Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 8, 2007 12:57:13 GMT -5
Balintore 1 Thurso 5 - report by Iain Grant
Free-scoring Thurso posted their biggest ever win in Balintore to finish their North Caley campaign on a high.
Their eight win sequence keeps them top but Golspie are poised to
clinch the title assuming they can account for lowly Bunillidh Thistle in the league’s outstanding fixture.
The Sutherland outfit almost slipped up on Saturday when a late equaliser in Alness allowed them to remain in control of their own destiny.
The Vikings were forced into a late reshuffle on Saturday when travelling problems ruled out Des MacLeod.
This led to Phil Makhouli, who has settled well into his new role in the back three, being moved to partner Mark Nichol up front, and Michael Steven brought into the starting line-up.
On a breezy but warm afternoon, the visitors seized the initiative with a brace from Jamie Mackenzie before a John Skinner penalty gave Balintore renewed hope.
A Mark Nichol goal soon after the turnaround saw the fortunes swing decisively back to Thurso, who struck twice more through Makhouli and Jamie Mackenzie, again.
Thurso thought they had drawn first blood after eight minutes following Lee MacDougall’s quickly-taken free-kick.
Nichol was on the same wavelength but had strayed fractionally offside before he netted.
A free-flowing encounter saw Caithness exile Tony Farquhar have the next clear sight of goal at the other end though he was unable to get a shot away.
Thurso were ahead on 10 minutes when MacDougall’s centre from the left was teed up by Makhouli before being converted from close range by Jamie Mackenzie.
There was almost a quick riposte when Graham MacGruer came close to heading home after a Balintore corner was not properly cleared.
Ewan Dance was his useful lively self up front and Graeme Reid twice did well to check the striker in one-on-one situations on the edge of the box.
Nichol meanwhile sent a header narrowly past while Makhouli skied a half-chance high and wide before Thurso struck again on 34 minutes.
A high-tempo move saw the ball played up to Nichol in the penalty box. He rode a challenge before setting up Jamie Mackenzie to bag his second.
Balintore, who badly missed regulars James Skinner and Lewis Ross, continued to enjoy at least their fair share of possession.
After 37 minutes, a dangerous break saw Colin Burry play in Dance who squandered the chance by shooting wide.
The home side got one back two minutes later when Dance was set free on a clear run into the box where he was floored from behind by Steven.
The presence of covering defenders saved Steven from disciplinary action though John Skinner ensured that the crime was not rewarded when he tucked away the resultant spot-kick.
Thurso almost restored their two-goal cushion five minutes from the break when MacDougall’s low delivery found Makhouli unattended at the back post.
The latter’s over-heavy first touch proved crucial as, while his subsequent shot was firm and true, keeper Donald Munro was afforded a crucial extra split second to make a smother save.
Balintore’s vulnerability from corners was to see their chances vanish to zero within 10 minutes of the second half.
After 48 minutes, Reid’s firm downward header from Gavin Bremner’s centre was hooked in by Makhouli from close range.
An action replay saw a static defence watch Nichol rise unchallenged to connect with another Bremner corner with a powerful header.
MacDougall had almost scored in between the setpiece goals when he cut in from the left and saw his rasping right-foot drive come back off the face of the crossbar.
With Balintore at sixes and sevens, Nigel Mackenzie missed a snip after 55 minutes after being given a clear opening by his brother Jamie.
Thurso continued to dominate with Makhouli going close twice, with Munro denying him on both occasions with fine blocks.
Jamie Mackenzie completed his hat-trick on 77 minutes when he controlled the ball on his chest before lashing it between Munro and the right-hand post.
Nichol was then just off-target with a free kick while Nigel Mackenzie and Nichol linked well only for Munro to get in the way before Makhouli could provide the killer touch.
The home frontmen were on thin rations throughout the second period with Sinclair having to wait until three minutes from time for his first save of any note.
Balintore’s Liam Taylor centre to fellow sub Angus MacDonald saw the latter’s close-range header being well clutched by the keeper.
Sinclair almost undid his good work with a loose clearance from hand which he was fortunate was not punished.
Thurso manager Ross Sutherland is more than happy with his side’s late run of form.
“I thought it was a good performance, all round,” he said.
“We were cruising when a mishap let them back in the game but again we scored a goal early in the second half.
“That killed the game and we could have gone on to score one nor two more than we did.”
Balintore – Munro, Davis, Powell, J. Skinner, MacGruer (McCallum 65), McBean, S. Skinner, Burry, Dance (Taylor 73), Farquhar, McCallum (MacDonald 78). Sub (unused) – Calderwood
Thurso – Sinclair, Reid, Miller, Steven, Inrig (Bain 65), Bremner, N. Mackenzie, J. Mackenzie, Nichol, Makhouli, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Sutherland.
Ref – Mr J. Nicolson, Inverness.
Golspie faced a tougher-than-expected assignment at Alness. After taking an early lead through Donald Sutherland, they conceded twice in the third quarter and required a late Shaun Kerr penalty to earn a 2-2 draw.
In the only cup game played, Inverness City qualified for the semi-final of the Football Times Cup with a 6-3 home win over Dornoch.
