Post by Brian Mackay on Nov 15, 2004 12:31:26 GMT -5
Thurso 1 Golspie 2 - by Iain Grant
Thurso crashed out of the North Caledonian Cup on Saturday when Golspie spiked their 10 game unbeaten start to the MSIS North Caley season.
The Sutherland men owed their first round victory to a supercharged start which saw him forge two in front after 25 minutes.
They could have increased the advantage before the Vikings came back strongly in the closing 10 minutes of the half.
Golspie thereafter were content to entrench themselves in their own half and seek to absorb everything their hosts could throw at them.
Thurso grabbed one back through Mark Nichol on 69 minutes and came close on a clutch of occasions to sending the tie into over-time.
They peppered Ian Young's goal in the closing stages but as hard as they tried, the equaliser was not to materialise.
The home outfit, under the charge of assistant manager Richard Hughes, were weakened after a back injury meant experienced defender Shaun Moar joined
the suspended Jamie Mackenzie on the sidelines.
Alan Sutherland's 11th hour call-off further disrupted their defence.
Thurso fell behind immediately after they had gone close to the opener when Alan Murray was inches away from connecting with a tempting cross from
Nichol after seven minutes.
The visitors duly broke up field and a slick move resulted in Walter MacKay crossing for Martyn Cooper to finish with aplomb.
The Vikings' defence had a jittery look to it and after 12 minutes keeper Michael Gray was required to produce a decent stop from Steven MacLean's shot.
Two minutes later, Michael Gray was again called into action to quell another lively attack.
It was no real surprise when Golspie doubled their lead when David Gray's centre found Tommy Campbell unmarked to fire past Michael Gray from 10 yards.
Thurso were strangely subdued and might well have gone further behind on the half-hour mark had Golspie defender Rod Smith shown more composure with a
free header he had inside the six yard box.
That finally stung the home men out of their lethargy and they started to enjoy good spells of possession and pose a goal menace.
A spiralling cross from Lee MacDougall had Young in trouble before he managed to get the merest of touch to prevent a goal.
A clever flick from Murray then presented Nichol with his first real glimpse of the goal and Young had to be fast off his line to effect a vital block.
The half ended with Nichol flashing a drive just over as Thurso continued to demonstrate their intent to force their way back into the tie.
To turn that aspiration into reality, they badly needed an early breakthrough after the restart.
Within a minute, they looked set to open their account when Murray drove down the undefended inside-right channel.
His raking, low shot, in turn, eluded the reach of both Young and Phil Makhouli as it raced a foot past the far post.
Half-chances for Cooper and will-o-the-wisp Mackay, both held by Michael Gray, were the fruits of rare forays for the visitors.
The main action revolved around Young who did well to beat out a stinging effort by Makhouli after 67 minutes.
That left the keeper hors de combat to deal with the aftermath but MacDougall wasted the chance when his right-foot attempt sailed high over the bar.
MacDougall and Nichol both went close before the latter finally got on the score-sheet.
He met a corner from Gavin Bremner and powered a header into the net.
The same source almost came up trumps four later for Thurso but neither Nichol nor Murray were able to get the touch needed as the ball scooted across the goalmouth.
Young then dealt with two long rangers from MacDougall before Darren Pullen was exceptionally lucky to survive a penalty appeal after 85 minutes when he clattered into Nichol just inside the box.
Two minutes from time, Makhouli threaded a ball through to Murray who rushed a difficult attempt on goal when he perhaps did not realise he had the time
to take a touch and steady himself.
A frustrating day for Thurso was completed by Brian Gray's injury-time booking for dissent.
Tomorrow, they return to league action when they will be targeting a win at home to Bonar Bridge to maintain their title challenge.
MacKenzie is still suspended while Moar is unlikely to be fit. Alan Sutherland is set to return to the squad for the game, which kicks of at 2 p.m.
Thurso v Golspie: M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner, Baker, Adamson (Forbes 66), Makhouli, Bremner, Sutherland, MacDougall, Murray, Nichol. Unused subs -- Cook and Steven.
