Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 30, 2005 15:14:05 GMT -5
Thurso 6 Bunillidh Thistle 1 - report by Iain Grant
Thurso made a confident start to their defence of the Port Services Cup with this undemanding victory at the Dammies.
Bunillidh's threat was limited to sporadic attacks though they did cause a flutter when they scored just after the turnaround to reduce the leeway to 2-1.
Two goals from Gavin Chessor killed off any hope of a comeback as the Vikings finished on cruise mode.
There were a number of close things for Thurso before they took a 20th minute lead when Lee MacDougall's header from Ian Adamson's measured cross found
the top right-hand corner.
Three minutes later, MacDougall was celebrating again when he capped an incisive run down the left by a sharp finish which flashed past beat keeper Sammy Jackson and went in off the inside base of a post.
MacDougall twice spurned perfect opportunities to bag his hat-trick after Bunillidh defender Jamie Stewart handled on the goal line during an unholy scramble on 44 minutes.
Stewart was red-carded before MacDougall's spot-kick was brilliantly kept out by Jackson.
A retake prompted by an infringement spotted by an assistant referee gave MacDougall a second opportunity.
A Groundhog Day sequence saw him opt for the same placement and the keeper perform an identical save.
The double miss was magnified two minutes after the interval when the visitors pulled a goal back.
After breaking up an attack, a swift counter ended with Kenny Fraser left unmarked to finish.
The recovery was short-lived as Chessor struck twice in 52 and 56 minutes -- the first a simple finish, the second a well-taken volley.
Bunillidh were at this stage in disarray and two minutes later fell 5-1 behind after Thurso defender Allan Sutherland scored with a powerful header.
MacDougall finally got his hat-trick to end the scoring after 64 minutes.
The home side continued to create chances and Bunillidh were ultimately thankful they were not on the end of a double digit reverse.
Thurso manager Colin Chessor said afterwards: "I thought we played between in the first half, than the second.
"Having said that, we picked up the pace of the game when they scored their goal. "As soon as our third went in, it was pretty well one-way traffic. It was six going on
12."
The manager picked out midfielder Gary Coghill for a special mention while teenage keeper Asa Sinclair enjoyed a trouble-free debut.
Thurso tomorrow return to league business when they entertain Bonar Bridge.
Shaun Forbes and Martyn Cook are available again though Ross Sutherland will be missing for the next three Saturdays as a result of his upcoming wedding.
Tomorrow's match kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso Line-up - A.Sinclair, A. Sutherland, P. Makhouli, Fearns, Coghill, Bremner, Adamson (R. Sutherland 63), MacDougall, M. Makhouli, Chessor (Steven 63), Murray (Bain 59).
Balintore defeated Invergordon 3-0 on Saturday to set up a semi-final date with Thurso at the Dammies.
Halkirk's reward for their cracking 5-1 win in Golspie, is a home tie against Alness, who progressed with a 2-0 home win versus Dornoch.
Thurso made a confident start to their defence of the Port Services Cup with this undemanding victory at the Dammies.
Bunillidh's threat was limited to sporadic attacks though they did cause a flutter when they scored just after the turnaround to reduce the leeway to 2-1.
Two goals from Gavin Chessor killed off any hope of a comeback as the Vikings finished on cruise mode.
There were a number of close things for Thurso before they took a 20th minute lead when Lee MacDougall's header from Ian Adamson's measured cross found
the top right-hand corner.
Three minutes later, MacDougall was celebrating again when he capped an incisive run down the left by a sharp finish which flashed past beat keeper Sammy Jackson and went in off the inside base of a post.
MacDougall twice spurned perfect opportunities to bag his hat-trick after Bunillidh defender Jamie Stewart handled on the goal line during an unholy scramble on 44 minutes.
Stewart was red-carded before MacDougall's spot-kick was brilliantly kept out by Jackson.
A retake prompted by an infringement spotted by an assistant referee gave MacDougall a second opportunity.
A Groundhog Day sequence saw him opt for the same placement and the keeper perform an identical save.
The double miss was magnified two minutes after the interval when the visitors pulled a goal back.
After breaking up an attack, a swift counter ended with Kenny Fraser left unmarked to finish.
The recovery was short-lived as Chessor struck twice in 52 and 56 minutes -- the first a simple finish, the second a well-taken volley.
Bunillidh were at this stage in disarray and two minutes later fell 5-1 behind after Thurso defender Allan Sutherland scored with a powerful header.
MacDougall finally got his hat-trick to end the scoring after 64 minutes.
The home side continued to create chances and Bunillidh were ultimately thankful they were not on the end of a double digit reverse.
Thurso manager Colin Chessor said afterwards: "I thought we played between in the first half, than the second.
"Having said that, we picked up the pace of the game when they scored their goal. "As soon as our third went in, it was pretty well one-way traffic. It was six going on
12."
The manager picked out midfielder Gary Coghill for a special mention while teenage keeper Asa Sinclair enjoyed a trouble-free debut.
Thurso tomorrow return to league business when they entertain Bonar Bridge.
Shaun Forbes and Martyn Cook are available again though Ross Sutherland will be missing for the next three Saturdays as a result of his upcoming wedding.
Tomorrow's match kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso Line-up - A.Sinclair, A. Sutherland, P. Makhouli, Fearns, Coghill, Bremner, Adamson (R. Sutherland 63), MacDougall, M. Makhouli, Chessor (Steven 63), Murray (Bain 59).
Balintore defeated Invergordon 3-0 on Saturday to set up a semi-final date with Thurso at the Dammies.
Halkirk's reward for their cracking 5-1 win in Golspie, is a home tie against Alness, who progressed with a 2-0 home win versus Dornoch.