Post by Brian Mackay on Nov 13, 2006 5:43:13 GMT -5
MacDougall's strike proves decisive
Alness Utd 1, Thurso 0
Published: 10 November, 2006
ALNESS survived a late onslaught to complete a cup and league double over the Vikings.
Home keeper Andrew Maitland pulled off several marvellous saves to ensure that a consummate strike from veteran striker Robbie MacDougall with just 11 minutes gone was to prove decisive.
Alness are recovering after a dreadful start to their North Caledonian League season, with this win nosing them towards mid-table. Their cause has been boosted by the recent arrivals of MacDougall and the former Ross County, Wick Academy and Forres Mechanics playmaker Gordon Connelly.
In a match blighted by a persistent blustery wind, Connelly proved the adage that advancing years may restrict mobility but cannot disguise class. The veteran midfielder was at the hub of his side's most threatening attacks and always made himself available as an outlet for team-mates looking to off-load.
The reverse spiked a three-game winning run for the visitors, for whom a win tomorrow at home to Invergordon is vital if they are not to lose track of the leaders.
Thurso may have enjoyed the advantage in terms of possession and territory on Saturday but, until their late blitz, failed to cause enough problems for the home defence. Too often, promising attacks broke down before they reached the Alness penalty box.
The Vikings could have done worse than emulate Alness's use of the wind in the first half to pressurise the opposition goal. Their predilection for having a crack from distance and spiralling high balls into the mix from set-pieces may not have won them style points but it proved effective.
Within the opening couple of minutes, Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair was called upon to make a brave, clean take of a high cross while under heavy pressure. Defender Phil Green then made a telling interception to prevent Robbie MacDougall getting on the end of a long through ball.
The eighth minute saw Maitland given his first taste of action, albeit a routine gather from Lee MacDougall's low drive. A minute later, Nigel MacKenzie's flighted cross towards Alan Murray who nodded wide of goal.
The sides were still measuring each other up when the home outfit got what proved the clincher.
Questions could be asked why defenders backed away from Robbie MacDougall but there was no doubting the quality of his finish. He touched the ball from his right to his favoured left before unleashing a rising shot which lodged in the far top left-hand corner of the net.
The lead could have been doubled within two minutes when Connelly's first bit of magic saw him pick out Kenneth Smith's thrust into the box.
The pace of the ball was just too much for Smith, who ended up trying to deflect it in using his right arm. His effort went wide, with his chicanery marked by the first booking of the afternoon.
Sinclair's goal had a major let-off on 18 minutes when Jamie MacKenzie was caught in possession to trigger a typical rapier counter-attack. Jamie MacDonald opted to try his luck with a lusty wind-assisted 30-yarder which eluded the keeper before crashing against the top of the bar.
Thurso were not short of enterprise going forward. One attack ended with Jamie MacKenzie finding Mark Nichol who wheeled left and saw his low shot pouched by Maitland.
Alness had the better of the exchanges before the break and had the ball in the net again after 36 minutes only to have it disallowed for an offside flag against Robert MacLeod.
It was one of a succession of testing free kicks and corners which the Thurso defence had to deal with.
After successfully absorbing the pressure, the visitors came close to equalising in the final action of the half when Jamie MacKenzie set up MacDougall, who volleyed wide.
The home side showed next to no attacking intent after the break when they concentrated on hanging on to their lead.
The unremitting wind in their faces made life uncomfortable as Thurso built attack after attack in a bid to draw level. For most of the half, their near monopoly on possession failed to cause much in the way of serious problems for a defence that was well marshalled by the experienced Keith Dingwall.
After 49 minutes, a clever exchange between Nichol and Murray opened the way for Willie Inrig, whose raking shot from 20 yards skimmed past the left post with Maitland beaten.
Referee John Nicolson handled the game reasonably well apart from an inconsistent approach to discipline.
This was reflected in Alness's Kenneth Lyall escaping punishment for a reckless, scything tackle on Jamie Mackenzie but Murray being booked shortly afterwards for an innocuous challenge on Andy Sutherland.
Thurso's play lacked bite in the final third, an exception being on 52 minutes when an insightful prod from Murray gave Jamie MacKenzie a clear view of goal. The latter found the angle too tight and sent his attempt on goal harmlessly wide.
There followed a lengthy barren spell in which both sides struggled to keep the ball in play, with the wind factor contributing to a mind-numbing sequence of throw-ins along the roadside touchline.
Alness survived a penalty shout on 63 minutes, though Kenneth Smith was powerless to prevent Nichol's shot striking his arm.
After 73 minutes, there appeared to be a case of mistaken identity when Alness substitute Martyn Douglas was cautioned for persistent offending when the foul he had committed was just about his first involvement in the game.
