Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 3, 2006 2:44:51 GMT -5
Dornoch 1 Thurso 7 - report by Iain Grant
Managerless Thurso defied the odds on Saturday to pull off what must rank as the best result of this year’s MSIS North Caley season.
Few pundits would have tipped the Vikings to progress in the Jock Mackay Cup against the Sutherland outfit who had beat them twice in the league and were sitting top of the table.
Add that Thurso were missing several key players and had just learned manager Colin Chessor had resigned.
With senior players Ross Sutherland and Gavin Bremner in charge, they not only won but rampaged past Dornoch to set up a tasty all-Caithness semi-final in Halkirk.
The omens were not good when the hosts took an early lead through a soft penalty and then Thurso defender Gary Coghill limped off with hamstring trouble.
But the hosts went on to be torn apart by a Thurso side whose industry was matched by a sharp cutting edge.
Strike duo Phil Makhouli and Scott Mackay Steven time and again exploited Dornoch’s high line in defence with the pair each ending the day with hat-tricks.
Dornoch were quickly out of the blocks with frontmen Scott MacKain and Michael Turner getting early encouragement.
After five minutes, Mackain and Thurso defender Shaun Forbes got in a tangle in the penalty box with the ball going over the bye-line.
MacKain dusted himself off and was heading to take the corner when the referee -- to the amazement of both teams pointed to the spot. Turner made a professional job of tucking away the penalty.
Thurso recovered well from the setback and started to mount some good attacks down both flanks.
After 10 minutes, they were dealt another blow when Coghill hirpled off with hamstring trouble after he made a headed clearance. He was replaced by Ian Adamson who took over as sweeper.
The visitors regrouped and should have levelled through Phil Makhouli. After being played through by Martyn Cook, Makhouli shot past as keeper James Munro narrowed the angle.
Thurso continued to call the shots and Munro did well to deny Makhouli and Mackay Steven in quick succession.
The equaliser came on 19 minutes when Kevin Miller fed Gavin Bremner who played Makhouli through on goal again. The striker this time made no mistake as he slotted the ball low between the onrushing Munro and the left upright.
The visitors were bossing the midfield and continued to create the bulk of the goal-scoring opportunities.
Martin Bain was next to try his luck as he finished a lung-busting run from his own half with a rushed shot which went narrowly wide.
Thurso forged ahead on the half-hour mark after the home defence got in a ravel after a Bremner corner. Sutherland won the ball on the penalty spot and played in Makhouli who drove the ball through the keeper’s legs.
Dornoch were fortunatre to get to the break without incurring further damage, with Cook and Mackay Steven both going close with half-chances. Within five minutes of the restart, Thurso were 3-1 up.
Mackay Steven latched on to a pass from Sutherland before coolly rounding the keeper and side-footing home.
The game was up for Dornoch on 54 minutes when Mackay Steven staged an action replay, this time capitalising on a through ball from Cook.
Dornoch were now camped in their own half and 11 minutes later they went further behind.
Lee MacDougall’s pinpoint pass from the half-way line found Makhouli who beat Munro on his near post to complete his hat-trick.
Dornoch were incensed at the officials not to flag Mackay Steven but while he was in an offside position, they deemed he was not active.
David Blaton’s persistent to assistant ref Macmillan led to his red-carding..
Ironically, this triggered a minor purple patch for Dornoch with MacKain and Gavin Nicolson showing up well with some incisive runs and Turner’s angled shot being well smothered by Sinclair.
Adamson’s retirement with an ankle knock meant sub Gary MacLeod was their third sweeper of the day and he also made a very good job of it.
Bain and MacDougall were causing problems on either flank and it was the latter who set up Thurso’s sixth 10 minutes from time.
His surge down the right wing saw his cross to the back post being teed up by Sutherland to allow Mackay Steven to steer the ball past Munro from 18 yards for his hat-trick goal.
It was 7-1 a couple of minutes later when Makhouli’s shot was blocked by Munro and Bremner was on hand to net the rebound.
Co-rookie player/coach Sutherland said: “I thought it was a very good all- round performance against a side who are doing very well in the league.
“It was great to get through into the semi-finals and to get a crack at some silverware after a disappointing league season.
”Even though we never kept a clean sheet, the defence looked steady. Our midfield worked hard and Dornoch found it hard to get to grips with our forwards.”
Following Colin Chessor’s resignation for personal reasons, Gus Mackay has been appointed as caretaker manager for the rest of the season.
He will be assisted by Sutherland and Bremner for tomorrow’s trip to play Invergordon in the league.
Coghill is sidelined while both ankle injuries put question-marks against the involvement of both Adamson and Miller.
MacDougall is on holiday but on the plus side there are recalls for experienced strikers Jamie MacKenzie and Alan Murray and teenager Michael Steven.
Dornoch – Munro, MacMillan, Graham, D. Beaton, Mapplebeck, Geegan, Nicolson, Miller, Bannerman, Turner, MacKain.
Thurso – Sinclair, Coghill, Forbes,Miller. Sutherland, Bremner, Bain, Cook, P. Makhouli, Mackay Steven, MacDougall. Subs (all used) – M. Makhouli, MacLeod and Adamson.
Balintore returned to the top of the league on Saturday with a 3-1 win in Invergordon.
