Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 26, 2007 6:33:24 GMT -5
Thurso 2 Inverness City 0 - report by Iain Grant
What could have been a non-event ended happily for the Vikings who progressed to the semi-final of the Port Services Cup.
A Jamie MacKenzie strike a minute after the interval had Thurso’s noses in front but they needed an opportunist second from sub Des MacLeod 12 minutes from time to pull clear.
The defeat was a first of the season for the well-organised city side who look well-placed to add to the cups they won in their debut season last year,
After last week’s aborted MSIS North Caley League clash versus Golspie at Sir Georges Park, there was a real threat to Saturday’s quarter-final going ahead.
After the rain which sabotaged the league fixture, came more rain – and then some.
An overnight deluge almost convinced the hosts to pull the plug before Inverness set off but they relied on the accuracy of a forecast of dry, overhead conditions.
The game went ahead on a heavy, stamina-sapping surface but one which was eminently playable.
For the first 15 minutes, the visitors were ahead on style points against opponents who struggled to put three passes together.
The pint-sized Gary Miller caused a few palpitations in the home camp when his early driven corner was palmed away by keeper Lee Allan from underneath his crossbar.
Keith Mason then almost stole in after robbing Martin Bain on the bye-line, with Kevin Miller to the fore with a well-timed block.
The experienced Scott MacKain wastefully headed over when left unmarked at a corner as City continued to call the shots.
The few uneasy moments for their defence during this period were mainly caused by Wayne Monkman.,
The Orcadian first crafted an inswinging cross which had no takers before his diving header from Mark Nichol’s cross flew narrowly over.
The Vikings, who were close to full-strength, gradually came more into things. They were to find the left flank a fruitful source in open play.
Nigel MacKenzie regularly tricked opponents before dispatching inviting deliveries into the penalty box.
One of his contributions created a 16th minute half-chance for Bain which he snatched into the heavens.
Shortly afterwards, a neat exchange of passes between Nichol and Nigel MacKenzie resulted in the latter’s snap-shot producing a decent near-post stop from visiting keeper Michael Kerr.
City’s attacks, while peppy in their creation, foundered through the lack of a seasoned finisher.
This was epitomised when a virtuoso dribble from Gary Miller ended with his cross flashing across goal before being defused by Kevin Miller’s headed clearance.
By now, the Vikings were looking the more likely to bag the opener.
Promising raids were abruptly ended by crude tackles in quick succession on, first Nichol and then Nigel MacKenzie, on the edge of the City penalty box.
Thurso almost took the lead in freak fashion when Jamie Mackenzie’s brave block of a Kerr clearance kick on 39 minutes ricocheted less than foot over the bar.
Jamie MacKenzie narrowly failed in more orthodox fashion a minute from the interval when he latched on to Ross Sutherland’s chipped pass and had his netbound shot foiled by Kevin Mapplebeck’s full-stretch lunge.
The Inverness challenge faded in the second half, with the opening goal a minute after the resumption signalling a marked dip in their fortunes.
After an Inverness attack broke down, a swift counter involving Monkman and Nichol worked Jamie MacKenzie free and he slotted the ball under the outrushing Kerr.
City’s closest call came three minutes later when Colin Mason’s free-kick came back off the inside of Allan’s left post.
With Jamie MacKenzie pulled back into the centre of midfield, the hosts were largely untroubled for the rest of the game.
Jamie MacKenzie missed a good chance to double the lead when he headed Ross Sutherland’s free-kick wide.
A spat between Nichol and City’s Steven Clark led to a double booking on 61 minutes with Keith Mason earning a caution 67 minutes for a show of dissent.
Thurso continued to press and on 75 minutes Nichol was inches away from connecting with a cross from Nigel MacKenzie, who was now operating on the right beat.
Three minutes later, the tie was as good as sealed with the second goal.
Nigel MacKenzie threaded a pass through to MacLeod who showed poker-faced composure in clipping the ball between Kerr and the keeper’s right post.
Sub Michael Petrie was lively late on, laying on two chances for MacLeod.
It was not until the fourth minute of injury time that Allan faced a shot on target, comfortably holding an effort from sub Robbie Siegel.
Thurso – Allan, Tait, Reid, Miller, Sutherland, Monkman, (MacLeod 65), Bain (MacDougall 70), Inrig, Nichol (Petrie 84), J. MacKenzie, N. MacKenzie. Substitute (unused) – Foy.
Inverness – Kerr, Fraser, P. Beaton (D. Beaton 79), Clark (Siegel 73), MacLennan, Stewart, Mapplebeck, C. Mason, MacKain, K. Mason, Miller. Substitute (unused) – Ross.
Ref: Mr W. Sinclair.
Thurso are at home in the semi-final to Golspie, who on Saturday eased to a 4-0 win at Alness.
In the other semi, Muir of Ord, 4-1 victors over Balintore, will be favourites to beat Bonar Bridge, who defeated Dornoch 2-0.
Thurso’s focus tomorrow returns to the league when they travel to Muir of Ord for their first outing against the league’s new boys, who have made a promising start to the season.
