Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 1, 2007 12:34:39 GMT -5
Thurso 7 Bunillidh Thistle 1 - report from Iain Grant
Nichol grabs a hat-trick as Thurso turn the screw
Thurso 7, Bunilidh Thistle 1
Published: 23 February, 2007
THURSO made hard work of subduing willing if inexperienced opponents on Saturday to go above Golspie on goal difference at the top of the North Caledonian League.
After the previous week's cup-final heroics, this was always going to be something of an anti-climax. But the first half, in particular, proved an insipid affair with little to enthuse the onlookers.
The Vikings did improve after the break and three goals in the final six minutes produced a convincing final scoreline.
Thurso were seldom out of opposition territory for the opening 25 minutes, though they managed to get precious few attempts on target.
Bunillidh's Jordan Sutherland produced the first effort on goal on eight minutes which needed careful watching by home keeper Asa Sinclair as the ball fizzed along the wet turf.
After 15 minutes, Kevin Miller engineered an opening for Des MacLeod who was thwarted by a well-timed challenge.
Thurso's attacking ambitions were being blunted down the left flank, where Lee MacDougall was getting little change out of Calum Mackay.
Thurso's growing frustration was reflected in the 20th-minute booking of Jamie MacKenzie for a show of dissent.
Mark Nichol and Jamie MacKenzie wasted decent chances before the latter finally broke the deadlock after 26 minutes.
It stemmed from a free kick awarded for Gordon McRae's trip of MacLeod. The ball ended up being played down the right wing to Nigel MacKenzie, whose inch-perfect cross found his brother unmarked 10 yards out. His header powered high past Graham Williamson – one of four Wick-based youngsters in the Bunillidh line-up.
MacDougall by now was getting the measure of Mackay, though Thurso continued to misfire in front of goal.
After 36 minutes, Nichol's perseverance paid off when he netted after his three earlier goal-bound attempts had been blocked.
Martin Sutherland became the second player cautioned after 37 minutes after grappling with Michael Steven.
Thurso then almost went three up when Nigel MacKenzie's cross produced a slick response from Nichol which went fractionally wide.
Williamson needed treatment after making a brave block to deny Jamie MacKenzie before Willie Inrig missed the target from close range.
In between, MacLeod was at the centre of a penalty appeal after he was floored as he rose to meet Miller's cross.
With 44 minutes played, Sinclair had a narrow escape when a looping free kick came back off his right-hand post after he appeared to lose the flight of the ball in the glare of the sun.
A minute later the visitors reduced the deficit from another free kick. On this occasion, Sinclair was blameless with McRae's fierce 30-yard strike arrowing high into the left corner of the net.
In an action-packed end to the first half, the Helmsdale men came close to drawing level with McRae again the dangerman. His 20-yard drive from Mackay's assist flashed just wide of the left post.
It had been a sloppy performance by the Vikings, who could have been comfortably ahead by the interval had they shown more urgency and sharper finishing. The latter qualities were far more in evidence in the second period when they turned the screw on the visitors.
The first opportunity fell on 50 minutes when Steven sent in Jamie MacKenzie, whose shot came back off Williamson's legs.
Kyle Ross – another of the young Wick brigade – came to the fore for the wrong reasons on 53 minutes when he fouled Nigel MacKenzie before kicking the ball away after the whistle. Referee Willie Sinclair marked the latter offence with a booking.
The resultant free kick by MacDougall found Nigel MacKenzie, whose cutback ended with a defender diverting the ball past Williamson. Vigorous protests that it had not crossed the line cut no ice with the officials.
The pitch was starting to cut up quite badly, as Williamson found to his cost when he sclaffed a clearance after the ball took a rogue stot off one of the many divots.
The keeper was relieved to see Nichol fire over after being given a clear view of goal by Jamie MacKenzie's assist.
Thurso's Phil Makhouli (right) tries to block a shot during the North Caledonian League match against Bunillidh Thistle at Sir George's Park on Saturday.
Nichol then spurned two decent chances in quick succession, shooting straight at Williamson before heading wide from a peach of a delivery by Nigel MacKenzie.
Ross then did well to clear another teasing Nigel MacKenzie cross as the overworked Bunillidh defence strove to keep the Vikings at bay.
The fourth was delayed until the 67th minute when Nichol's driven cross was controlled by MacLeod before being dispatched low into the left corner of the net.
Sinclair cut a lonely figure for most of the match but he was called to arms when his side lost possession in their own half. It left Greg Shearer with a decent opening, but Sinclair did well to narrow the angle before reaching the shot.
Nigel MacKenzie, heavily involved in set-ups all afternoon, almost got on the scoresheet on 74 minutes when his drive from the edge of the box almost sneaked past Williamson.
Nichol had been having a frustrating day but, as with all quality strikers, he kept trying to sniff out chances and was rewarded with two more goals to compete his hat-trick.
After 84 minutes, substitute Martin MacGregor dinked a delicate chip over the Bunillidh central duo to allow Nichol to ghost in and round Williamson before tapping home.
A minute later, Nichol found himself with a clear run down the inside-left channel. As Williamson came out, the striker fired a fierce shot past him into the net.
There was time for a seventh goal on 87 minutes when the MacKenzie brothers combined to allow Jamie an attempt on goal. Williamson showed a hair-trigger reaction to make the parry but was powerless to prevent MacDougall squeezing in the follow-up.
Thurso manager Ross Sutherland admitted his side were not firing on all cylinders in the first period.
"It was a pretty poor first half," he said. "Even then, we were 2-0 up and cruising and had missed quite a few chances when they stunned us by scoring from one of their few opportunities.
"We were better after the interval and, once the third goal went in, they sort of died and it was pretty comfortable."
Thurso play their final home league game tomorrow when they entertain Alness. They have been the bogey side for the Vikings, having beaten them on league and cup business in Easter Ross.
Manager Sutherland is keen that his players keep focused on their own game and do not let their minds wander to how rivals Golspie are faring at Dornoch.
He said: "We need them to slip up for us to have any chance of the title, but it will be academic if we do not win ourselves."
He has a full squad apart from a doubt over Martin Bain, who could again be ruled out with work commitments.
The match kicks off at 3pm.
Thurso: Sinclair, Reid, Miller, Makhouli, Inrig (Bremner h-t), Steven, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Nichol, MacLeod (MacGregor 67), MacDougall. Sub not used: Sutherland.
Bunillidh Thistle: Williamson, Ross (R. Flett 64), McRae, Grant, Denoon, Mackay, M. Sutherland (L. Sutherland 83), Urquhart, MacDonald, J. Sutherland (A. Flett 80), Shearer (Duncan 49). Subs not used: Cowie, Shepherd.
Referee: W. Sinclair.
Halkirk United will be looking to end their miserable run this weekend when they visit Helmsdale on league business. Cancellations and rest days mean they have played just twice since Christmas. United are also bidding for their first victory since November, their last five outings all having ended in defeat.
Skipper Colin Munro and striker Michael Bremner are unavailable for tomorrow's clash with Bunillidh. Gavin Henderson, Alan Farquhar and Graham MacDonald are all restored after injury and illness, though Gordie MacDonald is a major doubt. Last Saturday, United won 9-0 in a bounce game versus the Halkirk winter side.
Nichol grabs a hat-trick as Thurso turn the screw
Thurso 7, Bunilidh Thistle 1
Published: 23 February, 2007
THURSO made hard work of subduing willing if inexperienced opponents on Saturday to go above Golspie on goal difference at the top of the North Caledonian League.
After the previous week's cup-final heroics, this was always going to be something of an anti-climax. But the first half, in particular, proved an insipid affair with little to enthuse the onlookers.
The Vikings did improve after the break and three goals in the final six minutes produced a convincing final scoreline.
Thurso were seldom out of opposition territory for the opening 25 minutes, though they managed to get precious few attempts on target.
Bunillidh's Jordan Sutherland produced the first effort on goal on eight minutes which needed careful watching by home keeper Asa Sinclair as the ball fizzed along the wet turf.
After 15 minutes, Kevin Miller engineered an opening for Des MacLeod who was thwarted by a well-timed challenge.
Thurso's attacking ambitions were being blunted down the left flank, where Lee MacDougall was getting little change out of Calum Mackay.
Thurso's growing frustration was reflected in the 20th-minute booking of Jamie MacKenzie for a show of dissent.
Mark Nichol and Jamie MacKenzie wasted decent chances before the latter finally broke the deadlock after 26 minutes.
It stemmed from a free kick awarded for Gordon McRae's trip of MacLeod. The ball ended up being played down the right wing to Nigel MacKenzie, whose inch-perfect cross found his brother unmarked 10 yards out. His header powered high past Graham Williamson – one of four Wick-based youngsters in the Bunillidh line-up.
MacDougall by now was getting the measure of Mackay, though Thurso continued to misfire in front of goal.
After 36 minutes, Nichol's perseverance paid off when he netted after his three earlier goal-bound attempts had been blocked.
Martin Sutherland became the second player cautioned after 37 minutes after grappling with Michael Steven.
Thurso then almost went three up when Nigel MacKenzie's cross produced a slick response from Nichol which went fractionally wide.
Williamson needed treatment after making a brave block to deny Jamie MacKenzie before Willie Inrig missed the target from close range.
In between, MacLeod was at the centre of a penalty appeal after he was floored as he rose to meet Miller's cross.
With 44 minutes played, Sinclair had a narrow escape when a looping free kick came back off his right-hand post after he appeared to lose the flight of the ball in the glare of the sun.
A minute later the visitors reduced the deficit from another free kick. On this occasion, Sinclair was blameless with McRae's fierce 30-yard strike arrowing high into the left corner of the net.
In an action-packed end to the first half, the Helmsdale men came close to drawing level with McRae again the dangerman. His 20-yard drive from Mackay's assist flashed just wide of the left post.
It had been a sloppy performance by the Vikings, who could have been comfortably ahead by the interval had they shown more urgency and sharper finishing. The latter qualities were far more in evidence in the second period when they turned the screw on the visitors.
The first opportunity fell on 50 minutes when Steven sent in Jamie MacKenzie, whose shot came back off Williamson's legs.
Kyle Ross – another of the young Wick brigade – came to the fore for the wrong reasons on 53 minutes when he fouled Nigel MacKenzie before kicking the ball away after the whistle. Referee Willie Sinclair marked the latter offence with a booking.
The resultant free kick by MacDougall found Nigel MacKenzie, whose cutback ended with a defender diverting the ball past Williamson. Vigorous protests that it had not crossed the line cut no ice with the officials.
The pitch was starting to cut up quite badly, as Williamson found to his cost when he sclaffed a clearance after the ball took a rogue stot off one of the many divots.
The keeper was relieved to see Nichol fire over after being given a clear view of goal by Jamie MacKenzie's assist.
Thurso's Phil Makhouli (right) tries to block a shot during the North Caledonian League match against Bunillidh Thistle at Sir George's Park on Saturday.
Nichol then spurned two decent chances in quick succession, shooting straight at Williamson before heading wide from a peach of a delivery by Nigel MacKenzie.
Ross then did well to clear another teasing Nigel MacKenzie cross as the overworked Bunillidh defence strove to keep the Vikings at bay.
The fourth was delayed until the 67th minute when Nichol's driven cross was controlled by MacLeod before being dispatched low into the left corner of the net.
Sinclair cut a lonely figure for most of the match but he was called to arms when his side lost possession in their own half. It left Greg Shearer with a decent opening, but Sinclair did well to narrow the angle before reaching the shot.
Nigel MacKenzie, heavily involved in set-ups all afternoon, almost got on the scoresheet on 74 minutes when his drive from the edge of the box almost sneaked past Williamson.
Nichol had been having a frustrating day but, as with all quality strikers, he kept trying to sniff out chances and was rewarded with two more goals to compete his hat-trick.
After 84 minutes, substitute Martin MacGregor dinked a delicate chip over the Bunillidh central duo to allow Nichol to ghost in and round Williamson before tapping home.
A minute later, Nichol found himself with a clear run down the inside-left channel. As Williamson came out, the striker fired a fierce shot past him into the net.
There was time for a seventh goal on 87 minutes when the MacKenzie brothers combined to allow Jamie an attempt on goal. Williamson showed a hair-trigger reaction to make the parry but was powerless to prevent MacDougall squeezing in the follow-up.
Thurso manager Ross Sutherland admitted his side were not firing on all cylinders in the first period.
"It was a pretty poor first half," he said. "Even then, we were 2-0 up and cruising and had missed quite a few chances when they stunned us by scoring from one of their few opportunities.
"We were better after the interval and, once the third goal went in, they sort of died and it was pretty comfortable."
Thurso play their final home league game tomorrow when they entertain Alness. They have been the bogey side for the Vikings, having beaten them on league and cup business in Easter Ross.
Manager Sutherland is keen that his players keep focused on their own game and do not let their minds wander to how rivals Golspie are faring at Dornoch.
He said: "We need them to slip up for us to have any chance of the title, but it will be academic if we do not win ourselves."
He has a full squad apart from a doubt over Martin Bain, who could again be ruled out with work commitments.
The match kicks off at 3pm.
Thurso: Sinclair, Reid, Miller, Makhouli, Inrig (Bremner h-t), Steven, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Nichol, MacLeod (MacGregor 67), MacDougall. Sub not used: Sutherland.
Bunillidh Thistle: Williamson, Ross (R. Flett 64), McRae, Grant, Denoon, Mackay, M. Sutherland (L. Sutherland 83), Urquhart, MacDonald, J. Sutherland (A. Flett 80), Shearer (Duncan 49). Subs not used: Cowie, Shepherd.
Referee: W. Sinclair.
Halkirk United will be looking to end their miserable run this weekend when they visit Helmsdale on league business. Cancellations and rest days mean they have played just twice since Christmas. United are also bidding for their first victory since November, their last five outings all having ended in defeat.
Skipper Colin Munro and striker Michael Bremner are unavailable for tomorrow's clash with Bunillidh. Gavin Henderson, Alan Farquhar and Graham MacDonald are all restored after injury and illness, though Gordie MacDonald is a major doubt. Last Saturday, United won 9-0 in a bounce game versus the Halkirk winter side.