Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 2, 2006 10:50:22 GMT -5
Sunday 30th July 2006
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Friendly
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Thurso 2 V Shetland Islands 1 at The Dammies, Thurso
Thurso goals by Nigel MacKenzie and Willie Inrig (pen)
Shetland goal by Stuart Shearer
Thurso triumph in pre-league friendly By Iain Grant
Published: 02 August, 2006 - from The JOG Journal website
THURSO FC defeated Shetland 2-1 in a friendly on Sunday in the first match between the clubs.
The visitors, the reigning Island Games champions, came with an impressive track record in recent competitive fixtures.
But having played and beaten Orkney 4-0 in Kirkwall the previous day and taken the ferry across in the morning, they could be excused for not feeling at their freshest for the match at Sir George’s Park.
Nonetheless, they enjoyed a lively start and Steven Umphray would have given them the lead but for home keeper Asa Sinclair dashing from his goal to make a brave block at the striker’s feet.
Sweeper Kevin Warner also required to make two telling cover tackles to repel dangerous raids.
Nigel Mackenzie quickly showed the value he will be on his second stint with the Vikings with a bit of wing trickery ending with his high, back-post cross headed just wide by Alan Murray.
It proved a fast-flowing match between two sides who both linked well and used the width of the pitch.
Murray failed to convert a half-chance on the half-hour mark as Thurso finished the first half the stronger.
Sean Henstridge, who led the line well, went close after he bravely got in ahead of visiting keeper Craig Dinwoodie to meet a diagonal cross from Nigel MacKenzie.
The half finished with Shetland playmaker James Johnston seeing a long-range effort fizz just over.
Home skipper Gavin Bremner was first to threaten after the interval with a marvellous 30-yarder which Dinwoodie did well to get fingertips to.
On 51 minutes, Sinclair collided with a defender as he tried to deal with a hanging cross, with Michael Steven saving Thurso’s bacon as he got back to hack the ball clear under pressure from the shadow of his own goal-line.
A minute later, his side were ahead when Nigel Mackenzie cut on from the right and wrong-footed a defender before netting with a low, left-foot strike from just outside the penalty box.
The lead would have lasted barely a minute had Sinclair not managed to dive to block another effort from Johnston.
Shetland kept up the pressure with Stuart Shearer just off-target with an angled effort and Umphray seeing his close-in effort fumbled against a post by Sinclair.
Henstridge then teed up Lee MacDougall for a shot which whistled wide and Nigel MacKenzie produced a good save from Dinwoodie.
Thurso went further ahead after 80 minutes when Blair McIntosh’s chipped cross into the box was handled by defender Ian Simpson and Willie Inrig slotted home the spot-kick.
Shetland refused to accept defeat and a spirited late rally almost saw them level.
They got one back with six minutes left when Shearer netted with a lob.
In the closing minutes, Sinclair pulled off a great, full-length save to deny Richard Arthur and watched on as John Montgomery’s powerful header came back off the junction of his left upright and the crossbar.
The outing gives a debut win for new Thurso manager Ross Sutherland but more importantly gives his side a useful run-out before the start of the North Caley season.
Stuart Sinclair and the Mackenzie brothers, Jamie and Nigel, particularly caught the eye in a good, overall performance.
Thurso squad: A. Sinclair, S. Sinclair, Warner, Steven, Bremner, Inrig, N. Mackenzie, J. Mackenzie, Henstridge, Murray, MacDougall, McIntosh, Thain.
Shetland squad: Dinwoodie, Flaws, Peterson, Arthur, Montgomery, Williamson, MacDougall, Johnston, Umphray, Duncan, Hay, Simpson, Grant, Mann, Jamieson, Shearer.
Referee: Mr J. Munro, Thurso.
#################
Friendly
#######
Thurso 2 V Shetland Islands 1 at The Dammies, Thurso
Thurso goals by Nigel MacKenzie and Willie Inrig (pen)
Shetland goal by Stuart Shearer
Thurso triumph in pre-league friendly By Iain Grant
Published: 02 August, 2006 - from The JOG Journal website
THURSO FC defeated Shetland 2-1 in a friendly on Sunday in the first match between the clubs.
The visitors, the reigning Island Games champions, came with an impressive track record in recent competitive fixtures.
But having played and beaten Orkney 4-0 in Kirkwall the previous day and taken the ferry across in the morning, they could be excused for not feeling at their freshest for the match at Sir George’s Park.
Nonetheless, they enjoyed a lively start and Steven Umphray would have given them the lead but for home keeper Asa Sinclair dashing from his goal to make a brave block at the striker’s feet.
Sweeper Kevin Warner also required to make two telling cover tackles to repel dangerous raids.
Nigel Mackenzie quickly showed the value he will be on his second stint with the Vikings with a bit of wing trickery ending with his high, back-post cross headed just wide by Alan Murray.
It proved a fast-flowing match between two sides who both linked well and used the width of the pitch.
Murray failed to convert a half-chance on the half-hour mark as Thurso finished the first half the stronger.
Sean Henstridge, who led the line well, went close after he bravely got in ahead of visiting keeper Craig Dinwoodie to meet a diagonal cross from Nigel MacKenzie.
The half finished with Shetland playmaker James Johnston seeing a long-range effort fizz just over.
Home skipper Gavin Bremner was first to threaten after the interval with a marvellous 30-yarder which Dinwoodie did well to get fingertips to.
On 51 minutes, Sinclair collided with a defender as he tried to deal with a hanging cross, with Michael Steven saving Thurso’s bacon as he got back to hack the ball clear under pressure from the shadow of his own goal-line.
A minute later, his side were ahead when Nigel Mackenzie cut on from the right and wrong-footed a defender before netting with a low, left-foot strike from just outside the penalty box.
The lead would have lasted barely a minute had Sinclair not managed to dive to block another effort from Johnston.
Shetland kept up the pressure with Stuart Shearer just off-target with an angled effort and Umphray seeing his close-in effort fumbled against a post by Sinclair.
Henstridge then teed up Lee MacDougall for a shot which whistled wide and Nigel MacKenzie produced a good save from Dinwoodie.
Thurso went further ahead after 80 minutes when Blair McIntosh’s chipped cross into the box was handled by defender Ian Simpson and Willie Inrig slotted home the spot-kick.
Shetland refused to accept defeat and a spirited late rally almost saw them level.
They got one back with six minutes left when Shearer netted with a lob.
In the closing minutes, Sinclair pulled off a great, full-length save to deny Richard Arthur and watched on as John Montgomery’s powerful header came back off the junction of his left upright and the crossbar.
The outing gives a debut win for new Thurso manager Ross Sutherland but more importantly gives his side a useful run-out before the start of the North Caley season.
Stuart Sinclair and the Mackenzie brothers, Jamie and Nigel, particularly caught the eye in a good, overall performance.
Thurso squad: A. Sinclair, S. Sinclair, Warner, Steven, Bremner, Inrig, N. Mackenzie, J. Mackenzie, Henstridge, Murray, MacDougall, McIntosh, Thain.
Shetland squad: Dinwoodie, Flaws, Peterson, Arthur, Montgomery, Williamson, MacDougall, Johnston, Umphray, Duncan, Hay, Simpson, Grant, Mann, Jamieson, Shearer.
Referee: Mr J. Munro, Thurso.