Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 6, 2007 11:37:49 GMT -5
Inverness City 4 Thurso 3 - by Iain Grant
A Vikings side missing half-a-dozen regulars came up just short in the side’s first away engagement in the MSIS North Caledonian League.
Seven of the 14 players were trialists as manager Duncan Gray cobbled together a travelling squad ravaged by injury, holidays and wedding commitments.
It sharply contrasted with the virtually full house he had to pick from in the opening two home fixtures in which Thurso ran up 15 goals without reply.
The call-ups in Saturday’s starting line-up were all seasoned performers but the concern was how untested combinations in key areas would gel.
The manager was rewarded by a committed, spirited display which had his team 3-1 up at the interval.
A calamitous start to the second half gifted Inverness a second and they went on to nag two more to claim all three points.
The new-look Vikings lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with the experienced former Highland League veteran Alan Moir partnering John O’Groats’ Graham Tait in central defence.
Gary Coghill and Martin MacGregor operated on the left flank with Des MacLeod returning from a long spell out with injury to partner Mark Nichol up front.
Moir, who lives near the North Kessock ground, was to be a commanding presence throughout, shouting instructions, breaking up City attacks and launching long-range, pinpoint passes.
City did not help themselves in the early stages as their wind-assisted through balls to their front two regularly over-hit their intended targets.
Their first attempt on goal by former Golspie striker Gavin Nicolson did not trouble visiting keeper Lee Allan but the latter was forced to make a full-stretch parry to deal with Scott MacKain’s cross-cum-shot.
After 12 minutes Nicolson forged clear after tricking Derrick Shearer but the Thurso defender recovered well to make a saving tackle.
After a solid start, the visitors sought to expose City’s rearguard which looked less than secure all afternoon.
Good hold-up play by Nichol was the prelude to Willie Inrig’s 30 yarder which was comfortably held by Iain Young.
A minute later, another sparky move ended with Nichol’s shot-on-the-turn from the edge of the box heading a yard wide before it was turned into the net by MacLeod.
The latter was clearly offside and there were no protests when the goal was rightly chalked off.
On 22 minutes, Stuart Pearce’s dangerous low cross caused a flap in the visitors’ six yard box with Ross Sutherland making a vital clearance under
intense pressure.
The first clear openings of the match came within a minute of each other at either end.
After 29 minutes, after Coghill dispossessed an opponent before feeding MacGregor who played in MacLeod.
His chip from the edge of the box eluded the outrushing Young but grazed the top of the bar.
Nicolson then snatched a header over after the Vikings were wrongfooted by a quickly taken short corner.
Thurso took a 34th minute lead when Willie Inrig’s corner produced a powerful header from Moir which flashed wide of the despairing reach of Young.
The lead lasted 90 seconds by which time Colin Mason’s header from Jamie Fraser’s cross wrongfooted Allan as it bobbled over the line.
City’s defensive shortcomings were exposed on 40 minutes when a Kevin Fraser’s wayward crossfield pass was seized on by Nicol.
The striker had his back to goal but he contrived to work a shooting opportunity which deflected off a defender into the back of the net.
A minute from the break, the Vikings were celebrating again when City’s high defensive line was pierced by MacLeod’s dart through the middle.
As he closed in on Young, the keeper impeded his run, even though then striker appeared to have passed up the opportunity.
After consulting an assistant, ref Mark Dalton awarded a spot-kick, which Nichol drove between Young and the left-hand post.
Thurso enjoyed a decent start to the second half, only to needlessly concede a goal from a corner five minutes after the restart.
Allan appeared to get his starting position wrong as he was in no man’s land
when Paul Beaton’s delivery from the right flew over the top of him into the roof of the net.
The breakthrough was as big a bonus to the home camp as a body-blow to the Vikings.
Moir was booked on 59 minutes for a foul on MacKain.
For the next 20 minutes, the dice were loaded firmly in City’s favour.
MacKain and Pearce were being allowed licence to launch attacks from deep while the touchline wiles of Gary Miller brought a new threat after he came off the bench.
