Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 27, 2010 17:32:43 GMT -5
Thurso 3 V Balintore 0 - report from Iain Grant
The Vikings would have not have won many marks for artistic expression or style on Saturday.
Application and perspiration replaced flair and inspiration as the ingredients for a victory which extended to eight points their lead at the top of the PSG North Caledonian League League.
As crunch time in the season approaches, manager Stevie Reid is however less concerned about the performance than the end product of three points.
It was one of the least entertaining days on a season which has seen some pretty decent football played at Sir Georges Park.
A youthful Balintore side had arrived on the back of a deflating 8-1 mauling at the hands of previously point-less Fort William.
This no doubt accounted, in part, for a lacklustre display by the Vikings, too many of whom seemed to view the outcome as a foregone conclusion.
The visitors went about their business with a bustle and determination which made the final score flatter their hosts.
They enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in a first quarter when Andrew Bell struck the inside of a post.
Jamie MacKenzie fired Thurso ahead with their first attack of any real consequence on 22 minutes.
After Wayne Monkman headed a second on the half-hour mark, Balintore went close several times before MacKenzie’s second late on rounded off the scoring.
The Easter Ross outfit early on demonstrated their will to expunge the memory of the previous Saturday’s horror show on the west coast.
They kept possession well and showed a resilience in defence which was to become a feature of the afternoon.
They looked set to go in front after eight minutes when Bell darted clear and arrowed a shot which keeper Michael Gray could only watch as it pinged back towards him off the left upright.
David MacGruer also saw a long range effort flash narrowly wide during the opening period when Thurso looked distinctly out-of-sorts.
The home camp’s growing fears that the game could be a banana-skin were eased with the opener.
The first of Nigel MacKenzie’s telling contributions of the day came with a well-weighted pass which found brother Jamie in the clear.
After swerving past keeper Scott MacGruer, he then cheekily eluded the lunge of Steven Alexander before passing the ball into the net.
Jamie Mackenzie was almost celebrating again a couple of minutes later when he got on the end of a well-crafted low centre from the overlapping Sean Stewart.
MacKenzie overstretched as he made contact and though he netted seconds later from a second assist, he was by when clearly offside.
The second goal was aided by Balintore backline’s mistimed attempt to push out just as Nigel MacKenzie delivered a free-kick into the 18 yard box.
Far from springing the offside trap, it left three attackers primed to attack the ball with just keeper MacGruer to beat.
Monkman took responsibility and he steadied himself before steering a shot past the keeper for a gilt-wrapped second goal.
Grant Steven almost got to another dangerous setpiece from Lee MacDougall as Thurso belatedly got their act together.
They continued to look vulnerable at the back and a failure to properly clear their lines was almost punished just before the interval by Graeme Davis.
The Vikings relapsed after the interval with their threat being largely contained to a succession of hopeful shots from distance which failed to trouble Scott MacGruer.
Bell was a busy presence throughout and he worked the first clear opening of the second period but could not find the shot to match the build-up.
The game was proving a real turn-off for the crowd, many of whom were on auto-pilot by the time the first move of real quality after the break materialised.
A slick sequence on 72 minutes ended with Nigel MacKenzie’s darting down the right and picking out Monkman’s run into the penalty box.
His power header from near the penalty spot was heading for the top right postage-stamp corner until MacGruer’s gymnastics allowed him to tip the ball over the bar.
Balintore went on to enjoy a 10 minute spell when they looked capable of getting the goal back which would have heralded a nervy finale for the home camp.
David MacGruer tested Gray with a dipping effort before the Thurso goal had an amazing let-off on 78 minutes.
Bell latched on to an under-hit pass-back and though his route to goal was blocked, the ball broke to Gus MacDonald 25 yards out with Gray stranded outside his box.
The striker’s curving shot caught the inside of the right post with the ball deflecting back into the grateful hands of the keeper.
Play switched to the other end and Jamie MacKenzie’s cross produced a left-foot attempt from Monkman which keeper MacGruer did well to turn away with his feet.
Thurso’s Orcadian attacking midfielder then saw a shot from distance brush past the right upright with the keeper beaten.
The late introduction of Marc Begg livened up the home cause and the winger played the lead role in his side’s third goal with three minutes left.
He skipped down the left flank before tacking infield and centring to leave Jamie MacKenzie with a simple tap-in from four yards.
Balintore’s James Metcalfe picked up a late booking for a foul on sub Michael Petrie to add to Alexander’s earlier caution for a late challenge on Martin Sutherland.
The performance failed to impress manager Reid though he was happy to pocket another three points.
“There was very little flow to the game,” he said.
“We had a few decent spells but overall it wasn’t very bonny.
“The wind didn’t help matters and credit to Balintore for making a real go of it. “Three points is really what matters at this stage in the season though hopefully we can kick on and improve our level of performance in the remaining matches.”
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Sutherland (Munro 83), Steven, Sinclair,
MacGregor, N. MacKenzie (Begg 85), Monkman, Murray (Petrie 72), J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Robertson.
Balintore – S. MacGruer, Smith, D. MacGruer (J. MacLeod 88), Metcalfe, Calderwood, Kelly, Davis, Alexander, MacDonald, Bell, Ripley. Sub (unused) – M. MacLeod.
