Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 8, 2007 15:53:46 GMT -5
Muir of Ord 1 Thurso 4 - report by Iain Grant
Saturday’s tighly-contested first-time encounter between the sides swung decisively in favour of the Vikings thanks to a marvellous Mark Nichol hat-trick.
After a goal-less first period, last year’s North Caley’s golden boot winner demonstrated he has lost none of his Midas touch.
Jason Hill’s goal for Muir of Ord made it 2-1 but they were finished off by Nichol’s third and a late counter by sub Martin Bain.
The win lifts Thurso to joint second in the table along with county rivals Halkirk, a point behind leaders Inverness City.
The league’s new boys, particularly in the first half, impressed as a side with an appetite for attack.
Their front duo of Hill and Balintore old boy Ewan Dance proved a hot handful and they enjoyed plenty of support from a hard-working midfield.
On the evidence of Saturday, it is their defence which needs strengthening.
Despite the lack of goals in the opening period, both sides had decent chances to go in front.
Hill was culpable in heading wide from close in while at the other end Willie Steven saw an effort come back off the bar.
Steven was a late call-up, as was Alan Moir, following late enforced call-offs.
Steven was deployed just behind Nichol and Des MacLeod, with Jamie Mackenzie joining Willie Inrig as the central cogs in midfield.
Thurso’s strong start to the second half was rewarded when they went ahead three minutes after the restart.
Nichol punished hesitant defending when he took a touch before dispatching a firm right-foot shot high past Martin Rae.
Less than five minutes later, the keeper was again given no chance when Nichol won space for himself before netting with another peach of a shot – this time with his left peg.
Thurso were forced to make a change on the hour-mark when Inrig had to quit with a hamstring strain.
His replacement, Michael Petrie was to become regularly involved, showing up well both in tracking back and in shaping attacks.
Muir got a lifeline after 64 minutes when Dance did all the legwork down the inside-right channel before setting up strike partner Hill for a tap-in.
But within five minutes, they found themselves 3-1 down when Nichol was put clean through on goal.
The ball took an unkind stot off the surface as he shaped to shoot and he improvised well to convert with a thigh.
This prompted the home side to throw caution to the wind in a late push, which had the downside of leaving them exposed at the back.
Thurso missed several convertible decent opportunities before Bain completed the scoring five minutes from time after converting Petrie’s centre.
Thurso manager Duncan Gray was more than happy to return with all three points.
He said: “It was nip-and-tuck in the first half when both sides missed opportunities. It could have been 2-2 at half-time.
“Mark took his chances well after the interval and it ended up a good win for us.”
Both Inrig and Nichol are struggling to be fit for tomorrow’s Port Services Cup semi at home to Golspie.
Also doubtful are Graham Tait and Derrick Shearer though Ross Sutherland should return.
Golspie will be on a high after their historic Scottish Cup first round 3-1 win last Saturday versus East of Scotland Premier League side Preston Athletic.
The match has a 2.30 p.m. kick-off.
In the other semi, Muir are favourites to win through away to Bonar Bridge.
Thurso – Allan, Reid, Miller, Moir, J. MacKenzie, N. MacKenzie, Inrig (Petrie 60), Steven, MacLeod (Bain 73), Nichol L. MacDougall. Substitutes (unused) – Foy and Sinclair.
Ref – Mr G. Dearie, Inverness.
Bunillidh Thistle climbed into fourth spot in the league after a 4-2 home win over Dornoch on Saturday. The Helmsdale outfit, managed by Lybster-based George Groat, have made a promising start to their campaign and are just one win away from beating their points haul of last season. Martin Sinclair grabbed a double and young Caithness team-mate Martin Sutherland a single after Robert MacDonald fired Bunillidh ahead. Jimmy Gunn and Kieran Rooney replied for Dornoch.
A first minute Colin Burry strike from was meanwhile enough to give Balintore their first win of the season, away to Alness.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
..............................Pl W D L F A Pts
INVERNESS CITY 5 4 1 0 17 7 13
THURSO 5 4 0 1 25 7 12
HALKIRK UNITED 4 4 0 0 18 6 12
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 5 2 1 2 11 12 7
INVERGORDON 6 2 1 3 7 18 7
GOLSPIE 3 2 0 1 7 7 6
BALINTORE 5 1 2 2 11 13 5
MUIR OF ORD 4 1 1 2 9 9 4
DORNOCH 5 1 0 4 6 12 3
ALNESS UNITED 5 1 0 4 3 16 3
BONAR BRIDGE 3 0 0 3 2 9 0
Saturday’s tighly-contested first-time encounter between the sides swung decisively in favour of the Vikings thanks to a marvellous Mark Nichol hat-trick.
