Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 16, 2005 17:14:35 GMT -5
Thurso 4 Invergordon 2 - report by Iain Grant
Even the most enterprising internet bookie would have stopped giving odds on the outcome of this match after just over half-an-hour's play. By then the Vikings were not only three up but in full charge of this MSIS North Caley league clash at the Dammies.
A Mark Nichol hat-trick could easily have been added to by a rampant home side who tore into opponents who had not conceded a goal in their opening three victories. But goals either side of the interval turned the game on its head and Thurso were relieved to get a controversial fourth goal late on to clinch their first win of the campaign.
Invergordon finished the game with 10 men after defender Robert Cooper was sent off in the dying moments for a second caution. Cooper's involvement could easily have lasted just two minutes when he escaped for a booking for a reckless tackle on Mark Makhouli.
The visitors were firmly on the rack and got an early scare when sharp work by Gavin Bremner gave Nichol his first opportunity. The striker shot over and then had another effort held by keeper Steven Campbell. He was not to be denied on 10 minutes when a slick passing move from the left to the right side of the park ended with Martin Bain setting up Nichol for a tap-in.
Six minutes later, it was an action replay when Phil Makhouli sent Bain racing down an unguarded wide channel and his pass gave Nichol another simple finish.
Thurso were in full flow with Bain and Lee MacDougall making regular inroads down their respective flanks.
Crosses from MacDougall twice produced openings for Phil Makhouli who was denied each time by brave blocks from Campbell.
The dominance was briefly interrupted on 24 minutes in what was a heart-stopping moment for the home camp in the aftermath to a corner. The ball broke to Scott Wilde whose 12 yard effort cannoned off Bremner, stationed at one post, before hitting MacDougall, at the other, before breaking back into the hands of keeper James More.
Campbell featured with another good save from Mark Makhouli but was powerless to prevent his side falling three behind on 33 minutes. Bain, who had by this time switched beats with MacDougall, was again the architect
with his floated cross from the left being powerfully headed home by Nichol.
Invergordon came close on 36 minutes when Stevie Murray's cross found Keith Dinwoodie whose firmly struck shot was touched on to the bar by More.
Dinwoodie gave his side some hope four minutes later after netting with a stinging left-foot volley from Wilde's assist. Dinwoodie went close again before Invergordon contrived to get a second on 61 minutes.
This time, the evergreen Murray did the damage with a classic far-post finish.
Thurso looked set to restore their two goal advantage on 70 minutes when Bain finished off a move only for ref Willie Sinclair to chalk it off for his assistant's offside flag against Nichol. Bremner's dissent earned him a yellow card.
If Thurso did not get the rub of the green on that occasion, they rode their luck 10 minutes from time when MacDougall looked offside on the edge of the six yard box before he slipped the ball past Campbell to make it 4-2.
Vikings manager Colin Chessor was happy to get the side's first win under their belts. He singled out Martyn Cook for special praise for the way he adapted to playing in a holding role. He said: "For the opening 35 minutes, we played the best football I've seen us play. "It was 3-0 going on 6-0 but we took the foot off the pedal and allowed them to come back into it."
The enforced personnel and positional changes did not help and Chessor is keen to improve the fitness level of the side.
Thurso tomorrow travel to play Dornoch, who are on a crest of a wave after banging in 12 goals in winning their last two games. Cook and Shaun Forbes are both away while Kevin Warner is also likely to miss out. Mark Makhouli is also a fitness doubt but striker Alan Murray is set to return from injury.
Thurso - More, Warner, Forbes, Sutherland, Bain (Adamson 78), Bremner, Cook, M. Makhouli, MacDougall, P. Makhouli (Chessor 83), Nichol (Fearns 67). Sub (unused) - G.Steven
Invergordon -- Campbell, Niven, Sinclair, Cooper, Ogilvie, Dinwoodie, Stone, Campbell, Murray, Wilde, Colquhon. Subs -- Hutchison, Austin and Mills.