In the other league match, Alness United defeated Bunillidh Thistle 6-1.
Managerless Thurso defied the odds on Saturday to pull off what must rank as the best result of this year’s MSIS North Caley season.
Few pundits would have tipped the Vikings to progress in the Jock Mackay Cup against the Sutherland outfit who had beat them twice in the league and were sitting top of the table.
Add that Thurso were missing several key players and had just learned manager Colin Chessor had resigned.
With senior players Ross Sutherland and Gavin Bremner in charge, they not only won but rampaged past Dornoch to set up a tasty all-Caithness semi-final in Halkirk.
The omens were not good when the hosts took an early lead through a soft penalty and then Thurso defender Gary Coghill limped off with hamstring trouble.
But the hosts went on to be torn apart by a Thurso side whose industry was matched by a sharp cutting edge.
Strike duo Phil Makhouli and Scott Mackay Steven time and again exploited Dornoch’s high line in defence with the pair each ending the day with hat-tricks.
Dornoch were quickly out of the blocks with frontmen Scott MacKain and Michael Turner getting early encouragement.
After five minutes, Mackain and Thurso defender Shaun Forbes got in a tangle in the penalty box with the ball going over the bye-line.
MacKain dusted himself off and was heading to take the corner when the referee -- to the amazement of both teams pointed to the spot. Turner made a professional job of tucking away the penalty.
Thurso recovered well from the setback and started to mount some good attacks down both flanks.
After 10 minutes, they were dealt another blow when Coghill hirpled off with hamstring trouble after he made a headed clearance. He was replaced by Ian Adamson who took over as sweeper.
The visitors regrouped and should have levelled through Phil Makhouli. After being played through by Martyn Cook, Makhouli shot past as keeper James Munro narrowed the angle.
Thurso continued to call the shots and Munro did well to deny Makhouli and Mackay Steven in quick succession.
The equaliser came on 19 minutes when Kevin Miller fed Gavin Bremner who played Makhouli through on goal again. The striker this time made no mistake as he slotted the ball low between the onrushing Munro and the left upright.
The visitors were bossing the midfield and continued to create the bulk of the goal-scoring opportunities.
Martin Bain was next to try his luck as he finished a lung-busting run from his own half with a rushed shot which went narrowly wide.
Thurso forged ahead on the half-hour mark after the home defence got in a ravel after a Bremner corner. Sutherland won the ball on the penalty spot and played in Makhouli who drove the ball through the keeper’s legs.
Dornoch were fortunatre to get to the break without incurring further damage, with Cook and Mackay Steven both going close with half-chances. Within five minutes of the restart, Thurso were 3-1 up.
Mackay Steven latched on to a pass from Sutherland before coolly rounding the keeper and side-footing home.
The game was up for Dornoch on 54 minutes when Mackay Steven staged an action replay, this time capitalising on a through ball from Cook.
Dornoch were now camped in their own half and 11 minutes later they went further behind.
Lee MacDougall’s pinpoint pass from the half-way line found Makhouli who beat Munro on his near post to complete his hat-trick.
Dornoch were incensed at the officials not to flag Mackay Steven but while he was in an offside position, they deemed he was not active.
David Blaton’s persistent to assistant ref Macmillan led to his red-carding..
Ironically, this triggered a minor purple patch for Dornoch with MacKain and Gavin Nicolson showing up well with some incisive runs and Turner’s angled shot being well smothered by Sinclair.
Adamson’s retirement with an ankle knock meant sub Gary MacLeod was their third sweeper of the day and he also made a very good job of it.
Bain and MacDougall were causing problems on either flank and it was the latter who set up Thurso’s sixth 10 minutes from time.
His surge down the right wing saw his cross to the back post being teed up by Sutherland to allow Mackay Steven to steer the ball past Munro from 18 yards for his hat-trick goal.
It was 7-1 a couple of minutes later when Makhouli’s shot was blocked by Munro and Bremner was on hand to net the rebound.
Co-rookie player/coach Sutherland said: “I thought it was a very good all- round performance against a side who are doing very well in the league.
“It was great to get through into the semi-finals and to get a crack at some silverware after a disappointing league season.
”Even though we never kept a clean sheet, the defence looked steady. Our midfield worked hard and Dornoch found it hard to get to grips with our forwards.”
Following Colin Chessor’s resignation for personal reasons, Gus Mackay has been appointed as caretaker manager for the rest of the season.
He will be assisted by Sutherland and Bremner for tomorrow’s trip to play Invergordon in the league.
Coghill is sidelined while both ankle injuries put question-marks against the involvement of both Adamson and Miller.
MacDougall is on holiday but on the plus side there are recalls for experienced strikers Jamie MacKenzie and Alan Murray and teenager Michael Steven.
Dornoch – Munro, MacMillan, Graham, D. Beaton, Mapplebeck, Geegan, Nicolson, Miller, Bannerman, Turner, MacKain.
Thurso – Sinclair, Coghill, Forbes,Miller. Sutherland, Bremner, Bain, Cook, P. Makhouli, Mackay Steven, MacDougall. Subs (all used) – M. Makhouli, MacLeod and Adamson.
Balintore returned to the top of the league on Saturday with a 3-1 win in Invergordon.
In the other league match, Alness United defeated Bunillidh Thistle 6-1.