Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 31, 2007 17:13:06 GMT -5
Thurso 8 Alness United 0 - by Iain Grant
A fledgling Alness side will not have fond memories of what for many was their first North Caley League foray to the far north.
On a foul day of incessant rain at Sir Georges Park, they ran into an
experienced Vikings outfit playing towards the top of their form.
The Easter Ross men, with an average age of 20, were remorsefully turned over in a first half when their inexperienced defence leaked six goals.
The sixth was a free-kick from Mark Nichol which, in any level of the game, would be lauded as exceptional.
It was the second of a hat-trick for the striker whose lead-up play alone would have made him a strong contender for a man-of-the-match award.
Thurso's championship hopes last year were hamstrung by points lost in the early matches and they are keen to avoid incurring a similar handicap this season.
That Thurso settled so quickly in Saturday's opener is perhaps unsurprising given that seven of the starting line-up play for summer county league side Swifts.
Alness were regularly finding themselves under-manned in crucial areas by their opponents' patient but incisive build-up play.
Within six minutes, the visitors' goal had its first serious let-off when
Nigel Mackenzie drifted in from the right and whipped in a shot which whistled just past the far, right-hand post.
The breakthrough was delayed by two minutes after a fierce attempt on goal by Jamie Mackenzie was blocked by David Niven at the expense of a corner.
Nichol's header from Lee MacDougall's delivery was beaten out by keeper Michael MacCallum but Ross Sutherland was on hand to prod home.
On 12 minutes, the Vikings doubled their lead when Nichol's forward feed played in Jamie Mackenzie who coolly faced up to MacCallum before beating him with a low shot between the keeper and the right-hand upright.
New Vikings keeper Lee Allan was having a gentle introduction with the few attempts on his goal ending well wide of the target.
A neat interchange between Lee MacDougall and Graeme Reid on 23 minutes led to the latter's inswinging cross almost being turned in at the far post by the late-arriving Nigel Mackenzie.
Two minutes later, a Nigel Mackenzie free-kick produced a power-header from Nichol to make it 3-0.
The aerial route produced another winner on 32 minutes when MacDougall's corner found the unmarked Reid whose header went in via the inside of the right post.
With Alness's defence all over the place, Thurso cashed in again within a minute of the restart with Jamie Mackenzie netting with a glancing header from Nichol's cross.
The piece de resistance arrived on 38 minutes after Jamie Mackenzie was fouled at the junction of the penalty box and the right side of the D.
Nichol's perfectly struck, curling free-kick took it on a trajectory which by-passed the defensive wall before entering the left postage stamp corner of the goals.
Shell-shocked though they may have been from that first-half pounding, Tommy Regan's young charges displayed commendable resistance to make for a much more competitive second half.
They then had a more cohesive look at the back and started to pose a threat going forward. They were unlucky their efforts did not bring a tangible reward.
Within a couple of minutes of the restart, a hanging cross discomfited Allan with the keeper fortunate no attacker was lurking to punish his misjudgement.
It was against the run of play that Thurso added to their tally on the hour-mark. A back-tracking tackle from Nichol regained possession for his side with Jamie Mackenzie quickly setting his brother Nigel free.
The latter plied down the inside-right channel before firing past MacCallum from just inside the penalty box.
Alness recovered to create their first serious opportunity on 66 minutes. Frontman Andrew Miller, who had existed on thin rations, was presented with a run-in on goal after 66 minutes.
He was however thwarted by the sharp reactions of Allan who raced out to block the netbound shot.
After 72 minutes, Thurso sub Chris Foy was cautioned for a clumsy tackle on David Murray.
Alness defender Evan Murray earlier suffered the same fate for a foul on Nichol. With the rain teeming down and the pitch deteriorating, the quality of play inevitably suffered as both teams yearned for the final whistle. Thurso sub Michael Petrie almost got on the score-sheet four minutes from time when his flashing shot from the right was diverted past the post by MacCallum.
A minute later, Petrie was the source of the cross which was touched on by Jamie Mackenzie to Nichol whose point-blank finish completed his hat-trick.
Neither manager Duncan Gray nor his side will be getting carried out by a win over a side missing a clutch of experienced campaigners.
There are sure to be changes to freshen up the starting line-up for tomorrow's home clash versus Invergordon.
After just one game into the new season, midfielder and long-time captain Gavin Bremner has decided to call time on his Vikings' career.
A new face from outside Caithness is expected to feature in tomorrow's squad for the match, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso - Allan, Shearer, Reid, Miller, Sutherland (Foy 64), Bremner, N.Mackenzie (Bell 80), Inrig, Nichol, J. Mackenzie, MacDougall (Petrie 60). Sub (unused) - Makhouli.
Alness - MacCallum, Hyslop, MacAskill, Niven, E. Murray, Gair (MacRae 64), O'Connor, Munro, MacDonald, Miller (Muir 74), D. Murray.
Ref - Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay.
Stevie Reid scored four goals as Halkirk crushed champions Golspie Sutherland 5-2. Chris Sutherland scored the Caithness side's other goal while Aaron Smith and Darren Pullen replied for Golspie.
New boys Muir of Ord Rovers made an impressive start to the season with a 5-1 win at Invergordon.
Ewan Dance (2), Michael MacKenzie, Martin Callum and Gary Calvert were all on target for Rovers, with Ashley Mills the lone Invergordon marksman.
Dornoch got off to a winning start with a 2-1 win at Bonar Bridge. In the other game, Inverness City and Balintore had to settle for a point apiece in a thrilling 4-4 draw at North Kessock.
SATURDAY'S FIXTURES (3pm) - Alness United v Golspie Sutherland, Bonar Bridge v Inverness City, Halkirk United v Bunillidh Thistle, Muir of Ord Rovers v Balintore, Thurso v Invergordon.