Free-scoring Thurso posted their biggest ever win in Balintore to finish their North Caley campaign on a high.
Their eight win sequence keeps them top but Golspie are poised to
clinch the title assuming they can account for lowly Bunillidh Thistle in the league’s outstanding fixture.
The Sutherland outfit almost slipped up on Saturday when a late equaliser in Alness allowed them to remain in control of their own destiny.
The Vikings were forced into a late reshuffle on Saturday when travelling problems ruled out Des MacLeod.
This led to Phil Makhouli, who has settled well into his new role in the back three, being moved to partner Mark Nichol up front, and Michael Steven brought into the starting line-up.
On a breezy but warm afternoon, the visitors seized the initiative with a brace from Jamie Mackenzie before a John Skinner penalty gave Balintore renewed hope.
A Mark Nichol goal soon after the turnaround saw the fortunes swing decisively back to Thurso, who struck twice more through Makhouli and Jamie Mackenzie, again.
Thurso thought they had drawn first blood after eight minutes following Lee MacDougall’s quickly-taken free-kick.
Nichol was on the same wavelength but had strayed fractionally offside before he netted.
A free-flowing encounter saw Caithness exile Tony Farquhar have the next clear sight of goal at the other end though he was unable to get a shot away.
Thurso were ahead on 10 minutes when MacDougall’s centre from the left was teed up by Makhouli before being converted from close range by Jamie Mackenzie.
There was almost a quick riposte when Graham MacGruer came close to heading home after a Balintore corner was not properly cleared.
Ewan Dance was his useful lively self up front and Graeme Reid twice did well to check the striker in one-on-one situations on the edge of the box.
Nichol meanwhile sent a header narrowly past while Makhouli skied a half-chance high and wide before Thurso struck again on 34 minutes.
A high-tempo move saw the ball played up to Nichol in the penalty box. He rode a challenge before setting up Jamie Mackenzie to bag his second.
Balintore, who badly missed regulars James Skinner and Lewis Ross, continued to enjoy at least their fair share of possession.
After 37 minutes, a dangerous break saw Colin Burry play in Dance who squandered the chance by shooting wide.
The home side got one back two minutes later when Dance was set free on a clear run into the box where he was floored from behind by Steven.
The presence of covering defenders saved Steven from disciplinary action though John Skinner ensured that the crime was not rewarded when he tucked away the resultant spot-kick.
Thurso almost restored their two-goal cushion five minutes from the break when MacDougall’s low delivery found Makhouli unattended at the back post.
The latter’s over-heavy first touch proved crucial as, while his subsequent shot was firm and true, keeper Donald Munro was afforded a crucial extra split second to make a smother save.
Balintore’s vulnerability from corners was to see their chances vanish to zero within 10 minutes of the second half.
After 48 minutes, Reid’s firm downward header from Gavin Bremner’s centre was hooked in by Makhouli from close range.
An action replay saw a static defence watch Nichol rise unchallenged to connect with another Bremner corner with a powerful header.
MacDougall had almost scored in between the setpiece goals when he cut in from the left and saw his rasping right-foot drive come back off the face of the crossbar.
With Balintore at sixes and sevens, Nigel Mackenzie missed a snip after 55 minutes after being given a clear opening by his brother Jamie.
Thurso continued to dominate with Makhouli going close twice, with Munro denying him on both occasions with fine blocks.
Jamie Mackenzie completed his hat-trick on 77 minutes when he controlled the ball on his chest before lashing it between Munro and the right-hand post.
Nichol was then just off-target with a free kick while Nigel Mackenzie and Nichol linked well only for Munro to get in the way before Makhouli could provide the killer touch.
The home frontmen were on thin rations throughout the second period with Sinclair having to wait until three minutes from time for his first save of any note.
Balintore’s Liam Taylor centre to fellow sub Angus MacDonald saw the latter’s close-range header being well clutched by the keeper.
Sinclair almost undid his good work with a loose clearance from hand which he was fortunate was not punished.
Thurso manager Ross Sutherland is more than happy with his side’s late run of form.
“I thought it was a good performance, all round,” he said.
“We were cruising when a mishap let them back in the game but again we scored a goal early in the second half.
“That killed the game and we could have gone on to score one nor two more than we did.”
Balintore – Munro, Davis, Powell, J. Skinner, MacGruer (McCallum 65), McBean, S. Skinner, Burry, Dance (Taylor 73), Farquhar, McCallum (MacDonald 78). Sub (unused) – Calderwood
Thurso – Sinclair, Reid, Miller, Steven, Inrig (Bain 65), Bremner, N. Mackenzie, J. Mackenzie, Nichol, Makhouli, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Sutherland.
Ref – Mr J. Nicolson, Inverness.
Golspie faced a tougher-than-expected assignment at Alness. After taking an early lead through Donald Sutherland, they conceded twice in the third quarter and required a late Shaun Kerr penalty to earn a 2-2 draw.
In the only cup game played, Inverness City qualified for the semi-final of the Football Times Cup with a 6-3 home win over Dornoch.