Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 14, 2005 6:36:05 GMT -5
Thurso 0 Balintore 2 - report by Iain Grant
Balintore are building up a reputation as the Chelsea of this year's North Caley scene.
The comparison is made less for their midfield mastery or flair on the flanks than for their rock-solid defence which has yielded just two goals in 630 minutes of football.
Their ability to soak up long spells of pressure without buckling was again in evidence on Saturday when they completed a quick double over their hosts to clinch a place in the final of the Port Services Cup.
A goal in each half killed off the Vikings who did not lack the opportunities to extend their defence of the trophy they won last year thanks to a 6-0 win in the final against Balintore.
The opening 15 minutes epitomised how the season has been going for the visitors.
They had next-to-no possession to speak of but confined Thurso's threat to a couple of long-rangers before breaking upfield and taking the lead after Phil Green lost possession in midfield.
Ross Powell created the opening and Ewan Dance ran through to net with a simple side-foot finish between keeper Asa Sinclair and his left-hand post.
There was controversy three minutes later when Thurso thought they had restored parity.
They were awarded a free-kick after Graeme MacGruer's foul on Gavin Bremner was marked with a booking.
Lee MacDougall proceeded to curl the free-kick in from the right with Alan Murray meeting it with a peach of a header. The ball flew past keeper Willie Ridgers but Murray's joy turned to disbelief by assistant Alec MacDonald's flag for offside against the striker.
Balintore continued to pose problems on the break with Sinclair doing well on 28 minutes to race from his goal to block MacGruer's effort after he was played in by William Ford.
A rare lapse at the heart of the visitors' defence led to Murray dashing in on goal but he was forced wide and the acute angle helped Ridgers make a comfortable save.
The rest of the half proved largely uneventful with Balintore's Ally MacLeod going the closest with a 25 yard effort which sailed just over.
Three minutes after the break, Thurso should have levelled when Murray's driven cross-cum-shot was returned by Lee MacDougall to Gavin Chessor who sent a tame header into the arms of Ridgers.
Balintore went two up on 62 minutes when a long throw-in from Powell was headed by David Calderwood into the path of Ford who slipped the ball past Sinclair.
Ridgers then made a brave, close-quarters stop from Murray after the striker had been released by Chessor.
A double switch after 68 minutes was the cue for an all-out push by the Vikings to try and get back into the tie.
MacDougall's 77th minute cross almost did the trick but Phil Makhouli shot just past amid a claim that he had been fouled in the box in the act of shooting.
In he dying minutes, sub Gordie Steven's centre was head-flicked on by Allan Sutherland to Martin Bain who shot over from the corner of the six yard box.
Phil Makhouli was red-carded deep in injury-time when following an angry spat with MacGregor.
Balintore manager Alan Brindle was delighted to watch his side extend their unbeaten start to the campaign as well as book their place in the first cup final of the campaign.
He said: "A lot of the game saw us up against it as Thurso put a lot of pressure on us. "We once again defended well and we have got boys who are dangerous up front if given a chance."
Thurso -- Sinclair, Sutherland, Forbes, Bremner, P. Makhouli, Green (Fearns 68), Bain, M. Makhouli (Steven 80), Chessor (Cook 68), Murray, MacDougall.
Balintore -- Ridgers, Powell, A. MacDonald, Skinner, Calderwood, Bain (Lowe 65), Stainke, MacGruer, Ford (Cowie 80) , Dance, C. MacDonald, Subs -- Brindle.
Ref -- Mr D. Anderson, Melvich.
League games saw Invergordon take advantage of Balintore's cup commitment to take over the lead on goal difference after their 2-2 draw in Golspie.
It could have been all three points but for a gutsy fightback by the Sutherland outfit
who came back from being two down at the break.
The basement battle at Helmsdale left Bunillidh adrift still seeking their first point.
NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
INVERGORDON 6 4 1 1 17 7 13
BALINTORE 5 4 1 0 11 2 13
DORNOCH 5 4 0 1 16 5 12
GOLSPIE 6 2 2 2 12 13 8
THURSO 5 2 1 2 13 11 7
HALKIRK 5 2 0 3 8 9 6
ALNESS 5 1 1 3 6 12 4
BONAR BRIDGE 5 1 0 4 8 16 3
BUNILLIDH T 4 0 0 4 4 20 0
Balintore are building up a reputation as the Chelsea of this year's North Caley scene.
The comparison is made less for their midfield mastery or flair on the flanks than for their rock-solid defence which has yielded just two goals in 630 minutes of football.
Their ability to soak up long spells of pressure without buckling was again in evidence on Saturday when they completed a quick double over their hosts to clinch a place in the final of the Port Services Cup.
A goal in each half killed off the Vikings who did not lack the opportunities to extend their defence of the trophy they won last year thanks to a 6-0 win in the final against Balintore.
The opening 15 minutes epitomised how the season has been going for the visitors.
They had next-to-no possession to speak of but confined Thurso's threat to a couple of long-rangers before breaking upfield and taking the lead after Phil Green lost possession in midfield.
Ross Powell created the opening and Ewan Dance ran through to net with a simple side-foot finish between keeper Asa Sinclair and his left-hand post.
There was controversy three minutes later when Thurso thought they had restored parity.
They were awarded a free-kick after Graeme MacGruer's foul on Gavin Bremner was marked with a booking.
Lee MacDougall proceeded to curl the free-kick in from the right with Alan Murray meeting it with a peach of a header. The ball flew past keeper Willie Ridgers but Murray's joy turned to disbelief by assistant Alec MacDonald's flag for offside against the striker.
Balintore continued to pose problems on the break with Sinclair doing well on 28 minutes to race from his goal to block MacGruer's effort after he was played in by William Ford.
A rare lapse at the heart of the visitors' defence led to Murray dashing in on goal but he was forced wide and the acute angle helped Ridgers make a comfortable save.
The rest of the half proved largely uneventful with Balintore's Ally MacLeod going the closest with a 25 yard effort which sailed just over.
Three minutes after the break, Thurso should have levelled when Murray's driven cross-cum-shot was returned by Lee MacDougall to Gavin Chessor who sent a tame header into the arms of Ridgers.
Balintore went two up on 62 minutes when a long throw-in from Powell was headed by David Calderwood into the path of Ford who slipped the ball past Sinclair.
Ridgers then made a brave, close-quarters stop from Murray after the striker had been released by Chessor.
A double switch after 68 minutes was the cue for an all-out push by the Vikings to try and get back into the tie.
MacDougall's 77th minute cross almost did the trick but Phil Makhouli shot just past amid a claim that he had been fouled in the box in the act of shooting.
In he dying minutes, sub Gordie Steven's centre was head-flicked on by Allan Sutherland to Martin Bain who shot over from the corner of the six yard box.
Phil Makhouli was red-carded deep in injury-time when following an angry spat with MacGregor.
Balintore manager Alan Brindle was delighted to watch his side extend their unbeaten start to the campaign as well as book their place in the first cup final of the campaign.
He said: "A lot of the game saw us up against it as Thurso put a lot of pressure on us. "We once again defended well and we have got boys who are dangerous up front if given a chance."
Thurso -- Sinclair, Sutherland, Forbes, Bremner, P. Makhouli, Green (Fearns 68), Bain, M. Makhouli (Steven 80), Chessor (Cook 68), Murray, MacDougall.
Balintore -- Ridgers, Powell, A. MacDonald, Skinner, Calderwood, Bain (Lowe 65), Stainke, MacGruer, Ford (Cowie 80) , Dance, C. MacDonald, Subs -- Brindle.
Ref -- Mr D. Anderson, Melvich.
League games saw Invergordon take advantage of Balintore's cup commitment to take over the lead on goal difference after their 2-2 draw in Golspie.
It could have been all three points but for a gutsy fightback by the Sutherland outfit
who came back from being two down at the break.
The basement battle at Helmsdale left Bunillidh adrift still seeking their first point.
NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
INVERGORDON 6 4 1 1 17 7 13
BALINTORE 5 4 1 0 11 2 13
DORNOCH 5 4 0 1 16 5 12
GOLSPIE 6 2 2 2 12 13 8
THURSO 5 2 1 2 13 11 7
HALKIRK 5 2 0 3 8 9 6
ALNESS 5 1 1 3 6 12 4
BONAR BRIDGE 5 1 0 4 8 16 3
BUNILLIDH T 4 0 0 4 4 20 0