Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 8, 2006 9:53:56 GMT -5
Golspie 2 Thurso 4 - Report from Iain Grant
Thurso recovered from a two goal deficit on Saturday to inflict a first North Caledonian League reverse on their hosts.
Golspie had completed the first half of the season with an unblemished record of eight wins in eight starts.
They looked on course to continue that run after going two up early in the second half but the Vikings battled back gamely and ended up deserved victors.
Whether this result proves a hiccup in the Sutherland’s side procession to the title, only time will tell.
But it does give a glimmer of light to Thurso and the handful of other sides primed to benefit from further stutters.
The home side started strongly with the Thurso defence tested by a series of high cross-balls.
Asa Sinclair was soon involved clutching a header from Scott Wilson in between watching a Colin Doull header skim past his right hand post and a Davie Gray long-ranger clear his bar.
The early bombardment on the Thurso goal continued with Shaun Kerr’s would- be run-in from Darren Pullen’s astute pass aborted by Kevin Miller’s block-tackle in the penalty box.
Almost constant Golspie pressure. The Vikings’ first goal threat came on eight minutes when Martin Bain surged up the right wing and had his low shot stopped by keeper Alan Bokas.
That sparked a bright spell for Thurso with Bokas needing two attempts to keep out Lee MacDougall’s 25-yard free-kick.
Sinclair had to look sharp to turn away an angled drive from Wilson after 14 minutes before a similar inviting opening at the other end was not converted.
Mark Nichol created the opportunity for Jamie Mackenzie whose shot was all too comfortably gathered by Bokas.
Both defences had to be on their mettle in an open, free-flowing game which produced no shortage of goalmouth action.
Doull was next to try his luck with his pot-shot from the edge of the box going just wide before the same player’s looping cross being well taken by Sinclair while under pressure.
In between these efforts, Willie Inrig sent Nichol racing down the right with his 30 yard effort almost falling for the inrushing Alan Murray.
Golspie broke the deadlock on 20 minutes after they had been rather generously awarded a foul when Miller was pulled up for a two-footed tackle.
Doull’s free-kick was back-headed by Colin MacLeod past Sinclair.
Golspie’s Robbie Duncanson was enjoying licence to roam down the left wing as his side looked to extend their advantage.
It was however their opponents who regained the initiative with a number of attacks culminating in Mackenzie heading a good chance over.
After 23 minutes, the Vikings thought they had levelled when Mackenzie’s cross
was netted by Murray only for the celebrations to be stilled by an assistant ref’s offside flag.
The feeling of injustice was perhaps still to the fore when player-manager Ross Sutherland, Graeme Reid and Mackenzie were booked shortly afterwards for injudicious comments made to the ref.
The fires were further stoked when Murray had another effort chalked off after 32 minutes.
This time, the offside ruling was more debatable after the striker latched on to MacDougall’s assist to slide the ball past Bokas.
Thurso’s grievance would have been sharpened a minute later after their defence was caught flat-footed by Duncanson who was just off target with his attempt on goal.
Thurso responded with a lively attack which ended with Nichol’s shot being parried by Bokas before Murray hooked just wide from a prime position.
Sinclair was kept on his toes, denying Duncanson with a good stop.
MacLeod was booked for a deliberate trip of Mackenzie before the Golspie man required treatment after being injured on a bullocking run into the box.
The Vikings finished the half on top with the pressure leading to another booking after defender Adam Sutherland levelled Mackenzie.
The tide turned back Golspie’s way with their second goal on 48 minutes following their high-octane restart.
After MacDougall and Reid failed to clear, Wilson pounced to fire a low shot
which took a wicked bounce off the turf and over the prostrate Sinclair.
Golspie, fatally, eased off and left themselves exposed to a comeback by spirited opponents who were to be on the front foot for the remainder of the match.
Bokas made a goal-line save from Nichol’s close-in effort before the striker wasted a decent opportunity in the box.
Thurso’s first goal arrived on 57 minutes when concerted pressure ended with Bain unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner of the net.