What could have been a non-event ended happily for the Vikings who progressed to the semi-final of the Port Services Cup.
A Jamie MacKenzie strike a minute after the interval had Thurso’s noses in front but they needed an opportunist second from sub Des MacLeod 12 minutes from time to pull clear.
The defeat was a first of the season for the well-organised city side who look well-placed to add to the cups they won in their debut season last year,
After last week’s aborted MSIS North Caley League clash versus Golspie at Sir Georges Park, there was a real threat to Saturday’s quarter-final going ahead.
After the rain which sabotaged the league fixture, came more rain – and then some.
An overnight deluge almost convinced the hosts to pull the plug before Inverness set off but they relied on the accuracy of a forecast of dry, overhead conditions.
The game went ahead on a heavy, stamina-sapping surface but one which was eminently playable.
For the first 15 minutes, the visitors were ahead on style points against opponents who struggled to put three passes together.
The pint-sized Gary Miller caused a few palpitations in the home camp when his early driven corner was palmed away by keeper Lee Allan from underneath his crossbar.
Keith Mason then almost stole in after robbing Martin Bain on the bye-line, with Kevin Miller to the fore with a well-timed block.
The experienced Scott MacKain wastefully headed over when left unmarked at a corner as City continued to call the shots.
The few uneasy moments for their defence during this period were mainly caused by Wayne Monkman.,
The Orcadian first crafted an inswinging cross which had no takers before his diving header from Mark Nichol’s cross flew narrowly over.
The Vikings, who were close to full-strength, gradually came more into things. They were to find the left flank a fruitful source in open play.
Nigel MacKenzie regularly tricked opponents before dispatching inviting deliveries into the penalty box.
One of his contributions created a 16th minute half-chance for Bain which he snatched into the heavens.
Shortly afterwards, a neat exchange of passes between Nichol and Nigel MacKenzie resulted in the latter’s snap-shot producing a decent near-post stop from visiting keeper Michael Kerr.
City’s attacks, while peppy in their creation, foundered through the lack of a seasoned finisher.
This was epitomised when a virtuoso dribble from Gary Miller ended with his cross flashing across goal before being defused by Kevin Miller’s headed clearance.
By now, the Vikings were looking the more likely to bag the opener.
Promising raids were abruptly ended by crude tackles in quick succession on, first Nichol and then Nigel MacKenzie, on the edge of the City penalty box.
Thurso almost took the lead in freak fashion when Jamie Mackenzie’s brave block of a Kerr clearance kick on 39 minutes ricocheted less than foot over the bar.
Jamie MacKenzie narrowly failed in more orthodox fashion a minute from the interval when he latched on to Ross Sutherland’s chipped pass and had his netbound shot foiled by Kevin Mapplebeck’s full-stretch lunge.
The Inverness challenge faded in the second half, with the opening goal a minute after the resumption signalling a marked dip in their fortunes.
After an Inverness attack broke down, a swift counter involving Monkman and Nichol worked Jamie MacKenzie free and he slotted the ball under the outrushing Kerr.
City’s closest call came three minutes later when Colin Mason’s free-kick came back off the inside of Allan’s left post.
With Jamie MacKenzie pulled back into the centre of midfield, the hosts were largely untroubled for the rest of the game.
Jamie MacKenzie missed a good chance to double the lead when he headed Ross Sutherland’s free-kick wide.
A spat between Nichol and City’s Steven Clark led to a double booking on 61 minutes with Keith Mason earning a caution 67 minutes for a show of dissent.
Thurso continued to press and on 75 minutes Nichol was inches away from connecting with a cross from Nigel MacKenzie, who was now operating on the right beat.
Three minutes later, the tie was as good as sealed with the second goal.
Nigel MacKenzie threaded a pass through to MacLeod who showed poker-faced composure in clipping the ball between Kerr and the keeper’s right post.
Sub Michael Petrie was lively late on, laying on two chances for MacLeod.
It was not until the fourth minute of injury time that Allan faced a shot on target, comfortably holding an effort from sub Robbie Siegel.
Thurso – Allan, Tait, Reid, Miller, Sutherland, Monkman, (MacLeod 65), Bain (MacDougall 70), Inrig, Nichol (Petrie 84), J. MacKenzie, N. MacKenzie. Substitute (unused) – Foy.
Inverness – Kerr, Fraser, P. Beaton (D. Beaton 79), Clark (Siegel 73), MacLennan, Stewart, Mapplebeck, C. Mason, MacKain, K. Mason, Miller. Substitute (unused) – Ross.
Ref: Mr W. Sinclair.
Thurso are at home in the semi-final to Golspie, who on Saturday eased to a 4-0 win at Alness.
In the other semi, Muir of Ord, 4-1 victors over Balintore, will be favourites to beat Bonar Bridge, who defeated Dornoch 2-0.
Thurso’s focus tomorrow returns to the league when they travel to Muir of Ord for their first outing against the league’s new boys, who have made a promising start to the season.