Ref -- Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay..
Even the most enterprising internet bookie would have stopped giving odds on the outcome of this match after just over half-an-hour's play. By then the Vikings were not only three up but in full charge of this MSIS North Caley league clash at the Dammies.
A Mark Nichol hat-trick could easily have been added to by a rampant home side who tore into opponents who had not conceded a goal in their opening three victories. But goals either side of the interval turned the game on its head and Thurso were relieved to get a controversial fourth goal late on to clinch their first win of the campaign.
Invergordon finished the game with 10 men after defender Robert Cooper was sent off in the dying moments for a second caution. Cooper's involvement could easily have lasted just two minutes when he escaped for a booking for a reckless tackle on Mark Makhouli.
The visitors were firmly on the rack and got an early scare when sharp work by Gavin Bremner gave Nichol his first opportunity. The striker shot over and then had another effort held by keeper Steven Campbell. He was not to be denied on 10 minutes when a slick passing move from the left to the right side of the park ended with Martin Bain setting up Nichol for a tap-in.
Six minutes later, it was an action replay when Phil Makhouli sent Bain racing down an unguarded wide channel and his pass gave Nichol another simple finish.
Thurso were in full flow with Bain and Lee MacDougall making regular inroads down their respective flanks.
Crosses from MacDougall twice produced openings for Phil Makhouli who was denied each time by brave blocks from Campbell.
The dominance was briefly interrupted on 24 minutes in what was a heart-stopping moment for the home camp in the aftermath to a corner. The ball broke to Scott Wilde whose 12 yard effort cannoned off Bremner, stationed at one post, before hitting MacDougall, at the other, before breaking back into the hands of keeper James More.
Campbell featured with another good save from Mark Makhouli but was powerless to prevent his side falling three behind on 33 minutes. Bain, who had by this time switched beats with MacDougall, was again the architect
with his floated cross from the left being powerfully headed home by Nichol.
Invergordon came close on 36 minutes when Stevie Murray's cross found Keith Dinwoodie whose firmly struck shot was touched on to the bar by More.
Dinwoodie gave his side some hope four minutes later after netting with a stinging left-foot volley from Wilde's assist. Dinwoodie went close again before Invergordon contrived to get a second on 61 minutes.
This time, the evergreen Murray did the damage with a classic far-post finish.
Thurso looked set to restore their two goal advantage on 70 minutes when Bain finished off a move only for ref Willie Sinclair to chalk it off for his assistant's offside flag against Nichol. Bremner's dissent earned him a yellow card.
If Thurso did not get the rub of the green on that occasion, they rode their luck 10 minutes from time when MacDougall looked offside on the edge of the six yard box before he slipped the ball past Campbell to make it 4-2.
Vikings manager Colin Chessor was happy to get the side's first win under their belts. He singled out Martyn Cook for special praise for the way he adapted to playing in a holding role. He said: "For the opening 35 minutes, we played the best football I've seen us play. "It was 3-0 going on 6-0 but we took the foot off the pedal and allowed them to come back into it."
The enforced personnel and positional changes did not help and Chessor is keen to improve the fitness level of the side.
Thurso tomorrow travel to play Dornoch, who are on a crest of a wave after banging in 12 goals in winning their last two games. Cook and Shaun Forbes are both away while Kevin Warner is also likely to miss out. Mark Makhouli is also a fitness doubt but striker Alan Murray is set to return from injury.
Thurso - More, Warner, Forbes, Sutherland, Bain (Adamson 78), Bremner, Cook, M. Makhouli, MacDougall, P. Makhouli (Chessor 83), Nichol (Fearns 67). Sub (unused) - G.Steven
Invergordon -- Campbell, Niven, Sinclair, Cooper, Ogilvie, Dinwoodie, Stone, Campbell, Murray, Wilde, Colquhon. Subs -- Hutchison, Austin and Mills.
Ref -- Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay..