Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 14, 2006 7:00:07 GMT -5
Thurso 3 Halkirk 0 - report from Iain Grant
Derbies are notoriously unpredictable affairs with recent form often proving little help in trying to pick a winner.
Thurso’s record in the lead-up to Saturday’s SWL semi-final clash at the Dammies may have persuaded the bookies to make them marginal favourites to progress.
But anyone tempted to back them would have had reason to question their wisdom after an opening spell which saw the Vikings corralled deep in their own half.
United hit the crossbar early on before the home side asserted themselves and by half-time had gained close to parity in terms of time on the ball, if not attempts on goal.
But they crucially took the lead a minute before the interval following a goal from Jamie Mackenzie which visiting keeper Shaun Henderson will not recall with any affection.
The game remained in the melting pot, with Sean Henstridge hitting a post before Thurso’s second midway through the second half from Gavin Bremner.
Had Graeme Reid then not cleared a Henstridge effort off the line, there could have been a hectic finale.
But Mark Nichol made it 3-0 with 16 minutes left to effectively signal the end of the contest.
The spongy pitch passed a morning inspection, with the overhead conditions remaining cold but dry until a cloudburst blighted the closing 10 minutes.
Halkirk grew in confidence after a sprightly start in which they regularly buzzed Asa Sinclair’s goal.
Within two minutes, a sparky move saw Gavin Henderson’s long-range delivery to the edge of the penalty box being flicked on by Henstridge to Colin Davidson whose volley flew a couple of yards wide of the target.
MacDonald then tried to be too precise in placing a shot when given time and space 20 yards out when a power shot would have been a better option.
With a similar opening after eight minutes, the midfielder’s drive cannoned off the back of a defender and over Sinclair, only to crack off the face off the cross bar and behind for a corner.
Halkirk were looking comfortable at the back and enterprising in the wide and forward areas as Thurso lived on scraps.
Nichol snatched a half-chance over after 14 minutes when an understruck shot by strike partner Alan Murray fell to him
Thurso gradually forced their way into the match and felt aggrieved after 21 minutes not to get a penalty when Nichol went down in the box under a challenge from Colin Munro.
Shaun Henderson was now involved more often and he was happy to see Nichol’s shot from a Lee MacDougall assist hit the side-net.
After 29 minutes, MacDougall and Nichol again combined in a move which ended with Martin Bain’s shot being cleared from in front of goal by Alan Sinclair.
Both sides were now having their moments in an entertaining game which was too close to call.
Nichol forced a sharp save from Shaun Henderson before Kevin Miller’s flying header at the other end defused the danger caused by Michael Bremner’s wicked, inswinging free-kick.
Sinclair was almost embarrassed after 39 minutes when, in attempting to make a return pass to Phil Makhouli, he lashed the ball off the intruding Henstridge.
Fortunately for the keeper, the luck of the rebound favoured him and he gratefully re-gathered.
With the respective manager rehearsing their half-time addresses, United were caught cold at a free-kick which gave their hosts the advantage.
Bremner’s free-kick was well enough struck and Mackenzie’s downward header well directed.
But Mackenzie was left unmarked and the pace of the header should not have troubled Shaun Henderson.
It seemed to take an age as the ball crept inside the left upright outside the despairing, belated reach of the keeper.
At the time, United were reduced to 10 men with Bremner having gone off with what turned out to be a broken nose, which led to his half-time replacement by Lee Elder.
The sub quickly featured in the fray with a looping shot which just cleared the bar with question-marks whether Sinclair would have got to it had it been on target Thurso’s defence, which looked porous in the opening month of the campaign, has looked more solid in recent weeks.
Another slip, after 50 minutes, however almost proved costly when Makhouli’s error on the edge of his penalty box let in Henstridge with only the striker’s heavy touch allowing the defender to recover and win back possession.
Makhouli later earned brownie points with a vital tackle to deny Elder before Chris Sutherland volleyed over.
A vital turning point game on the hour-mark when Davidson sent Elder surging down the left wing.
His early cross found Henstridge who seemed to have done everything right with his first-time shot, only to see it ping back off the base of the right upright. It was crucial as seven minutes later, the visitors conceded a second.
MacDougall’s corner was half-cleared to Bremner whose angled drive from 12 yards was reached by Shaun Henderson who was however unable to prevent it crossing the line.
This sparked a busy spell for the Vikings which culminated in their third goal six minutes later.
Before that, Shaun Henderson needed two attempts to keep out a Nichol drive.
United also came close when Henstridge’s opportunist angled effort required a goal-line clearance from Reid.
The third goal was created by Bain with Murray unselfishly setting up Nichol to score from close range.
The closing stages played in driving rain saw Thurso come close to extending their lead with efforts by Bremner, Mackenzie and Murray.
As it was, the winning margin was harsh on the visitors who did not enjoy the rub of the green in front of goal.
A generally well-tempered affair saw second half bookings for Mackenzie, for a foul on Scott Manson, and for MacDougall and Sutherland, for a touchline dust-up.
Thurso – Sinclair, Miller (Steven 80), Makhouli, Reid, Inrig, Bremner (Tait 84), Bain, Mackenzie, Nichol , Murray, MacDougall (Mackay Steven 80). Subs (unused) – Sutherland and MacLeod.
Halkirk – S. Henderson, G. Henderson, Farquhar, Sinclair, Munro (C. Sinclair 80), Davidson, MacDonald, Sutherland, Henstridge, Bremner (Elder h/t), Manson. Sub (unused) – Blair.
Ref – Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay
Derbies are notoriously unpredictable affairs with recent form often proving little help in trying to pick a winner.
Thurso’s record in the lead-up to Saturday’s SWL semi-final clash at the Dammies may have persuaded the bookies to make them marginal favourites to progress.
But anyone tempted to back them would have had reason to question their wisdom after an opening spell which saw the Vikings corralled deep in their own half.
United hit the crossbar early on before the home side asserted themselves and by half-time had gained close to parity in terms of time on the ball, if not attempts on goal.
But they crucially took the lead a minute before the interval following a goal from Jamie Mackenzie which visiting keeper Shaun Henderson will not recall with any affection.
The game remained in the melting pot, with Sean Henstridge hitting a post before Thurso’s second midway through the second half from Gavin Bremner.
Had Graeme Reid then not cleared a Henstridge effort off the line, there could have been a hectic finale.
But Mark Nichol made it 3-0 with 16 minutes left to effectively signal the end of the contest.
The spongy pitch passed a morning inspection, with the overhead conditions remaining cold but dry until a cloudburst blighted the closing 10 minutes.
Halkirk grew in confidence after a sprightly start in which they regularly buzzed Asa Sinclair’s goal.
Within two minutes, a sparky move saw Gavin Henderson’s long-range delivery to the edge of the penalty box being flicked on by Henstridge to Colin Davidson whose volley flew a couple of yards wide of the target.
MacDonald then tried to be too precise in placing a shot when given time and space 20 yards out when a power shot would have been a better option.
With a similar opening after eight minutes, the midfielder’s drive cannoned off the back of a defender and over Sinclair, only to crack off the face off the cross bar and behind for a corner.
Halkirk were looking comfortable at the back and enterprising in the wide and forward areas as Thurso lived on scraps.
Nichol snatched a half-chance over after 14 minutes when an understruck shot by strike partner Alan Murray fell to him
Thurso gradually forced their way into the match and felt aggrieved after 21 minutes not to get a penalty when Nichol went down in the box under a challenge from Colin Munro.
Shaun Henderson was now involved more often and he was happy to see Nichol’s shot from a Lee MacDougall assist hit the side-net.
After 29 minutes, MacDougall and Nichol again combined in a move which ended with Martin Bain’s shot being cleared from in front of goal by Alan Sinclair.
Both sides were now having their moments in an entertaining game which was too close to call.
Nichol forced a sharp save from Shaun Henderson before Kevin Miller’s flying header at the other end defused the danger caused by Michael Bremner’s wicked, inswinging free-kick.
Sinclair was almost embarrassed after 39 minutes when, in attempting to make a return pass to Phil Makhouli, he lashed the ball off the intruding Henstridge.
Fortunately for the keeper, the luck of the rebound favoured him and he gratefully re-gathered.
With the respective manager rehearsing their half-time addresses, United were caught cold at a free-kick which gave their hosts the advantage.
Bremner’s free-kick was well enough struck and Mackenzie’s downward header well directed.
But Mackenzie was left unmarked and the pace of the header should not have troubled Shaun Henderson.
It seemed to take an age as the ball crept inside the left upright outside the despairing, belated reach of the keeper.
At the time, United were reduced to 10 men with Bremner having gone off with what turned out to be a broken nose, which led to his half-time replacement by Lee Elder.
The sub quickly featured in the fray with a looping shot which just cleared the bar with question-marks whether Sinclair would have got to it had it been on target Thurso’s defence, which looked porous in the opening month of the campaign, has looked more solid in recent weeks.
Another slip, after 50 minutes, however almost proved costly when Makhouli’s error on the edge of his penalty box let in Henstridge with only the striker’s heavy touch allowing the defender to recover and win back possession.
Makhouli later earned brownie points with a vital tackle to deny Elder before Chris Sutherland volleyed over.
A vital turning point game on the hour-mark when Davidson sent Elder surging down the left wing.
His early cross found Henstridge who seemed to have done everything right with his first-time shot, only to see it ping back off the base of the right upright. It was crucial as seven minutes later, the visitors conceded a second.
MacDougall’s corner was half-cleared to Bremner whose angled drive from 12 yards was reached by Shaun Henderson who was however unable to prevent it crossing the line.
This sparked a busy spell for the Vikings which culminated in their third goal six minutes later.
Before that, Shaun Henderson needed two attempts to keep out a Nichol drive.
United also came close when Henstridge’s opportunist angled effort required a goal-line clearance from Reid.
The third goal was created by Bain with Murray unselfishly setting up Nichol to score from close range.
The closing stages played in driving rain saw Thurso come close to extending their lead with efforts by Bremner, Mackenzie and Murray.
As it was, the winning margin was harsh on the visitors who did not enjoy the rub of the green in front of goal.
A generally well-tempered affair saw second half bookings for Mackenzie, for a foul on Scott Manson, and for MacDougall and Sutherland, for a touchline dust-up.
Thurso – Sinclair, Miller (Steven 80), Makhouli, Reid, Inrig, Bremner (Tait 84), Bain, Mackenzie, Nichol , Murray, MacDougall (Mackay Steven 80). Subs (unused) – Sutherland and MacLeod.
Halkirk – S. Henderson, G. Henderson, Farquhar, Sinclair, Munro (C. Sinclair 80), Davidson, MacDonald, Sutherland, Henstridge, Bremner (Elder h/t), Manson. Sub (unused) – Blair.
Ref – Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay