the box skimmed past the left upright.
Sub Graham MacNab was quickly involved after making his Thurso debut from the bench with his connection from a Nichol lay-off forcing a decent stop from Rose.
Muir thrive on the quickfire counterattack and one such sortie down the left wing required a perfectly-timed tackle from Steven to prevent Scott Morrison given a run-in on goal.
Nigel MacKenzie was enjoying plenty of licence down the right flank with one infield run on 70 minutes opening up an inviting view of goal only for him to drag his shot wide.
Thurso should have opened their account on 74 minutes when Nichol and Nigel MacKenzie linked up to set up MacNab who misued from six yards.
MacNab shortly afterwards joined Morrison in ref Graham John’s book for a dangerous tackle.
Muir’s purple patch began on 77 minutes with a flowing move which ended with Martin Callum’s wicked inswinging cross being headed clear by Andrew Bremner under intense pressure.
Four minutes later, Thurso keeper Michael Gray survived his first serious test of the day as he got down to block a dipping, first-time effort from Dance.
Three minutes from Time, the MacKenzies combined well with a clear sight of goal momentarily opening up for Jamie.
He will regret his decision against having a pop as defenders quickly filled the space and the move ran out of steam.
With Thurso set to draw their first blank at home, they snatched the dramatic late clincher.
It was created by MacDougall who won space for himself on the left touchline before manufacturing a peach of a cross.
His long-range delivery found the blind-spot between the keeper and his defenders with Nichol running in to volley which crept over the line off the flailing legs of Rose.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid rated the game as his side’s most physical test of the season. “They made it very difficult for us,” he said. “It was as tough a game as we’ve had and, to be honest, it looked as if it had a 0-0 draw written all over it. “Every time we got possession, they dropped to five at the back and we found to difficult to create chances.” Reid praised the unstinting workrate of his troops and their never-say-die spirit.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Bremner, Sinclair, MacDougall, Petrie Steven, S. MacKenzie (MacNab 61), Nichol, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie. Subs (unused) – Sutherland and Begg.
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Calvert, Geegan (Stewart 83), John Skinner, Brennan, MacMillan, Callum, Gair, Dance, Turner (Lyall 85), Morrison. Subs (unused) – Duncan and Farquhar.
Ref – Mr G. John.