Referee -- Mr W. Sinclair
Thurso crashed out of the North Caledonian Cup on Saturday when Golspie spiked their 10 game unbeaten start to the MSIS North Caley season.
The Sutherland men owed their first round victory to a supercharged start which saw him forge two in front after 25 minutes.
They could have increased the advantage before the Vikings came back strongly in the closing 10 minutes of the half.
Golspie thereafter were content to entrench themselves in their own half and seek to absorb everything their hosts could throw at them.
Thurso grabbed one back through Mark Nichol on 69 minutes and came close on a clutch of occasions to sending the tie into over-time.
They peppered Ian Young's goal in the closing stages but as hard as they tried, the equaliser was not to materialise.
The home outfit, under the charge of assistant manager Richard Hughes, were weakened after a back injury meant experienced defender Shaun Moar joined
the suspended Jamie Mackenzie on the sidelines.
Alan Sutherland's 11th hour call-off further disrupted their defence.
Thurso fell behind immediately after they had gone close to the opener when Alan Murray was inches away from connecting with a tempting cross from
Nichol after seven minutes.
The visitors duly broke up field and a slick move resulted in Walter MacKay crossing for Martyn Cooper to finish with aplomb.
The Vikings' defence had a jittery look to it and after 12 minutes keeper Michael Gray was required to produce a decent stop from Steven MacLean's shot.
Two minutes later, Michael Gray was again called into action to quell another lively attack.
It was no real surprise when Golspie doubled their lead when David Gray's centre found Tommy Campbell unmarked to fire past Michael Gray from 10 yards.
Thurso were strangely subdued and might well have gone further behind on the half-hour mark had Golspie defender Rod Smith shown more composure with a
free header he had inside the six yard box.
That finally stung the home men out of their lethargy and they started to enjoy good spells of possession and pose a goal menace.
A spiralling cross from Lee MacDougall had Young in trouble before he managed to get the merest of touch to prevent a goal.
A clever flick from Murray then presented Nichol with his first real glimpse of the goal and Young had to be fast off his line to effect a vital block.
The half ended with Nichol flashing a drive just over as Thurso continued to demonstrate their intent to force their way back into the tie.
To turn that aspiration into reality, they badly needed an early breakthrough after the restart.
Within a minute, they looked set to open their account when Murray drove down the undefended inside-right channel.
His raking, low shot, in turn, eluded the reach of both Young and Phil Makhouli as it raced a foot past the far post.
Half-chances for Cooper and will-o-the-wisp Mackay, both held by Michael Gray, were the fruits of rare forays for the visitors.
The main action revolved around Young who did well to beat out a stinging effort by Makhouli after 67 minutes.
That left the keeper hors de combat to deal with the aftermath but MacDougall wasted the chance when his right-foot attempt sailed high over the bar.
MacDougall and Nichol both went close before the latter finally got on the score-sheet.
He met a corner from Gavin Bremner and powered a header into the net.
The same source almost came up trumps four later for Thurso but neither Nichol nor Murray were able to get the touch needed as the ball scooted across the goalmouth.
Young then dealt with two long rangers from MacDougall before Darren Pullen was exceptionally lucky to survive a penalty appeal after 85 minutes when he clattered into Nichol just inside the box.
Two minutes from time, Makhouli threaded a ball through to Murray who rushed a difficult attempt on goal when he perhaps did not realise he had the time
to take a touch and steady himself.
A frustrating day for Thurso was completed by Brian Gray's injury-time booking for dissent.
Tomorrow, they return to league action when they will be targeting a win at home to Bonar Bridge to maintain their title challenge.
MacKenzie is still suspended while Moar is unlikely to be fit. Alan Sutherland is set to return to the squad for the game, which kicks of at 2 p.m.
Thurso v Golspie: M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner, Baker, Adamson (Forbes 66), Makhouli, Bremner, Sutherland, MacDougall, Murray, Nichol. Unused subs -- Cook and Steven.
Referee -- Mr W. Sinclair