Inverness were very unlucky not to draw level on the hour-mark when Paul Beaton’s curling, left-footed free-kick from the edge of the box cannoned back off the junction of the crossbar and the right-hand post.
That presaged an almighty scramble before the ball was bundled clear.
Thurso’s forwards had few opportunities after the interval, with their best chance being denied by a rogue offside flag shown to Nichol as he swept on to Inrig’s crossfield assist.
Inverness equaliser came on 70 minutes when Miller’s corner was partially cleared before Nicolson netted with a raking, waist-high volley.
Four minutes later, the unrelenting pressure paid them further dividends with what proved the winner.
David Beaton’s 20 yarder beat Allan but came back off the underside of the bar.
Sutherland was back quickly but Pearce nipped in ahead of him to net with a header.
The hard-working Nichol almost got the visitors on terms when he latched on to Moir’s driven path down the centre-forward channel.
As Young raced out to the edge of his box, Nichol made first contact with the ball but the keeper somehow managed to block the netbound shot.
With Moir drafted into a midfield role to aid the search for an equaliser, Thurso were more exposed at the back.
Inverness took advantage to manufacture two gilt-edged chances in the closing minutes.
Nicolson blazed Miller’s cutback high over the bar before Pearce sclaffed wide after being set up by Colin Mason.
Thurso will be bidding to get back on the winning track when they entertain Balintore tomorrow.
Brothers Nigel and Jamie MacKenzie, Graeme Reid, Willie Steven and Derek Munro are expected to return.
The game has a 3 p.m. kick-off.
Inverness City – Young, J. Fraser, Clark, K. Fraser (Miller 65), P. Beaton, MacKain, C. Mason, D. Beaton, K. Mason (Stewart 73), Nicolson (Mapplebeck 90), Pearce. Substitutes (unused) – Turner and MacLennan.
Thurso – Allan, Shearer, Coghill, Tait, Moir, Sutherland, Bain, Inrig, Nichol, MacLeod, MacGregor (Petrie 65). Substitutes (unused – Bell and Sinclair).
Ref: Mr M. Dalton.
A Vikings side missing half-a-dozen regulars came up just short in the side’s first away engagement in the MSIS North Caledonian League.
Seven of the 14 players were trialists as manager Duncan Gray cobbled together a travelling squad ravaged by injury, holidays and wedding commitments.
It sharply contrasted with the virtually full house he had to pick from in the opening two home fixtures in which Thurso ran up 15 goals without reply.
The call-ups in Saturday’s starting line-up were all seasoned performers but the concern was how untested combinations in key areas would gel.
The manager was rewarded by a committed, spirited display which had his team 3-1 up at the interval.
A calamitous start to the second half gifted Inverness a second and they went on to nag two more to claim all three points.
The new-look Vikings lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with the experienced former Highland League veteran Alan Moir partnering John O’Groats’ Graham Tait in central defence.
Gary Coghill and Martin MacGregor operated on the left flank with Des MacLeod returning from a long spell out with injury to partner Mark Nichol up front.
Moir, who lives near the North Kessock ground, was to be a commanding presence throughout, shouting instructions, breaking up City attacks and launching long-range, pinpoint passes.
City did not help themselves in the early stages as their wind-assisted through balls to their front two regularly over-hit their intended targets.
Their first attempt on goal by former Golspie striker Gavin Nicolson did not trouble visiting keeper Lee Allan but the latter was forced to make a full-stretch parry to deal with Scott MacKain’s cross-cum-shot.
After 12 minutes Nicolson forged clear after tricking Derrick Shearer but the Thurso defender recovered well to make a saving tackle.
After a solid start, the visitors sought to expose City’s rearguard which looked less than secure all afternoon.
Good hold-up play by Nichol was the prelude to Willie Inrig’s 30 yarder which was comfortably held by Iain Young.
A minute later, another sparky move ended with Nichol’s shot-on-the-turn from the edge of the box heading a yard wide before it was turned into the net by MacLeod.
The latter was clearly offside and there were no protests when the goal was rightly chalked off.
