Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 14, 2007 12:12:51 GMT -5
Nichol nicks it for Thurso with last-gasp penalty
Thurso 3, Balintore 2 - report from Iain Grant
Published: 14 September, 2007
AN injury-time penalty from Mark Nichol was needed to preserve the Vikings' 100 per cent record at home in the MSIS North Caledonian League.
Thurso were almost left to rue a clutch of chances they squandered in a first half which they ended 1-0 behind.
After recovering to lead 2-1, they then surrendered the initiative to Balintore who looked to have earned a draw with Stuart Thomson's 80th-minute equaliser. But there was to be a sting in the tail after Thurso substitute Kyle Ross's net-bound shot was palmed over the bar by Balintore sub Will Skinner.
Skinner was red-carded and Nichol nervelessly converted from the spot to give his side the tonic they require going into tomorrow's crunch clash at home to Golspie.
Balintore rode their luck in the first period when their goal came under regular threat but was unbreached through a combination of poor finishing and several inspired last-ditch saves by keeper Ross Henderson.
His counterpart Lee Allan was under-employed and was beaten with just about the only serious attempt Balintore had in the first half. With 25 minutes gone, Allan got a hand to James Skinner's raking 20-yard shot but it was not enough to keep it out.
Thurso started the second half with renewed vigour and a flea in their ear from manager Duncan Gray's interval talk. They had gone close several times before their 55th-minute equaliser.
Des MacLeod made space for himself before hammering in a shot which deflected off a defender into the path of strike partner Nichol, who had the easy task of rolling the ball into the net.
Two minutes later and it was 2-1 when Martin Bain made the running for MacLeod to convert from close range.
Thurso failed to sustain their advantage and Balintore, boosted by fresh blood from the bench, gradually gained the confidence that they could harvest some reward.
With Thurso's rejigged rearguard coming under increasing pressure, it was no real surprise when they lost the lead on 80 minutes. This time, Allan was given no chance as Stuart Thomson finished off a slick move with a majestic strike.
A draw looked certain before the injury-time drama which gave Thurso three wins in their first three outings at Sir George's Park. Balintore could have no complaints about the award of the penalty but were still fizzing after the final whistle that Ross had not been ruled offside.
While happy with the three points, manager Gray acknowledges his side could have been made to pay dearly for their early wastefulness.
"We could easily have been four or five-one up at the interval," he said. "After recovering to go 2-1 up, we stopped looking after the ball and allowed them back into the game. You could sense they were getting back into it and they equalised with a fair strike, but we played to the end and got the winner."
There could be changes in the Thurso squad for tomorrow's tussle with Golspie (kick-off 3pm). Lee MacDougall and Kevin Miller remain unavailable but central defender Graeme Reid returns, while Orkney-based midfielder Wayne Monkman is set to make his debut.
Thurso: Allan, Shearer, Tait, Steven, Bain (Foy 70), Sutherland, Inrig, J. MacKenzie, N. MacKenzie, Nichol, MacLeod (Ross 60). Sub not used: Petrie.
Balintore: Henderson, Stuart MacCallum, Stewart (Nicolson 65), John Skinner, Innes, S. Thomson, Powell, James Skinner, A. Thomson, MacDonald, Steven MacCallum (W. Skinner 65). Subs not used: Taylor, Mitchell.
Referee: D. Anderson.
* In the other league match on Saturday, Inverness City took over at the top following a 3-0 win at Dornoch. After a goalless first half, Keith Mason, Gavin Nicolson and Robbie Siegel found the target for Inverness.
Thurso 3, Balintore 2 - report from Iain Grant
Published: 14 September, 2007
AN injury-time penalty from Mark Nichol was needed to preserve the Vikings' 100 per cent record at home in the MSIS North Caledonian League.
Thurso were almost left to rue a clutch of chances they squandered in a first half which they ended 1-0 behind.
After recovering to lead 2-1, they then surrendered the initiative to Balintore who looked to have earned a draw with Stuart Thomson's 80th-minute equaliser. But there was to be a sting in the tail after Thurso substitute Kyle Ross's net-bound shot was palmed over the bar by Balintore sub Will Skinner.
Skinner was red-carded and Nichol nervelessly converted from the spot to give his side the tonic they require going into tomorrow's crunch clash at home to Golspie.
Balintore rode their luck in the first period when their goal came under regular threat but was unbreached through a combination of poor finishing and several inspired last-ditch saves by keeper Ross Henderson.
His counterpart Lee Allan was under-employed and was beaten with just about the only serious attempt Balintore had in the first half. With 25 minutes gone, Allan got a hand to James Skinner's raking 20-yard shot but it was not enough to keep it out.
Thurso started the second half with renewed vigour and a flea in their ear from manager Duncan Gray's interval talk. They had gone close several times before their 55th-minute equaliser.
Des MacLeod made space for himself before hammering in a shot which deflected off a defender into the path of strike partner Nichol, who had the easy task of rolling the ball into the net.
Two minutes later and it was 2-1 when Martin Bain made the running for MacLeod to convert from close range.
Thurso failed to sustain their advantage and Balintore, boosted by fresh blood from the bench, gradually gained the confidence that they could harvest some reward.
With Thurso's rejigged rearguard coming under increasing pressure, it was no real surprise when they lost the lead on 80 minutes. This time, Allan was given no chance as Stuart Thomson finished off a slick move with a majestic strike.
A draw looked certain before the injury-time drama which gave Thurso three wins in their first three outings at Sir George's Park. Balintore could have no complaints about the award of the penalty but were still fizzing after the final whistle that Ross had not been ruled offside.
While happy with the three points, manager Gray acknowledges his side could have been made to pay dearly for their early wastefulness.
"We could easily have been four or five-one up at the interval," he said. "After recovering to go 2-1 up, we stopped looking after the ball and allowed them back into the game. You could sense they were getting back into it and they equalised with a fair strike, but we played to the end and got the winner."
There could be changes in the Thurso squad for tomorrow's tussle with Golspie (kick-off 3pm). Lee MacDougall and Kevin Miller remain unavailable but central defender Graeme Reid returns, while Orkney-based midfielder Wayne Monkman is set to make his debut.
Thurso: Allan, Shearer, Tait, Steven, Bain (Foy 70), Sutherland, Inrig, J. MacKenzie, N. MacKenzie, Nichol, MacLeod (Ross 60). Sub not used: Petrie.
Balintore: Henderson, Stuart MacCallum, Stewart (Nicolson 65), John Skinner, Innes, S. Thomson, Powell, James Skinner, A. Thomson, MacDonald, Steven MacCallum (W. Skinner 65). Subs not used: Taylor, Mitchell.
Referee: D. Anderson.
* In the other league match on Saturday, Inverness City took over at the top following a 3-0 win at Dornoch. After a goalless first half, Keith Mason, Gavin Nicolson and Robbie Siegel found the target for Inverness.