Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 22, 2005 16:09:52 GMT -5
Thurso 2 Halkirk United 1 - report by Iain Grant
The longest hex in north football continues after two goals for Thurso in the closing five minutes dramatically turned Saturday's MSIS North Caley tussle their way.
An early Alan Farquhar headed strike looked set to enable the village side to belatedly chalk up their first success since the Vikings started up seven years ago.
But victory was snatched away from them when Alan Murray rose to score from a Gavin Bremner corner with four minutes remaining.
And even the consolation of a draw was denied Halkirk when a curling cross from substitute Mark Makhouli found defender Shaun Forbes in acres of space on the six yard box to net a last minute winner.
Neutrals reckoned a point apiece would have been a fair return for the contribution the two sides made to the derby.
It contained too many scrappy and shapeless spells to live long in the memory but there was no shortage of goalmouth action to entertain the decent-sized crowd.
The game sprung to life with the first real attack in six minutes when Colin Sinclair's cross picked out Farquhar's run and the midfielder steered a low header past Asa Sinclair to open the scoring.
No clear pattern emerged with United's Niall Murray showing up well with several early forays.
Thurso's first chance came on 11 minutes when Alan Murray got in behind the defence but was unable to find a way past Sean Henderson.
A minute later, Henderson did well to prevent Gavin Chessor getting to Lee MacDougall's teasing centre.
The good spell for the home outfit almost produced the leveller on 15 minutes when a MacDougall corner cracked back off the near post.
Halkirk were then presented with a 20th minute chance when a miscued clearance from Asa Sinclair produced a first-time effort from Colin Davidson which flashed just wide.
The visitors then passed up a great chance to double their lead on 29 minutes but Niall Murray shot over when sent clear. Some meaty challenges created an increasingly charged atmosphere and the visiting camp reckoned Gavin Bremner was lucky to escape with a booking when he floored Martin Murray with a crude hack after 34 minutes.
Halkirk's Colin Munro was cautioned shortly afterwards for a late tackle on Alan Murray.
Thurso finished the half strongly with Henderson tipping a Martyn Cook effort over the bar and then getting down well to Kevin Miller's downward header from a Gavin Bremner free-kick.
The second half saw the home side have the lion's share of possession and pressure but their opponents have enough chances from counters to make victory secure.
MacDougall was regularly involved early on and after 49 minutes saw his fierce, swerving shot turned away by Henderson. The ball landed at Alan Murray's feet whose 12 yard return was hacked off the line by Colin Sinclair.
MacDougall's frustration at the latest in a series of offside flags against him saw him add to the bookings on the hour-mark when he angrily throw the ball away.
Minutes before, Michael Bremner was given a half-chance in the other penalty box but his first touch was poor and the opportunity was lost.
Niall Murray then had a clear sight of goal but his shot was too straight to inconvenience Asa Sinclair.
Within minutes of entering the fray, Mark Makhouli found himself involved in a race with the Halkirk keeper to get to a long through-ball.
The Thurso man looked favourite but Henderson was smartly out of his box to arrive a split-second first to effect the clearance.
Halkirk continued to threaten on the break with good work by Niall Murray down the left after 70 minutes ending with his brother Martin's header being clutched by Asa Sinclair.
Too often, Thurso were let down by the final pass. A prime example came on 72 minutes when Alan Murray's far-post probe to Makhouli saw the latter's return header lack precision to allow Henderson to gather from the feet of the unmarked Forbes.
A minute later, Henderson reacted well to get to a dangerous, dipping free-kick from MacDougall.
Forbes was booked shortly before Niall Murray was unable to convert two openings. Sinclair easily pouching his under-strength shot and then rising to hold his header.
The final ten minutes had United pitched deep in their own half trying to hold out for the historic win.
When Alan Murray broke clear on 83 minutes only to have his attempt on goal blocked by Henderson, the black clouds were fast gathering for the home side.
The chink of light was provided a minute later by a blunder by the officials when Thurso were awarded a corner when the last touch had plainly been made by Mark Makhouli.
Henderson flapped and missed Gavin Bremner's kick from the left but the ball was dispatched by a defender over the bar.
It was from the subsequent corner that Alan Murray equalised before Forbes went on to deliver the coup de grace.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald afterwards carped about several key decisions, including the corner incident, which he felt turned the tide against his side. He said: "I believe we created more clearcut chances than they did. We had several really good opportunities to make it 2-0 which would have killed the game."
Thurso boss Colin Chessor conceded that the longer the game went on, the more he doubted his side would be able to force their way back. He said: "I thought we deserved to get something out of the game. "I was delighted how we dug in and fought right to the end. "I was happy to settle for a draw but our guys kept a gung-ho attitude and they got a win which is a great confidence boost and does our league chances no harm.
Thurso: Asa Sinclair, Warner, Miller, Allan Sutherland, Forbes, Gavin Bremner, Bain (Green 81), Chessor (Mark Makhouli 61), Cook (Gary Coghill 74), Alan Murray, MacDougall.
Halkirk United: Henderson, Colin Sinclair, Munro, Florence, MacDonald, Davidson (Blair 88), Manson (Morris 72), Alan Farquhar, Niall Murray Martin Murray, Michael Bremner (MacGill 85).
