Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 30, 2010 13:00:04 GMT -5
Halkirk United 2 V Thurso 3 - report from Iain Grant
An all-Caithness cup-tie heralded a riveting resumption to play for action-starved North Caley fans in the far north.
Fears that the seven week lay-off would produce a lacklustre, low-key encounter proved well wide of the mark.
Five goals, two sendings-off and an unpredictable script sustained interest from the first to the final whistle of Saturday’s Jock Mackay Memorial Cup first round match at Recreation Park.
United manager Ian MacDonald was left raging at the decisions to dismiss the Sinclair brothers, Colin and Alan, and branded ref Graham Elder’s display ‘atrocious’.
He was however full of praise for the battling qualities of his nine men who spent the best part of the final quarter pressing for an equaliser.
Counterpart Stevie Reid was just relieved to get back in action and savour his first victory in Halkirk as a manager.
The Vikings appeared to have taken a firm grip of the tie with goals from Mark Nichol and Wayne Monkman reflecting their first half dominance.
But the tide turned after the interval when the home side shook off their earlier lethargy and could count themselves unlucky not to at least force extra-time.
Scott Mackay Steven and Stevie Reid posted their first strikes of the season in between Thurso’s third netted by defender Andrew Bremner.
Astonishingly, the two red cards failed to significantly alter the pattern of the game.
While there were not any major scares around Michael Gray’s goal,
the Vikings were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle.
Thurso looked to have survived the lengthy shutdown in better shape as they fashioned two decent moves in the opening minutes.
A hanging cross from near the left corner-flag by Lee MacDougall fell to the unmarked Nichol who found the angle just too tight as his volley rippled the outside of the side-net.
MacDougall’s quickly-taken free-kick then released Jamie Mackenzie whose first-time shot arc-ed narrowly over.
The Anglers replied with an incisive passage of play which ended with Mackay Steven shooting tamely at Gray.
Gray was then extended to get his fingertips to touch over Gavin Henderson’s 35 yard dead-ball strike.
Just as the home side looked to have rallied after a poor start, they found themselves behind on 25 minutes.
Monkman’s slide-rule pass from his own half exposed United’s back-line and afforded Nichol an unopposed run-in on goal.
He held his nerve to fire past the advancing Graeme Williamson into the right corner of the net.
Nine minutes later, Monkman increased the lead after he met Nigel MacKenzie’s free-kick with a firm downward header from just outside the far post.
A bit of niggle was creeping into the game with Colin Sinclair booked for felling MacDougall and Jamie MacKenzie cautioned for talkback.
Halkirk continued to lack precision in the final third of the field with some fancy build-ups coming no naught for want of a telling cross or convincing strike at goal.
On 36 minutes, Colin Sinclair’s free-kick was not properly cleared but Henderson could not capitalise as he skied his close-in attempt.
The home side were relieved not to fall further behind a couple of minutes from the interval when Nigel Mackenzie’s dinked pass to Nichol required a brave block from Williamson to foil the striker.
The Anglers wasted no time in proving their new resolve when they grabbed a goal back on 47 minutes.
Luke Sawyer did the spadework before Reid played in Mackay Steven who beat Gray from six yards.
United kept the initiative and Colin Sinclair fully tested the Thurso keeper with a wicked 30 yarder.
Their momentum appeared to have been halted when the Vikings restored their two goal advantage on 54 minutes.
Williamson appeared slow to get down to Nichol’s 20 yard free-kick.
It cannoned back off a post and Bremner was first to react with a controlled finish. Back came Halkirk and within three minutes, Reid latched on a long-range assist from Stuart Florence to keep defender Grant Steven at bay before rifling a low shot from the edge of the box past Gray.
The home cause was then hit by Colin Sinclair’s dismissal after he picked up a second booking for clattering into Jamie MacKenzie on 58 minutes.
Nigel MacKenzie was fortunate to escape with just a booking after he appeared to grab hold of Colin Sinclair in the aftermath to the challenge.
On 73 minutes, Alan Sinclair was shown a straight red for his studs-up lunge on Gary MacGregor.
Far from blunting their bid to get back on terms, the double blow appeared to inspire the home troops.
But while they pressed for the remainder of the match and forced a number of corners, they did not come close to an equaliser.
Afterwards, United manager MacDonald seethed about what he claimed was the rough justice dished out to his side.
“I really felt it was atrocious refereering. “I don’t think either of the red cards were justified while I don’t know how Nigel MacKenzie didn’t walk as he had Boris (Colin Sinclair) by the throat.”
MacDonald was also aggrieved did not get a penalty in the first half.
“It seemed to be one rule for one side and one for the other,” he said. Acknowledging his side failed to perform in the first half, he praised their efforts after the interval.
“I felt we more or less commanded the game in the second half when the boys put in a great shift, especially after we went down to nine. “saying that, even if we got the equaliser, we would almost certainly have run out of steam in extra-time.”
Stevie Reid was happy with how his men reacted to the long lay-off.
“I thought we looked fitter and sharper than them. “After going two up, we expected a backlash from them and – fair play to them – they did come back strongly though they never really hurt us.”
He added: “We played in fits and starts after the break when we caused more problems for ourselves by not keeping the ball. “It was perhaps a case of tired legs but overall I was pleased with their first game back in seven weeks and I think we deserved the win on the back of our first half performance.
Halkirk – Williamson, Florence, Murray, A. Sinclair, Davidson, Henderson, C. Sinclair, Mackay Steven (Davis 74), Budge (MacDonald 58), Reid (Munro 75), Sawyer.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland (Petrie 65), Stewart (Forbes 66), Bremner, Steven, MacGregor, N. MacKenzie, Monkman, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Munro, Begg and Robertson.
