Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 9, 2007 7:30:23 GMT -5
Petrie's winner keeps Vikings in contention
Invergordon 1, Thurso 2
Published: 07 December, 2007 - report from Iain Grant
THE Vikings successfully negotiated this potential banana skin on Saturday, grinding out a win that keeps alive their North Caledonian League title challenge.
Nigel MacKenzie's first-half strike was cancelled out five minutes after the restart by Ashley Mills. That was how it stayed until Michael Petrie chose the ideal time to weigh in with his debut goal for the club with 15 minutes to go.
Thurso racked up a 7-0 win over Graham Stewart's under-strength side in the second game of the season at the end of August. The roles were reversed to some extent on Saturday, with late call-offs forcing Thurso into travelling with a threadbare squad of 12.
A pitch made greasy by heavy showers added to the challenge of the visitors completing a league double over youthful opponents who were eager to cause an upset.
There had been few openings before Thurso went in front after 25 minutes. MacKenzie cut in from the right, skipping past a couple of would-be tacklers, before drilling in a left-foot shot which went in off the inside of the near post.
The lead was retained thanks to a marvellous recovery tackle by Graeme Reid after an Invergordon forward broke clear on goal.
The home side equalised from a free kick which was headed into the path of the diminutive Mills, who fired the ball past the helpless Lee Allan.
Thurso had several decent chances to reclaim the lead, with Mark Nichol looking to have converted a Martin Bain cutback only to be denied by a defender getting back to divert the ball for a corner.
The winner came from an incisive move which saw Nichol surging past three opponents before striking for goal. Keeper Steven Campbell parried it into the path of Petrie, who made no mistake with a crisp follow-up.
Thurso manager Duncan Gray was happy with the three points, though he acknowledges his side will have to improve if they are to profit from tomorrow's trip to Balintore.
Reflecting on Saturday's match, he said: "They have improved since the start of the season and we have probably gone backwards a little.
"We started quite brightly but then fell out of it after taking the lead. We then came back into it again after they got the equaliser and we had a couple of decent chances before we got the winner."
The Vikings are in the midst of a tough four-game away sequence, with trips to Golspie and Halkirk to follow tomorrow's foray to Easter Ross. "It will be harder against Balintore, which is always a tough place to go," said Gray. "We'll have to be a bit better than we were on Saturday but we are hoping to have a few guys back."
Thurso: Allan, Reid, Gray, Miller, Sutherland, Forbes, Petrie, N. MacKenzie, Nichol, Bain, MacDougall. Sub (used): Foy.
* Inverness made light of their trip to Balintore on Saturday, with their 4-1 victory enabling them to maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Golspie's opening-day reverse at home to Halkirk remains the only blot on their league record. Donald Sutherland grabbed a double in their 3-1 home victory over Bonar Bridge to extend their winning sequence to seven.
Muir of Ord continued their climb with a 3-2 home win against Alness, with all five goals coming in the second half.
Strikes by Caithness-based Martin Sinclair and Alan Larnach helped Bunillidh Thistle establish a seemingly unassailable 4-0 lead in Dornoch. But goals either side of the interval for the home team, followed by a third five minutes from time, made for a nail-biting finale before Bunillidh could celebrate – their 4-3 success earning them a rare away win.
* Halkirk United's scheduled home match against Dornoch tomorrow has been switched to their opponents' ground.
The decision was taken yesterday after an inspection of the rain-soaked Recreation Park.
Ian MacDonald's men are desperate for a win to get their league campaign back on the rails following the desperately disappointing back-to-back defeats versus Inverness City. "A win for us is crucial if we are to get back in contention," said the United boss.
Last Saturday's free week helped a few injuries clear up, though defender Scott Manson (bruised foot) and midfielder Gavin Bremner (knee) face late fitness tests.
Striker Stevie Reid is struggling to shake off the effects of a heavy cold, while sweeper Graham MacDonald remains sidelined with a long-running groin/hip problem.
