Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 3, 2004 19:06:18 GMT -5
Report from John O'Groat Journal website - www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk
Dornoch make it easy for Nichol
FREE-scoring Mark Nichol could rival Dixie Dean's fabled haul of 60 goals in a season if he continues to bang them in at his present rate.
His haul of five on Saturday brings his total to 29 in 13 North Caledonian matches. In only one outing has the striker failed to hit the net.
His efforts against Dornoch were helped by the regular misfiring of the visitors' attempts to spring the offside trap. Time and again, it failed and left their Thurso-based keeper Murray Mackay badly exposed.
The deficiency proved fatal to their hopes and nullified a lot of good approach play by the Sutherland men.
Phil Makhouli passed up Thurso's first clear opening when he struck his shot over the bar from six yards.
Thurso took the lead after 15 minutes when a classy move ended with Alan Murray picking out the bottom right-hand corner of the net from 10 yards.
Four minutes after, Makhouli became the first beneficiary of the rearguard failing to function as a unit.
It left Makhouli unmarked and he ran through to make it 2-0.
A minute later, with Dornoch's defence still at sixes and sevens, Nichol was left unattended to slot the ball past Mackay.
The visitors fought back to force two corners in quick succession but were unable to seriously trouble keeper Michael Gray.
There was no such easy life for Mackay, who did well to keep out an angled effort from Lee MacDougall.
The half ended on a sour note for the home side with Brian Gray booked for kicking the ball away and Makhouli cautioned for dissent.
Within a minute of the resumption, Murray struck again with a simple finish.
Dornoch's cause was hopeless but they went on to enjoy their best spell of the game. Seeing plenty of the ball, they impressed with some good linkup play and off-the-ball movement.
On the hour mark, Nichol found himself in the clear to round Mackay to notch his side's fifth.
After hitting a post, Nichol on to score two more with strikes that gave Mackay no chance.
Defensive lapses let in Dornoch for two goals late on through Michael Turner and Kevin Mapplebeck.
At the death, a MacDougall shot was half-stopped by Mackay and that man Nichol stole in to grab his fifth and round off the scoring.
Thurso: M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner, Baker, Makhouli, R. Sutherland, Bremner, A. Sutherland, MacDougall, Murray, Nichol. Subs (all used):
Forbes, Cook, Bain.
Referee: Mr W. Sinclair.
Tomorrow, Thurso will be bidding to keep their title challenge on track when they travel to play Bunillidh Thistle in the only league fixture.
Dornoch make it easy for Nichol
FREE-scoring Mark Nichol could rival Dixie Dean's fabled haul of 60 goals in a season if he continues to bang them in at his present rate.
His haul of five on Saturday brings his total to 29 in 13 North Caledonian matches. In only one outing has the striker failed to hit the net.
His efforts against Dornoch were helped by the regular misfiring of the visitors' attempts to spring the offside trap. Time and again, it failed and left their Thurso-based keeper Murray Mackay badly exposed.
The deficiency proved fatal to their hopes and nullified a lot of good approach play by the Sutherland men.
Phil Makhouli passed up Thurso's first clear opening when he struck his shot over the bar from six yards.
Thurso took the lead after 15 minutes when a classy move ended with Alan Murray picking out the bottom right-hand corner of the net from 10 yards.
Four minutes after, Makhouli became the first beneficiary of the rearguard failing to function as a unit.
It left Makhouli unmarked and he ran through to make it 2-0.
A minute later, with Dornoch's defence still at sixes and sevens, Nichol was left unattended to slot the ball past Mackay.
The visitors fought back to force two corners in quick succession but were unable to seriously trouble keeper Michael Gray.
There was no such easy life for Mackay, who did well to keep out an angled effort from Lee MacDougall.
The half ended on a sour note for the home side with Brian Gray booked for kicking the ball away and Makhouli cautioned for dissent.
Within a minute of the resumption, Murray struck again with a simple finish.
Dornoch's cause was hopeless but they went on to enjoy their best spell of the game. Seeing plenty of the ball, they impressed with some good linkup play and off-the-ball movement.
On the hour mark, Nichol found himself in the clear to round Mackay to notch his side's fifth.
After hitting a post, Nichol on to score two more with strikes that gave Mackay no chance.
Defensive lapses let in Dornoch for two goals late on through Michael Turner and Kevin Mapplebeck.
At the death, a MacDougall shot was half-stopped by Mackay and that man Nichol stole in to grab his fifth and round off the scoring.
Thurso: M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner, Baker, Makhouli, R. Sutherland, Bremner, A. Sutherland, MacDougall, Murray, Nichol. Subs (all used):
Forbes, Cook, Bain.
Referee: Mr W. Sinclair.
Tomorrow, Thurso will be bidding to keep their title challenge on track when they travel to play Bunillidh Thistle in the only league fixture.