A fledgling Alness side will not have fond memories of what for many was their first North Caley League foray to the far north.
On a foul day of incessant rain at Sir Georges Park, they ran into an
experienced Vikings outfit playing towards the top of their form.
The Easter Ross men, with an average age of 20, were remorsefully turned over in a first half when their inexperienced defence leaked six goals.
The sixth was a free-kick from Mark Nichol which, in any level of the game, would be lauded as exceptional.
It was the second of a hat-trick for the striker whose lead-up play alone would have made him a strong contender for a man-of-the-match award.
Thurso's championship hopes last year were hamstrung by points lost in the early matches and they are keen to avoid incurring a similar handicap this season.
That Thurso settled so quickly in Saturday's opener is perhaps unsurprising given that seven of the starting line-up play for summer county league side Swifts.
Alness were regularly finding themselves under-manned in crucial areas by their opponents' patient but incisive build-up play.
Within six minutes, the visitors' goal had its first serious let-off when
Nigel Mackenzie drifted in from the right and whipped in a shot which whistled just past the far, right-hand post.
The breakthrough was delayed by two minutes after a fierce attempt on goal by Jamie Mackenzie was blocked by David Niven at the expense of a corner.
Nichol's header from Lee MacDougall's delivery was beaten out by keeper Michael MacCallum but Ross Sutherland was on hand to prod home.
On 12 minutes, the Vikings doubled their lead when Nichol's forward feed played in Jamie Mackenzie who coolly faced up to MacCallum before beating him with a low shot between the keeper and the right-hand upright.
New Vikings keeper Lee Allan was having a gentle introduction with the few attempts on his goal ending well wide of the target.
A neat interchange between Lee MacDougall and Graeme Reid on 23 minutes led to the latter's inswinging cross almost being turned in at the far post by the late-arriving Nigel Mackenzie.
Two minutes later, a Nigel Mackenzie free-kick produced a power-header from Nichol to make it 3-0.
The aerial route produced another winner on 32 minutes when MacDougall's corner found the unmarked Reid whose header went in via the inside of the right post.
With Alness's defence all over the place, Thurso cashed in again within a minute of the restart with Jamie Mackenzie netting with a glancing header from Nichol's cross.
The piece de resistance arrived on 38 minutes after Jamie Mackenzie was fouled at the junction of the penalty box and the right side of the D.
Nichol's perfectly struck, curling free-kick took it on a trajectory which by-passed the defensive wall before entering the left postage stamp corner of the goals.
Shell-shocked though they may have been from that first-half pounding, Tommy Regan's young charges displayed commendable resistance to make for a much more competitive second half.
They then had a more cohesive look at the back and started to pose a threat going forward. They were unlucky their efforts did not bring a tangible reward.
Within a couple of minutes of the restart, a hanging cross discomfited Allan with the keeper fortunate no attacker was lurking to punish his misjudgement.
It was against the run of play that Thurso added to their tally on the hour-mark. A back-tracking tackle from Nichol regained possession for his side with Jamie Mackenzie quickly setting his brother Nigel free.
The latter plied down the inside-right channel before firing past MacCallum from just inside the penalty box.
Alness recovered to create their first serious opportunity on 66 minutes. Frontman Andrew Miller, who had existed on thin rations, was presented with a run-in on goal after 66 minutes.
He was however thwarted by the sharp reactions of Allan who raced out to block the netbound shot.
After 72 minutes, Thurso sub Chris Foy was cautioned for a clumsy tackle on David Murray.
Alness defender Evan Murray earlier suffered the same fate for a foul on Nichol. With the rain teeming down and the pitch deteriorating, the quality of play inevitably suffered as both teams yearned for the final whistle. Thurso sub Michael Petrie almost got on the score-sheet four minutes from time when his flashing shot from the right was diverted past the post by MacCallum.
A minute later, Petrie was the source of the cross which was touched on by Jamie Mackenzie to Nichol whose point-blank finish completed his hat-trick.
Neither manager Duncan Gray nor his side will be getting carried out by a win over a side missing a clutch of experienced campaigners.
There are sure to be changes to freshen up the starting line-up for tomorrow's home clash versus Invergordon.
After just one game into the new season, midfielder and long-time captain Gavin Bremner has decided to call time on his Vikings' career.
A new face from outside Caithness is expected to feature in tomorrow's squad for the match, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso - Allan, Shearer, Reid, Miller, Sutherland (Foy 64), Bremner, N.Mackenzie (Bell 80), Inrig, Nichol, J. Mackenzie, MacDougall (Petrie 60). Sub (unused) - Makhouli.
Alness - MacCallum, Hyslop, MacAskill, Niven, E. Murray, Gair (MacRae 64), O'Connor, Munro, MacDonald, Miller (Muir 74), D. Murray.
Ref - Mr W. Sinclair, Canisbay.
Stevie Reid scored four goals as Halkirk crushed champions Golspie Sutherland 5-2. Chris Sutherland scored the Caithness side's other goal while Aaron Smith and Darren Pullen replied for Golspie.
New boys Muir of Ord Rovers made an impressive start to the season with a 5-1 win at Invergordon.
Ewan Dance (2), Michael MacKenzie, Martin Callum and Gary Calvert were all on target for Rovers, with Ashley Mills the lone Invergordon marksman.
Dornoch got off to a winning start with a 2-1 win at Bonar Bridge. In the other game, Inverness City and Balintore had to settle for a point apiece in a thrilling 4-4 draw at North Kessock.
SATURDAY'S FIXTURES (3pm) - Alness United v Golspie Sutherland, Bonar Bridge v Inverness City, Halkirk United v Bunillidh Thistle, Muir of Ord Rovers v Balintore, Thurso v Invergordon.