Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 18, 2006 15:57:11 GMT -5
Thurso 1 Dornoch 2 - report by Iain Grant
Two late goals consigned Thurso to a defeat in an often fractious contest at Sir Georges Park on Saturday.
The reverse deals what could prove a terminal blow to the Vikings’ MSIS North Caley League title hopes while sustaining the admirable, if surprise challenge of their opponents.
Dornoch’s squad of players, who are almost all from the Inverness area, have transformed themselves from the mediocre outfit who in recent years have been rooted in the nether regions of the league.
Last year, Thurso rattled in 16 goals in racking up three comfortable victories over the east Sutherland side.
Dornoch’s push up the table this year has been largely propelled by their home form but in completing the double over Thurso, they showed the threat they can pose on the road.
The ring-rusty Vikings, in their first outing for over a month, could count themselves fortunate to have led for most of the match.
The visitors showed greater sharpness and spirit and had a clear advantage in terms of territory.
They looked set to return empty-handed, with Phil Makhouli’s first half strike separating the teams up until the closing minutes.
Had youngster Scott Mackay Steven exploited a clear opening with 16 minutes left, Dornoch’s resistance may have been broken.
But Mackay Steven, who was at the time nursing a leg knock, showed too much of the ball to keeper Iain Young and he ended up overstretching and knocking the ball wide.
It proved a real turning point as eight minutes later, Lee MacDougall tugged back Dornoch’s Keith Mason in the penalty box as the latter raced on to a through ball which had deflected nicely into his flightpath.
It was a clear penalty and Kevin Mapplebeck stepped forward to drill the spot-kick low to the right of keeper Asa Sinclair.
It only got better for the visitors who stole in to claim all three points with a 87th minute winner which had more than a hint of offside.
It came from a corner kick after a half-clearance fell for defender Barry Graham just outside the left corner of the penalty box.
Graham’s speculative thrash collected a deflection off a defender which arrowed the ball towards Colin Mason who looked suspiciously isolated as he netted from just inside the six yard box.
In a final push by Thurso, sub Martin Bain had a free run on goal but Young dashed out and managed to turn his shot past.
Dornoch’s advantage in terms of recent game time was clear early on with Sinclair having to be on his mettle to make a smother save at the feet of Michael Pollard.
Colin Mason featured in the first flare-up after 13 minutes when he and Mark Makhouli were fortunate to escape any formal action by Inverness ref John Nicolson.
Three minutes later, Mr Nicolson turned away appeals for a penalty when Keith Mason appeared to be shoved in the penalty box.
Thurso’s first goal opportunity came on 19 minutes when Alan Murray was denied by a saving, full-stretch tackle from Graham.
After 25 minutes, Lee MacDougall broke clear of his marker only for the latter to save the day though he seemed to obstruct the Thurso wideman in the process.
Sinclair was impressing with some faultless handling though he needed the assistance of MacDougall after 27 minutes to head over from close in while under intense pressure.
The game was being played largely in the Thurso half though Dornoch were not applying any sustained goal threat.
After 28 minutes, Murray spearheaded a breakaway which ended with him being muscled off the ball by Garry Miller which resulted in another angry exchange.
While there were few fouls in the serious category, Mr Nicolson, a late replacement, failed to keep the lid on the many petty feuds which contributed to a rancorous atmosphere.
The home side missed a snip on the half-hour mark when Ian Adamson played Mark Makhouli clean on goal.
The latter opted not to shoot himself but slip the ball to Murray who by then had two opponents bearing down on him and was unable to connect.
A minute later, the Dornoch goal was under threat again with Gavin Bremner’s shot from Mackay Steven’s assist being hacked against the crossbar by a defender.
Phil Makhouli was handily placed to rifle the rebound past Young.
Before the restart, Miller was booked for a mouthful he directed to one of Mr Nicolson’s assistants.
The encouraging spell for the home men continued with Mackay Steven and Murray both going close.
In between, Dornoch threatened from a corner with Sinclair relieved to see Kevin Fraser’s header flash just past.