Invergordon 1, Thurso 2
Published: 07 December, 2007 - report from Iain Grant
THE Vikings successfully negotiated this potential banana skin on Saturday, grinding out a win that keeps alive their North Caledonian League title challenge.
Nigel MacKenzie's first-half strike was cancelled out five minutes after the restart by Ashley Mills. That was how it stayed until Michael Petrie chose the ideal time to weigh in with his debut goal for the club with 15 minutes to go.
Thurso racked up a 7-0 win over Graham Stewart's under-strength side in the second game of the season at the end of August. The roles were reversed to some extent on Saturday, with late call-offs forcing Thurso into travelling with a threadbare squad of 12.
A pitch made greasy by heavy showers added to the challenge of the visitors completing a league double over youthful opponents who were eager to cause an upset.
There had been few openings before Thurso went in front after 25 minutes. MacKenzie cut in from the right, skipping past a couple of would-be tacklers, before drilling in a left-foot shot which went in off the inside of the near post.
The lead was retained thanks to a marvellous recovery tackle by Graeme Reid after an Invergordon forward broke clear on goal.
The home side equalised from a free kick which was headed into the path of the diminutive Mills, who fired the ball past the helpless Lee Allan.
Thurso had several decent chances to reclaim the lead, with Mark Nichol looking to have converted a Martin Bain cutback only to be denied by a defender getting back to divert the ball for a corner.
The winner came from an incisive move which saw Nichol surging past three opponents before striking for goal. Keeper Steven Campbell parried it into the path of Petrie, who made no mistake with a crisp follow-up.
Thurso manager Duncan Gray was happy with the three points, though he acknowledges his side will have to improve if they are to profit from tomorrow's trip to Balintore.
Reflecting on Saturday's match, he said: "They have improved since the start of the season and we have probably gone backwards a little.
"We started quite brightly but then fell out of it after taking the lead. We then came back into it again after they got the equaliser and we had a couple of decent chances before we got the winner."
The Vikings are in the midst of a tough four-game away sequence, with trips to Golspie and Halkirk to follow tomorrow's foray to Easter Ross. "It will be harder against Balintore, which is always a tough place to go," said Gray. "We'll have to be a bit better than we were on Saturday but we are hoping to have a few guys back."
Thurso: Allan, Reid, Gray, Miller, Sutherland, Forbes, Petrie, N. MacKenzie, Nichol, Bain, MacDougall. Sub (used): Foy.
* Inverness made light of their trip to Balintore on Saturday, with their 4-1 victory enabling them to maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Golspie's opening-day reverse at home to Halkirk remains the only blot on their league record. Donald Sutherland grabbed a double in their 3-1 home victory over Bonar Bridge to extend their winning sequence to seven.
Muir of Ord continued their climb with a 3-2 home win against Alness, with all five goals coming in the second half.
Strikes by Caithness-based Martin Sinclair and Alan Larnach helped Bunillidh Thistle establish a seemingly unassailable 4-0 lead in Dornoch. But goals either side of the interval for the home team, followed by a third five minutes from time, made for a nail-biting finale before Bunillidh could celebrate – their 4-3 success earning them a rare away win.
* Halkirk United's scheduled home match against Dornoch tomorrow has been switched to their opponents' ground.
The decision was taken yesterday after an inspection of the rain-soaked Recreation Park.
Ian MacDonald's men are desperate for a win to get their league campaign back on the rails following the desperately disappointing back-to-back defeats versus Inverness City. "A win for us is crucial if we are to get back in contention," said the United boss.
Last Saturday's free week helped a few injuries clear up, though defender Scott Manson (bruised foot) and midfielder Gavin Bremner (knee) face late fitness tests.
Striker Stevie Reid is struggling to shake off the effects of a heavy cold, while sweeper Graham MacDonald remains sidelined with a long-running groin/hip problem.