A minute later, the home side could have restored their two goal cushion when Wilson was sent through on goal. The close attentions of Reid resulted in him having to rush his attempt which cleared the bar.
The Vikings were on level terms after 61 minutes when Murray rose above several defenders to head MacDougall’s cross over Bokas into the net.
The charged atmosphere led to John Seaton and MacDougall being booked.
The tide was now flowing Thurso’s way and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 69 minutes. It stemmed from a long throw which was partially cleared to Mackenzie whose pin-point cross found Nichol whose header from six yards gave Bokas no chance.
There was a scare for the visiting camp after 75 minutes when Sinclair failed to gather a high cross which had been pumped into a crowded penalty box.
There ensured a free-for-all which ended with the ball being hacked to safety.
Murray could have sealed the tie after 78 minutes when sent clear but Bokas kept his side in the contest when he spread himself well and made a brave block, at the expense of a corner.
A minute later, the livewire Murray almost latched on to a Miller assist with Bokas again doing well to rush out to make the interception.
Play was now getting stretched with the introduction of comeback man Scott Mackay Steven giving Thurso more options to attack the wide right channel.
Murray made the game safe after 87 minutes when he collected the ball just inside the Golspie half, outpaced the defence and from about 20 yards curled an unstoppable shot high past Bokas.
For the remaining six minutes, Golspie camped in or close to the visiting penalty box but got no joy from a clutch of corners as Thurso’s defence held out.
The result, on the balance of play and chances, was just about right, with Thurso’s strong second half display again proving decisive.
Golspie – Bokas, Seaton (Whyte 84), Pullen, A. Sutherland (D. Sutherland 77), MacLeod, Gray, Doull, Sinclair (MacPhail 67), Kerr, Wilson, Duncanson, Sutherland. Subs (unused) – Bain.
Thurso – Sinclair, Miller , Makhouli, Reid, Inrig, Sutherland (Steven 80), Bain (Mackay Steven 69), Mackenzie, Nichol (MacLeod 85), Murray, MacDougall.
Thurso recovered from a two goal deficit on Saturday to inflict a first North Caledonian League reverse on their hosts.
Golspie had completed the first half of the season with an unblemished record of eight wins in eight starts.
They looked on course to continue that run after going two up early in the second half but the Vikings battled back gamely and ended up deserved victors.
Whether this result proves a hiccup in the Sutherland’s side procession to the title, only time will tell.
But it does give a glimmer of light to Thurso and the handful of other sides primed to benefit from further stutters.
The home side started strongly with the Thurso defence tested by a series of high cross-balls.
Asa Sinclair was soon involved clutching a header from Scott Wilson in between watching a Colin Doull header skim past his right hand post and a Davie Gray long-ranger clear his bar.
The early bombardment on the Thurso goal continued with Shaun Kerr’s would- be run-in from Darren Pullen’s astute pass aborted by Kevin Miller’s block-tackle in the penalty box.
Almost constant Golspie pressure. The Vikings’ first goal threat came on eight minutes when Martin Bain surged up the right wing and had his low shot stopped by keeper Alan Bokas.
That sparked a bright spell for Thurso with Bokas needing two attempts to keep out Lee MacDougall’s 25-yard free-kick.
Sinclair had to look sharp to turn away an angled drive from Wilson after 14 minutes before a similar inviting opening at the other end was not converted.
Mark Nichol created the opportunity for Jamie Mackenzie whose shot was all too comfortably gathered by Bokas.
Both defences had to be on their mettle in an open, free-flowing game which produced no shortage of goalmouth action.
Doull was next to try his luck with his pot-shot from the edge of the box going just wide before the same player’s looping cross being well taken by Sinclair while under pressure.
In between these efforts, Willie Inrig sent Nichol racing down the right with his 30 yard effort almost falling for the inrushing Alan Murray.
Golspie broke the deadlock on 20 minutes after they had been rather generously awarded a foul when Miller was pulled up for a two-footed tackle.