After the turaround, Dornoch again enjoyed more of the possession but it was Thurso who cut out the first couple of chances.
After 47 minutes, Mackay Steven’s outflanked the defence before seeing his angled shot deflected for a corner.
Gavin Bremner then set up Murray with a shooting opportunity which was blocked by Mapplebeck.
After 54 minutes, Michael Turner broke clear but Sinclair was smartly off his line to deny the Dornoch striker.
Three minutes later, there was a lengthy stoppage after a clash between Keith Mason and Garry Coghill left the latter with a suspected broken nose.
The former certainly made contact with a hand but the referee was either unsighted or deemed the action accidental.
After 62 minutes, Colin Mason was yellow-carded after impeding Sinclair as the keeper shaped to make a clearance kick from hand.
Dornoch had the upper hand and Sinclair was kept busy fielding shots, punching clear and collecting crosses.
Just as the visitors suspected it was not to be their day came their late windfall as they turned the screw against a flagging home side.
Thurso manager Colin Chessor believed his side paid the price for being out of action for so long.
He said: “We have prided ourselves this season on our level of fitness to cope with the rigours of playing for 90 minutes.
“But on Saturday, we ran out of legs and were for the last 20 minutes camped deeper and deeper in our own half.
“They had given their all and there was nothing left in the tank.
“We also lost our shape a bit when we lost Garry.”
Chessor said his team were gutted at the way they lost the game.
“I still can’t believe we got beaten,” he said.
“It was a pretty scrappy game and we didn’t play particularly well but while they had more of the ball, we created more chances.
“To lose the goals at the end was soul-destroying.”
Thurso -- Sinclair, Coghill (Forbes 58), Miller, Adamson (Bain 69), Bremner, Mackay Steven (Macleod 78), Sutherland, P. Makhouli. M. Makhouli, Murray, MacDougall.
Dornoch – Young, P. Beaton, Graham, D. Beaton, Mapplebeck, Fraser, C. Mason, Miller, Pollard, Turner, K. Mason. Subs – Munro, MacLennan and Geegan.
Ref -- Mr J. Nicolson, Inverness.
Two late goals consigned Thurso to a defeat in an often fractious contest at Sir Georges Park on Saturday.
The reverse deals what could prove a terminal blow to the Vikings’ MSIS North Caley League title hopes while sustaining the admirable, if surprise challenge of their opponents.
Dornoch’s squad of players, who are almost all from the Inverness area, have transformed themselves from the mediocre outfit who in recent years have been rooted in the nether regions of the league.
Last year, Thurso rattled in 16 goals in racking up three comfortable victories over the east Sutherland side.
Dornoch’s push up the table this year has been largely propelled by their home form but in completing the double over Thurso, they showed the threat they can pose on the road.
The ring-rusty Vikings, in their first outing for over a month, could count themselves fortunate to have led for most of the match.
The visitors showed greater sharpness and spirit and had a clear advantage in terms of territory.
They looked set to return empty-handed, with Phil Makhouli’s first half strike separating the teams up until the closing minutes.
Had youngster Scott Mackay Steven exploited a clear opening with 16 minutes left, Dornoch’s resistance may have been broken.
But Mackay Steven, who was at the time nursing a leg knock, showed too much of the ball to keeper Iain Young and he ended up overstretching and knocking the ball wide.
It proved a real turning point as eight minutes later, Lee MacDougall tugged back Dornoch’s Keith Mason in the penalty box as the latter raced on to a through ball which had deflected nicely into his flightpath.
It was a clear penalty and Kevin Mapplebeck stepped forward to drill the spot-kick low to the right of keeper Asa Sinclair.
It only got better for the visitors who stole in to claim all three points with a 87th minute winner which had more than a hint of offside.
It came from a corner kick after a half-clearance fell for defender Barry Graham just outside the left corner of the penalty box.
Graham’s speculative thrash collected a deflection off a defender which arrowed the ball towards Colin Mason who looked suspiciously isolated as he netted from just inside the six yard box.
In a final push by Thurso, sub Martin Bain had a free run on goal but Young dashed out and managed to turn his shot past.