On 22 minutes, Stuart Pearce’s dangerous low cross caused a flap in the visitors’ six yard box with Ross Sutherland making a vital clearance under
intense pressure.
The first clear openings of the match came within a minute of each other at either end.
After 29 minutes, after Coghill dispossessed an opponent before feeding MacGregor who played in MacLeod.
His chip from the edge of the box eluded the outrushing Young but grazed the top of the bar.
Nicolson then snatched a header over after the Vikings were wrongfooted by a quickly taken short corner.
Thurso took a 34th minute lead when Willie Inrig’s corner produced a powerful header from Moir which flashed wide of the despairing reach of Young.
The lead lasted 90 seconds by which time Colin Mason’s header from Jamie Fraser’s cross wrongfooted Allan as it bobbled over the line.
City’s defensive shortcomings were exposed on 40 minutes when a Kevin Fraser’s wayward crossfield pass was seized on by Nicol.
The striker had his back to goal but he contrived to work a shooting opportunity which deflected off a defender into the back of the net.
A minute from the break, the Vikings were celebrating again when City’s high defensive line was pierced by MacLeod’s dart through the middle.
As he closed in on Young, the keeper impeded his run, even though then striker appeared to have passed up the opportunity.
After consulting an assistant, ref Mark Dalton awarded a spot-kick, which Nichol drove between Young and the left-hand post.
Thurso enjoyed a decent start to the second half, only to needlessly concede a goal from a corner five minutes after the restart.
Allan appeared to get his starting position wrong as he was in no man’s land
when Paul Beaton’s delivery from the right flew over the top of him into the roof of the net.
The breakthrough was as big a bonus to the home camp as a body-blow to the Vikings.
Moir was booked on 59 minutes for a foul on MacKain.
For the next 20 minutes, the dice were loaded firmly in City’s favour.
MacKain and Pearce were being allowed licence to launch attacks from deep while the touchline wiles of Gary Miller brought a new threat after he came off the bench.
Inverness were very unlucky not to draw level on the hour-mark when Paul Beaton’s curling, left-footed free-kick from the edge of the box cannoned back off the junction of the crossbar and the right-hand post.
That presaged an almighty scramble before the ball was bundled clear.
Thurso’s forwards had few opportunities after the interval, with their best chance being denied by a rogue offside flag shown to Nichol as he swept on to Inrig’s crossfield assist.
Inverness equaliser came on 70 minutes when Miller’s corner was partially cleared before Nicolson netted with a raking, waist-high volley.
Four minutes later, the unrelenting pressure paid them further dividends with what proved the winner.
David Beaton’s 20 yarder beat Allan but came back off the underside of the bar.
Sutherland was back quickly but Pearce nipped in ahead of him to net with a header.
The hard-working Nichol almost got the visitors on terms when he latched on to Moir’s driven path down the centre-forward channel.
As Young raced out to the edge of his box, Nichol made first contact with the ball but the keeper somehow managed to block the netbound shot.
With Moir drafted into a midfield role to aid the search for an equaliser, Thurso were more exposed at the back.
Inverness took advantage to manufacture two gilt-edged chances in the closing minutes.
Nicolson blazed Miller’s cutback high over the bar before Pearce sclaffed wide after being set up by Colin Mason.
Thurso will be bidding to get back on the winning track when they entertain Balintore tomorrow.
Brothers Nigel and Jamie MacKenzie, Graeme Reid, Willie Steven and Derek Munro are expected to return.
The game has a 3 p.m. kick-off.
Inverness City – Young, J. Fraser, Clark, K. Fraser (Miller 65), P. Beaton, MacKain, C. Mason, D. Beaton, K. Mason (Stewart 73), Nicolson (Mapplebeck 90), Pearce. Substitutes (unused) – Turner and MacLennan.
Thurso – Allan, Shearer, Coghill, Tait, Moir, Sutherland, Bain, Inrig, Nichol, MacLeod, MacGregor (Petrie 65). Substitutes (unused – Bell and Sinclair).
Ref: Mr M. Dalton.