Doull’s free-kick was back-headed by Colin MacLeod past Sinclair.
Golspie’s Robbie Duncanson was enjoying licence to roam down the left wing as his side looked to extend their advantage.
It was however their opponents who regained the initiative with a number of attacks culminating in Mackenzie heading a good chance over.
After 23 minutes, the Vikings thought they had levelled when Mackenzie’s cross
was netted by Murray only for the celebrations to be stilled by an assistant ref’s offside flag.
The feeling of injustice was perhaps still to the fore when player-manager Ross Sutherland, Graeme Reid and Mackenzie were booked shortly afterwards for injudicious comments made to the ref.
The fires were further stoked when Murray had another effort chalked off after 32 minutes.
This time, the offside ruling was more debatable after the striker latched on to MacDougall’s assist to slide the ball past Bokas.
Thurso’s grievance would have been sharpened a minute later after their defence was caught flat-footed by Duncanson who was just off target with his attempt on goal.
Thurso responded with a lively attack which ended with Nichol’s shot being parried by Bokas before Murray hooked just wide from a prime position.
Sinclair was kept on his toes, denying Duncanson with a good stop.
MacLeod was booked for a deliberate trip of Mackenzie before the Golspie man required treatment after being injured on a bullocking run into the box.
The Vikings finished the half on top with the pressure leading to another booking after defender Adam Sutherland levelled Mackenzie.
The tide turned back Golspie’s way with their second goal on 48 minutes following their high-octane restart.
After MacDougall and Reid failed to clear, Wilson pounced to fire a low shot
which took a wicked bounce off the turf and over the prostrate Sinclair.
Golspie, fatally, eased off and left themselves exposed to a comeback by spirited opponents who were to be on the front foot for the remainder of the match.
Bokas made a goal-line save from Nichol’s close-in effort before the striker wasted a decent opportunity in the box.
Thurso’s first goal arrived on 57 minutes when concerted pressure ended with Bain unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner of the net.
A minute later, the home side could have restored their two goal cushion when Wilson was sent through on goal. The close attentions of Reid resulted in him having to rush his attempt which cleared the bar.
The Vikings were on level terms after 61 minutes when Murray rose above several defenders to head MacDougall’s cross over Bokas into the net.
The charged atmosphere led to John Seaton and MacDougall being booked.
The tide was now flowing Thurso’s way and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 69 minutes. It stemmed from a long throw which was partially cleared to Mackenzie whose pin-point cross found Nichol whose header from six yards gave Bokas no chance.
There was a scare for the visiting camp after 75 minutes when Sinclair failed to gather a high cross which had been pumped into a crowded penalty box.
There ensured a free-for-all which ended with the ball being hacked to safety.
Murray could have sealed the tie after 78 minutes when sent clear but Bokas kept his side in the contest when he spread himself well and made a brave block, at the expense of a corner.
A minute later, the livewire Murray almost latched on to a Miller assist with Bokas again doing well to rush out to make the interception.
Play was now getting stretched with the introduction of comeback man Scott Mackay Steven giving Thurso more options to attack the wide right channel.
Murray made the game safe after 87 minutes when he collected the ball just inside the Golspie half, outpaced the defence and from about 20 yards curled an unstoppable shot high past Bokas.
For the remaining six minutes, Golspie camped in or close to the visiting penalty box but got no joy from a clutch of corners as Thurso’s defence held out.
The result, on the balance of play and chances, was just about right, with Thurso’s strong second half display again proving decisive.
Golspie – Bokas, Seaton (Whyte 84), Pullen, A. Sutherland (D. Sutherland 77), MacLeod, Gray, Doull, Sinclair (MacPhail 67), Kerr, Wilson, Duncanson, Sutherland. Subs (unused) – Bain.
Thurso – Sinclair, Miller , Makhouli, Reid, Inrig, Sutherland (Steven 80), Bain (Mackay Steven 69), Mackenzie, Nichol (MacLeod 85), Murray, MacDougall.