Ref -- Mr D. Anderson, Melvich.
The longest hex in north football continues after two goals for Thurso in the closing five minutes dramatically turned Saturday's MSIS North Caley tussle their way.
An early Alan Farquhar headed strike looked set to enable the village side to belatedly chalk up their first success since the Vikings started up seven years ago.
But victory was snatched away from them when Alan Murray rose to score from a Gavin Bremner corner with four minutes remaining.
And even the consolation of a draw was denied Halkirk when a curling cross from substitute Mark Makhouli found defender Shaun Forbes in acres of space on the six yard box to net a last minute winner.
Neutrals reckoned a point apiece would have been a fair return for the contribution the two sides made to the derby.
It contained too many scrappy and shapeless spells to live long in the memory but there was no shortage of goalmouth action to entertain the decent-sized crowd.
The game sprung to life with the first real attack in six minutes when Colin Sinclair's cross picked out Farquhar's run and the midfielder steered a low header past Asa Sinclair to open the scoring.
No clear pattern emerged with United's Niall Murray showing up well with several early forays.
Thurso's first chance came on 11 minutes when Alan Murray got in behind the defence but was unable to find a way past Sean Henderson.
A minute later, Henderson did well to prevent Gavin Chessor getting to Lee MacDougall's teasing centre.
The good spell for the home outfit almost produced the leveller on 15 minutes when a MacDougall corner cracked back off the near post.
Halkirk were then presented with a 20th minute chance when a miscued clearance from Asa Sinclair produced a first-time effort from Colin Davidson which flashed just wide.
The visitors then passed up a great chance to double their lead on 29 minutes but Niall Murray shot over when sent clear. Some meaty challenges created an increasingly charged atmosphere and the visiting camp reckoned Gavin Bremner was lucky to escape with a booking when he floored Martin Murray with a crude hack after 34 minutes.
Halkirk's Colin Munro was cautioned shortly afterwards for a late tackle on Alan Murray.
Thurso finished the half strongly with Henderson tipping a Martyn Cook effort over the bar and then getting down well to Kevin Miller's downward header from a Gavin Bremner free-kick.
The second half saw the home side have the lion's share of possession and pressure but their opponents have enough chances from counters to make victory secure.
MacDougall was regularly involved early on and after 49 minutes saw his fierce, swerving shot turned away by Henderson. The ball landed at Alan Murray's feet whose 12 yard return was hacked off the line by Colin Sinclair.
MacDougall's frustration at the latest in a series of offside flags against him saw him add to the bookings on the hour-mark when he angrily throw the ball away.
Minutes before, Michael Bremner was given a half-chance in the other penalty box but his first touch was poor and the opportunity was lost.
Niall Murray then had a clear sight of goal but his shot was too straight to inconvenience Asa Sinclair.
Within minutes of entering the fray, Mark Makhouli found himself involved in a race with the Halkirk keeper to get to a long through-ball.
The Thurso man looked favourite but Henderson was smartly out of his box to arrive a split-second first to effect the clearance.
Halkirk continued to threaten on the break with good work by Niall Murray down the left after 70 minutes ending with his brother Martin's header being clutched by Asa Sinclair.
Too often, Thurso were let down by the final pass. A prime example came on 72 minutes when Alan Murray's far-post probe to Makhouli saw the latter's return header lack precision to allow Henderson to gather from the feet of the unmarked Forbes.
A minute later, Henderson reacted well to get to a dangerous, dipping free-kick from MacDougall.
Forbes was booked shortly before Niall Murray was unable to convert two openings. Sinclair easily pouching his under-strength shot and then rising to hold his header.
The final ten minutes had United pitched deep in their own half trying to hold out for the historic win.
When Alan Murray broke clear on 83 minutes only to have his attempt on goal blocked by Henderson, the black clouds were fast gathering for the home side.
The chink of light was provided a minute later by a blunder by the officials when Thurso were awarded a corner when the last touch had plainly been made by Mark Makhouli.
Henderson flapped and missed Gavin Bremner's kick from the left but the ball was dispatched by a defender over the bar.
It was from the subsequent corner that Alan Murray equalised before Forbes went on to deliver the coup de grace.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald afterwards carped about several key decisions, including the corner incident, which he felt turned the tide against his side. He said: "I believe we created more clearcut chances than they did. We had several really good opportunities to make it 2-0 which would have killed the game."
Thurso boss Colin Chessor conceded that the longer the game went on, the more he doubted his side would be able to force their way back. He said: "I thought we deserved to get something out of the game. "I was delighted how we dug in and fought right to the end. "I was happy to settle for a draw but our guys kept a gung-ho attitude and they got a win which is a great confidence boost and does our league chances no harm.
Thurso: Asa Sinclair, Warner, Miller, Allan Sutherland, Forbes, Gavin Bremner, Bain (Green 81), Chessor (Mark Makhouli 61), Cook (Gary Coghill 74), Alan Murray, MacDougall.
Halkirk United: Henderson, Colin Sinclair, Munro, Florence, MacDonald, Davidson (Blair 88), Manson (Morris 72), Alan Farquhar, Niall Murray Martin Murray, Michael Bremner (MacGill 85).
Ref -- Mr D. Anderson, Melvich.