Dornoch’s advantage in terms of recent game time was clear early on with Sinclair having to be on his mettle to make a smother save at the feet of Michael Pollard.
Colin Mason featured in the first flare-up after 13 minutes when he and Mark Makhouli were fortunate to escape any formal action by Inverness ref John Nicolson.
Three minutes later, Mr Nicolson turned away appeals for a penalty when Keith Mason appeared to be shoved in the penalty box.
Thurso’s first goal opportunity came on 19 minutes when Alan Murray was denied by a saving, full-stretch tackle from Graham.
After 25 minutes, Lee MacDougall broke clear of his marker only for the latter to save the day though he seemed to obstruct the Thurso wideman in the process.
Sinclair was impressing with some faultless handling though he needed the assistance of MacDougall after 27 minutes to head over from close in while under intense pressure.
The game was being played largely in the Thurso half though Dornoch were not applying any sustained goal threat.
After 28 minutes, Murray spearheaded a breakaway which ended with him being muscled off the ball by Garry Miller which resulted in another angry exchange.
While there were few fouls in the serious category, Mr Nicolson, a late replacement, failed to keep the lid on the many petty feuds which contributed to a rancorous atmosphere.
The home side missed a snip on the half-hour mark when Ian Adamson played Mark Makhouli clean on goal.
The latter opted not to shoot himself but slip the ball to Murray who by then had two opponents bearing down on him and was unable to connect.
A minute later, the Dornoch goal was under threat again with Gavin Bremner’s shot from Mackay Steven’s assist being hacked against the crossbar by a defender.
Phil Makhouli was handily placed to rifle the rebound past Young.
Before the restart, Miller was booked for a mouthful he directed to one of Mr Nicolson’s assistants.
The encouraging spell for the home men continued with Mackay Steven and Murray both going close.
In between, Dornoch threatened from a corner with Sinclair relieved to see Kevin Fraser’s header flash just past.
After the turaround, Dornoch again enjoyed more of the possession but it was Thurso who cut out the first couple of chances.
After 47 minutes, Mackay Steven’s outflanked the defence before seeing his angled shot deflected for a corner.
Gavin Bremner then set up Murray with a shooting opportunity which was blocked by Mapplebeck.
After 54 minutes, Michael Turner broke clear but Sinclair was smartly off his line to deny the Dornoch striker.
Three minutes later, there was a lengthy stoppage after a clash between Keith Mason and Garry Coghill left the latter with a suspected broken nose.
The former certainly made contact with a hand but the referee was either unsighted or deemed the action accidental.
After 62 minutes, Colin Mason was yellow-carded after impeding Sinclair as the keeper shaped to make a clearance kick from hand.
Dornoch had the upper hand and Sinclair was kept busy fielding shots, punching clear and collecting crosses.
Just as the visitors suspected it was not to be their day came their late windfall as they turned the screw against a flagging home side.
Thurso manager Colin Chessor believed his side paid the price for being out of action for so long.
He said: “We have prided ourselves this season on our level of fitness to cope with the rigours of playing for 90 minutes.
“But on Saturday, we ran out of legs and were for the last 20 minutes camped deeper and deeper in our own half.
“They had given their all and there was nothing left in the tank.
“We also lost our shape a bit when we lost Garry.”
Chessor said his team were gutted at the way they lost the game.
“I still can’t believe we got beaten,” he said.
“It was a pretty scrappy game and we didn’t play particularly well but while they had more of the ball, we created more chances.
“To lose the goals at the end was soul-destroying.”
Thurso -- Sinclair, Coghill (Forbes 58), Miller, Adamson (Bain 69), Bremner, Mackay Steven (Macleod 78), Sutherland, P. Makhouli. M. Makhouli, Murray, MacDougall.
Dornoch – Young, P. Beaton, Graham, D. Beaton, Mapplebeck, Fraser, C. Mason, Miller, Pollard, Turner, K. Mason. Subs – Munro, MacLennan and Geegan.
Ref -- Mr J. Nicolson, Inverness.