After a goal-less first period, last year’s North Caley’s golden boot winner demonstrated he has lost none of his Midas touch.
Jason Hill’s goal for Muir of Ord made it 2-1 but they were finished off by Nichol’s third and a late counter by sub Martin Bain.
The win lifts Thurso to joint second in the table along with county rivals Halkirk, a point behind leaders Inverness City.
The league’s new boys, particularly in the first half, impressed as a side with an appetite for attack.
Their front duo of Hill and Balintore old boy Ewan Dance proved a hot handful and they enjoyed plenty of support from a hard-working midfield.
On the evidence of Saturday, it is their defence which needs strengthening.
Despite the lack of goals in the opening period, both sides had decent chances to go in front.
Hill was culpable in heading wide from close in while at the other end Willie Steven saw an effort come back off the bar.
Steven was a late call-up, as was Alan Moir, following late enforced call-offs.
Steven was deployed just behind Nichol and Des MacLeod, with Jamie Mackenzie joining Willie Inrig as the central cogs in midfield.
Thurso’s strong start to the second half was rewarded when they went ahead three minutes after the restart.
Nichol punished hesitant defending when he took a touch before dispatching a firm right-foot shot high past Martin Rae.
Less than five minutes later, the keeper was again given no chance when Nichol won space for himself before netting with another peach of a shot – this time with his left peg.
Thurso were forced to make a change on the hour-mark when Inrig had to quit with a hamstring strain.
His replacement, Michael Petrie was to become regularly involved, showing up well both in tracking back and in shaping attacks.
Muir got a lifeline after 64 minutes when Dance did all the legwork down the inside-right channel before setting up strike partner Hill for a tap-in.
But within five minutes, they found themselves 3-1 down when Nichol was put clean through on goal.
The ball took an unkind stot off the surface as he shaped to shoot and he improvised well to convert with a thigh.
This prompted the home side to throw caution to the wind in a late push, which had the downside of leaving them exposed at the back.
Thurso missed several convertible decent opportunities before Bain completed the scoring five minutes from time after converting Petrie’s centre.
Thurso manager Duncan Gray was more than happy to return with all three points.
He said: “It was nip-and-tuck in the first half when both sides missed opportunities. It could have been 2-2 at half-time.
“Mark took his chances well after the interval and it ended up a good win for us.”
Both Inrig and Nichol are struggling to be fit for tomorrow’s Port Services Cup semi at home to Golspie.
Also doubtful are Graham Tait and Derrick Shearer though Ross Sutherland should return.
Golspie will be on a high after their historic Scottish Cup first round 3-1 win last Saturday versus East of Scotland Premier League side Preston Athletic.
The match has a 2.30 p.m. kick-off.
In the other semi, Muir are favourites to win through away to Bonar Bridge.
Thurso – Allan, Reid, Miller, Moir, J. MacKenzie, N. MacKenzie, Inrig (Petrie 60), Steven, MacLeod (Bain 73), Nichol L. MacDougall. Substitutes (unused) – Foy and Sinclair.
Ref – Mr G. Dearie, Inverness.
Bunillidh Thistle climbed into fourth spot in the league after a 4-2 home win over Dornoch on Saturday. The Helmsdale outfit, managed by Lybster-based George Groat, have made a promising start to their campaign and are just one win away from beating their points haul of last season. Martin Sinclair grabbed a double and young Caithness team-mate Martin Sutherland a single after Robert MacDonald fired Bunillidh ahead. Jimmy Gunn and Kieran Rooney replied for Dornoch.
A first minute Colin Burry strike from was meanwhile enough to give Balintore their first win of the season, away to Alness.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
..............................Pl W D L F A Pts
INVERNESS CITY 5 4 1 0 17 7 13
THURSO 5 4 0 1 25 7 12
HALKIRK UNITED 4 4 0 0 18 6 12
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 5 2 1 2 11 12 7
INVERGORDON 6 2 1 3 7 18 7
GOLSPIE 3 2 0 1 7 7 6
BALINTORE 5 1 2 2 11 13 5
MUIR OF ORD 4 1 1 2 9 9 4
DORNOCH 5 1 0 4 6 12 3
ALNESS UNITED 5 1 0 4 3 16 3
BONAR BRIDGE 3 0 0 3 2 9 0