The home side spent the final 15 minutes embedded deep in their own half as Thurso finally started to look menacing. Green had a shot pouched by Maitland, who later executed an unconvincing double-fisted clearance to keep out an effort from Nigel MacKenzie.
Substitute Des MacLeod pepped up the Thurso attack and four minutes from time his angled shot produced a good stop from the keeper. Nichol was then inches away from converting a corner before Maitland distinguished himself with an agile, one-handed stop to keep out a 20 yard pile-driver from Murray.
The final minute saw a miscued cross from Nigel MacKenzie almost squeezing in at the junction of the left post and the crossbar. It was touched against the post by Maitland, with MacLeod's follow-up coming back off the outside of the woodwork.
Alness manager Alan Brindle said afterwards: "We were put under a tremendous amount of pressure in the second half, especially in the closing stages. We defended well and our keeper made several cracking saves. Overall, I thought we worked hard and deserved to get the win."
It proved a frustrating day for Thurso manager Ross Sutherland. "It was very much a game of two halves," he said. "They created several good chances in the first half and scored a very good goal. But we were all over them in the second half when Asa did not have a save to make. It was just one of those days when we could not break them down."
The manager was happy with how erstwhile Wick Academy man Graeme Reid fitted in to the defence. He is hoping to have Martin Bain's release through from the Harmsworth Park outfit to allow him to join tomorrow's squad.
Green has left for a new job in Edinburgh, while Michael Steven and Scott Mackay Steven remain sidelined with ankle injuries. Tomorrow's match at Sir George's Park kicks off at 2pm.
Alness United: Maitland, Sutherland, Smith, E. Murray, Dingwall, Lyall (Calvert 72), Rae, MacLeod, MacDougall, Connelly, MacDonald (Douglas 69). Subs not used: C. Murray, Kitz.
Thurso: Sinclair, Green, Makhouli, Reid, Inrig, Bremner, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Murray, Nichol, MacDougall (MacLeod 82). Subs not used: Sutherland, Moodie.
Referee: J. Nicolson.
* Golspie had to work hard to preserve the league's only 100 per cent record on their trip to Invergordon. Trailing to an early goal, they levelled before the break and their new signing, ex-Clach player Shaun Kerr, carved out the opening for Donald Sutherland to grab the winner three minutes from time.
Wick's Gregg Shearer gave Bunillidh a shock lead versus Inverness City in Helmsdale. The visitors levelled before the interval and went on to win 4-1.
Alness Utd 1, Thurso 0
Published: 10 November, 2006
ALNESS survived a late onslaught to complete a cup and league double over the Vikings.
Home keeper Andrew Maitland pulled off several marvellous saves to ensure that a consummate strike from veteran striker Robbie MacDougall with just 11 minutes gone was to prove decisive.
Alness are recovering after a dreadful start to their North Caledonian League season, with this win nosing them towards mid-table. Their cause has been boosted by the recent arrivals of MacDougall and the former Ross County, Wick Academy and Forres Mechanics playmaker Gordon Connelly.
In a match blighted by a persistent blustery wind, Connelly proved the adage that advancing years may restrict mobility but cannot disguise class. The veteran midfielder was at the hub of his side's most threatening attacks and always made himself available as an outlet for team-mates looking to off-load.
The reverse spiked a three-game winning run for the visitors, for whom a win tomorrow at home to Invergordon is vital if they are not to lose track of the leaders.
Thurso may have enjoyed the advantage in terms of possession and territory on Saturday but, until their late blitz, failed to cause enough problems for the home defence. Too often, promising attacks broke down before they reached the Alness penalty box.
The Vikings could have done worse than emulate Alness's use of the wind in the first half to pressurise the opposition goal. Their predilection for having a crack from distance and spiralling high balls into the mix from set-pieces may not have won them style points but it proved effective.
Within the opening couple of minutes, Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair was called upon to make a brave, clean take of a high cross while under heavy pressure. Defender Phil Green then made a telling interception to prevent Robbie MacDougall getting on the end of a long through ball.
The eighth minute saw Maitland given his first taste of action, albeit a routine gather from Lee MacDougall's low drive. A minute later, Nigel MacKenzie's flighted cross towards Alan Murray who nodded wide of goal.
The sides were still measuring each other up when the home outfit got what proved the clincher.
Questions could be asked why defenders backed away from Robbie MacDougall but there was no doubting the quality of his finish. He touched the ball from his right to his favoured left before unleashing a rising shot which lodged in the far top left-hand corner of the net.
The lead could have been doubled within two minutes when Connelly's first bit of magic saw him pick out Kenneth Smith's thrust into the box.
The pace of the ball was just too much for Smith, who ended up trying to deflect it in using his right arm. His effort went wide, with his chicanery marked by the first booking of the afternoon.