Ref – Mr G. John.
The Vikings would have not have won many marks for artistic expression or style on Saturday.
Application and perspiration replaced flair and inspiration as the ingredients for a victory which extended to eight points their lead at the top of the PSG North Caledonian League League.
As crunch time in the season approaches, manager Stevie Reid is however less concerned about the performance than the end product of three points.
It was one of the least entertaining days on a season which has seen some pretty decent football played at Sir Georges Park.
A youthful Balintore side had arrived on the back of a deflating 8-1 mauling at the hands of previously point-less Fort William.
This no doubt accounted, in part, for a lacklustre display by the Vikings, too many of whom seemed to view the outcome as a foregone conclusion.
The visitors went about their business with a bustle and determination which made the final score flatter their hosts.
They enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in a first quarter when Andrew Bell struck the inside of a post.
Jamie MacKenzie fired Thurso ahead with their first attack of any real consequence on 22 minutes.
After Wayne Monkman headed a second on the half-hour mark, Balintore went close several times before MacKenzie’s second late on rounded off the scoring.
The Easter Ross outfit early on demonstrated their will to expunge the memory of the previous Saturday’s horror show on the west coast.
They kept possession well and showed a resilience in defence which was to become a feature of the afternoon.
They looked set to go in front after eight minutes when Bell darted clear and arrowed a shot which keeper Michael Gray could only watch as it pinged back towards him off the left upright.
David MacGruer also saw a long range effort flash narrowly wide during the opening period when Thurso looked distinctly out-of-sorts.
The home camp’s growing fears that the game could be a banana-skin were eased with the opener.
The first of Nigel MacKenzie’s telling contributions of the day came with a well-weighted pass which found brother Jamie in the clear.
After swerving past keeper Scott MacGruer, he then cheekily eluded the lunge of Steven Alexander before passing the ball into the net.
Jamie Mackenzie was almost celebrating again a couple of minutes later when he got on the end of a well-crafted low centre from the overlapping Sean Stewart.
MacKenzie overstretched as he made contact and though he netted seconds later from a second assist, he was by when clearly offside.
The second goal was aided by Balintore backline’s mistimed attempt to push out just as Nigel MacKenzie delivered a free-kick into the 18 yard box.
Far from springing the offside trap, it left three attackers primed to attack the ball with just keeper MacGruer to beat.
Monkman took responsibility and he steadied himself before steering a shot past the keeper for a gilt-wrapped second goal.
Grant Steven almost got to another dangerous setpiece from Lee MacDougall as Thurso belatedly got their act together.
They continued to look vulnerable at the back and a failure to properly clear their lines was almost punished just before the interval by Graeme Davis.
The Vikings relapsed after the interval with their threat being largely contained to a succession of hopeful shots from distance which failed to trouble Scott MacGruer.
Bell was a busy presence throughout and he worked the first clear opening of the second period but could not find the shot to match the build-up.
The game was proving a real turn-off for the crowd, many of whom were on auto-pilot by the time the first move of real quality after the break materialised.
A slick sequence on 72 minutes ended with Nigel MacKenzie’s darting down the right and picking out Monkman’s run into the penalty box.
His power header from near the penalty spot was heading for the top right postage-stamp corner until MacGruer’s gymnastics allowed him to tip the ball over the bar.
Balintore went on to enjoy a 10 minute spell when they looked capable of getting the goal back which would have heralded a nervy finale for the home camp.
David MacGruer tested Gray with a dipping effort before the Thurso goal had an amazing let-off on 78 minutes.
Bell latched on to an under-hit pass-back and though his route to goal was blocked, the ball broke to Gus MacDonald 25 yards out with Gray stranded outside his box.
The striker’s curving shot caught the inside of the right post with the ball deflecting back into the grateful hands of the keeper.
Play switched to the other end and Jamie MacKenzie’s cross produced a left-foot attempt from Monkman which keeper MacGruer did well to turn away with his feet.
Thurso’s Orcadian attacking midfielder then saw a shot from distance brush past the right upright with the keeper beaten.
The late introduction of Marc Begg livened up the home cause and the winger played the lead role in his side’s third goal with three minutes left.
He skipped down the left flank before tacking infield and centring to leave Jamie MacKenzie with a simple tap-in from four yards.
Balintore’s James Metcalfe picked up a late booking for a foul on sub Michael Petrie to add to Alexander’s earlier caution for a late challenge on Martin Sutherland.
The performance failed to impress manager Reid though he was happy to pocket another three points.
“There was very little flow to the game,” he said.
“We had a few decent spells but overall it wasn’t very bonny.
“The wind didn’t help matters and credit to Balintore for making a real go of it. “Three points is really what matters at this stage in the season though hopefully we can kick on and improve our level of performance in the remaining matches.”
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Sutherland (Munro 83), Steven, Sinclair,
MacGregor, N. MacKenzie (Begg 85), Monkman, Murray (Petrie 72), J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Robertson.
Balintore – S. MacGruer, Smith, D. MacGruer (J. MacLeod 88), Metcalfe, Calderwood, Kelly, Davis, Alexander, MacDonald, Bell, Ripley. Sub (unused) – M. MacLeod.
Ref – Mr G. John.