Ref – Mr G. Elder.
An all-Caithness cup-tie heralded a riveting resumption to play for action-starved North Caley fans in the far north.
Fears that the seven week lay-off would produce a lacklustre, low-key encounter proved well wide of the mark.
Five goals, two sendings-off and an unpredictable script sustained interest from the first to the final whistle of Saturday’s Jock Mackay Memorial Cup first round match at Recreation Park.
United manager Ian MacDonald was left raging at the decisions to dismiss the Sinclair brothers, Colin and Alan, and branded ref Graham Elder’s display ‘atrocious’.
He was however full of praise for the battling qualities of his nine men who spent the best part of the final quarter pressing for an equaliser.
Counterpart Stevie Reid was just relieved to get back in action and savour his first victory in Halkirk as a manager.
The Vikings appeared to have taken a firm grip of the tie with goals from Mark Nichol and Wayne Monkman reflecting their first half dominance.
But the tide turned after the interval when the home side shook off their earlier lethargy and could count themselves unlucky not to at least force extra-time.
Scott Mackay Steven and Stevie Reid posted their first strikes of the season in between Thurso’s third netted by defender Andrew Bremner.
Astonishingly, the two red cards failed to significantly alter the pattern of the game.
While there were not any major scares around Michael Gray’s goal,
the Vikings were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle.
Thurso looked to have survived the lengthy shutdown in better shape as they fashioned two decent moves in the opening minutes.
A hanging cross from near the left corner-flag by Lee MacDougall fell to the unmarked Nichol who found the angle just too tight as his volley rippled the outside of the side-net.
MacDougall’s quickly-taken free-kick then released Jamie Mackenzie whose first-time shot arc-ed narrowly over.
The Anglers replied with an incisive passage of play which ended with Mackay Steven shooting tamely at Gray.
Gray was then extended to get his fingertips to touch over Gavin Henderson’s 35 yard dead-ball strike.
Just as the home side looked to have rallied after a poor start, they found themselves behind on 25 minutes.
Monkman’s slide-rule pass from his own half exposed United’s back-line and afforded Nichol an unopposed run-in on goal.
He held his nerve to fire past the advancing Graeme Williamson into the right corner of the net.
Nine minutes later, Monkman increased the lead after he met Nigel MacKenzie’s free-kick with a firm downward header from just outside the far post.
A bit of niggle was creeping into the game with Colin Sinclair booked for felling MacDougall and Jamie MacKenzie cautioned for talkback.
Halkirk continued to lack precision in the final third of the field with some fancy build-ups coming no naught for want of a telling cross or convincing strike at goal.
On 36 minutes, Colin Sinclair’s free-kick was not properly cleared but Henderson could not capitalise as he skied his close-in attempt.
The home side were relieved not to fall further behind a couple of minutes from the interval when Nigel Mackenzie’s dinked pass to Nichol required a brave block from Williamson to foil the striker.
The Anglers wasted no time in proving their new resolve when they grabbed a goal back on 47 minutes.
Luke Sawyer did the spadework before Reid played in Mackay Steven who beat Gray from six yards.
United kept the initiative and Colin Sinclair fully tested the Thurso keeper with a wicked 30 yarder.
Their momentum appeared to have been halted when the Vikings restored their two goal advantage on 54 minutes.
Williamson appeared slow to get down to Nichol’s 20 yard free-kick.
It cannoned back off a post and Bremner was first to react with a controlled finish. Back came Halkirk and within three minutes, Reid latched on a long-range assist from Stuart Florence to keep defender Grant Steven at bay before rifling a low shot from the edge of the box past Gray.
The home cause was then hit by Colin Sinclair’s dismissal after he picked up a second booking for clattering into Jamie MacKenzie on 58 minutes.
Nigel MacKenzie was fortunate to escape with just a booking after he appeared to grab hold of Colin Sinclair in the aftermath to the challenge.
On 73 minutes, Alan Sinclair was shown a straight red for his studs-up lunge on Gary MacGregor.
Far from blunting their bid to get back on terms, the double blow appeared to inspire the home troops.
But while they pressed for the remainder of the match and forced a number of corners, they did not come close to an equaliser.
Afterwards, United manager MacDonald seethed about what he claimed was the rough justice dished out to his side.
“I really felt it was atrocious refereering. “I don’t think either of the red cards were justified while I don’t know how Nigel MacKenzie didn’t walk as he had Boris (Colin Sinclair) by the throat.”
MacDonald was also aggrieved did not get a penalty in the first half.
“It seemed to be one rule for one side and one for the other,” he said. Acknowledging his side failed to perform in the first half, he praised their efforts after the interval.
“I felt we more or less commanded the game in the second half when the boys put in a great shift, especially after we went down to nine. “saying that, even if we got the equaliser, we would almost certainly have run out of steam in extra-time.”
Stevie Reid was happy with how his men reacted to the long lay-off.
“I thought we looked fitter and sharper than them. “After going two up, we expected a backlash from them and – fair play to them – they did come back strongly though they never really hurt us.”
He added: “We played in fits and starts after the break when we caused more problems for ourselves by not keeping the ball. “It was perhaps a case of tired legs but overall I was pleased with their first game back in seven weeks and I think we deserved the win on the back of our first half performance.
Halkirk – Williamson, Florence, Murray, A. Sinclair, Davidson, Henderson, C. Sinclair, Mackay Steven (Davis 74), Budge (MacDonald 58), Reid (Munro 75), Sawyer.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland (Petrie 65), Stewart (Forbes 66), Bremner, Steven, MacGregor, N. MacKenzie, Monkman, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Munro, Begg and Robertson.
Ref – Mr G. Elder.