Sinclair's goal had a major let-off on 18 minutes when Jamie MacKenzie was caught in possession to trigger a typical rapier counter-attack. Jamie MacDonald opted to try his luck with a lusty wind-assisted 30-yarder which eluded the keeper before crashing against the top of the bar.
Thurso were not short of enterprise going forward. One attack ended with Jamie MacKenzie finding Mark Nichol who wheeled left and saw his low shot pouched by Maitland.
Alness had the better of the exchanges before the break and had the ball in the net again after 36 minutes only to have it disallowed for an offside flag against Robert MacLeod.
It was one of a succession of testing free kicks and corners which the Thurso defence had to deal with.
After successfully absorbing the pressure, the visitors came close to equalising in the final action of the half when Jamie MacKenzie set up MacDougall, who volleyed wide.
The home side showed next to no attacking intent after the break when they concentrated on hanging on to their lead.
The unremitting wind in their faces made life uncomfortable as Thurso built attack after attack in a bid to draw level. For most of the half, their near monopoly on possession failed to cause much in the way of serious problems for a defence that was well marshalled by the experienced Keith Dingwall.
After 49 minutes, a clever exchange between Nichol and Murray opened the way for Willie Inrig, whose raking shot from 20 yards skimmed past the left post with Maitland beaten.
Referee John Nicolson handled the game reasonably well apart from an inconsistent approach to discipline.
This was reflected in Alness's Kenneth Lyall escaping punishment for a reckless, scything tackle on Jamie Mackenzie but Murray being booked shortly afterwards for an innocuous challenge on Andy Sutherland.
Thurso's play lacked bite in the final third, an exception being on 52 minutes when an insightful prod from Murray gave Jamie MacKenzie a clear view of goal. The latter found the angle too tight and sent his attempt on goal harmlessly wide.
There followed a lengthy barren spell in which both sides struggled to keep the ball in play, with the wind factor contributing to a mind-numbing sequence of throw-ins along the roadside touchline.
Alness survived a penalty shout on 63 minutes, though Kenneth Smith was powerless to prevent Nichol's shot striking his arm.
After 73 minutes, there appeared to be a case of mistaken identity when Alness substitute Martyn Douglas was cautioned for persistent offending when the foul he had committed was just about his first involvement in the game.
The home side spent the final 15 minutes embedded deep in their own half as Thurso finally started to look menacing. Green had a shot pouched by Maitland, who later executed an unconvincing double-fisted clearance to keep out an effort from Nigel MacKenzie.
Substitute Des MacLeod pepped up the Thurso attack and four minutes from time his angled shot produced a good stop from the keeper. Nichol was then inches away from converting a corner before Maitland distinguished himself with an agile, one-handed stop to keep out a 20 yard pile-driver from Murray.
The final minute saw a miscued cross from Nigel MacKenzie almost squeezing in at the junction of the left post and the crossbar. It was touched against the post by Maitland, with MacLeod's follow-up coming back off the outside of the woodwork.
Alness manager Alan Brindle said afterwards: "We were put under a tremendous amount of pressure in the second half, especially in the closing stages. We defended well and our keeper made several cracking saves. Overall, I thought we worked hard and deserved to get the win."
It proved a frustrating day for Thurso manager Ross Sutherland. "It was very much a game of two halves," he said. "They created several good chances in the first half and scored a very good goal. But we were all over them in the second half when Asa did not have a save to make. It was just one of those days when we could not break them down."
The manager was happy with how erstwhile Wick Academy man Graeme Reid fitted in to the defence. He is hoping to have Martin Bain's release through from the Harmsworth Park outfit to allow him to join tomorrow's squad.
Green has left for a new job in Edinburgh, while Michael Steven and Scott Mackay Steven remain sidelined with ankle injuries. Tomorrow's match at Sir George's Park kicks off at 2pm.
Alness United: Maitland, Sutherland, Smith, E. Murray, Dingwall, Lyall (Calvert 72), Rae, MacLeod, MacDougall, Connelly, MacDonald (Douglas 69). Subs not used: C. Murray, Kitz.
Thurso: Sinclair, Green, Makhouli, Reid, Inrig, Bremner, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Murray, Nichol, MacDougall (MacLeod 82). Subs not used: Sutherland, Moodie.
Referee: J. Nicolson.
* Golspie had to work hard to preserve the league's only 100 per cent record on their trip to Invergordon. Trailing to an early goal, they levelled before the break and their new signing, ex-Clach player Shaun Kerr, carved out the opening for Donald Sutherland to grab the winner three minutes from time.
Wick's Gregg Shearer gave Bunillidh a shock lead versus Inverness City in Helmsdale. The visitors levelled before the interval and went on to win 4-1.