Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 12, 2007 15:55:52 GMT -5
Balintore 1 Thurso 5 - report by Iain Grant
The early omens were less than auspicious on Saturday as Thurso set about making up ground on MSIS North Caley League leaders Inverness City.
Just before setting off, centre-back and skipper Kevin Miller and winger Lee MacDougall pulled out with ‘flu.
With Graeme Reid injured, Graeme Tait and Shaun Forbes joined Brian Gray in a new-look rearguard while long-time casualty Willie Inrig was pulled in for emergency cover on the bench.
The day got worse when the home side exploited an aerial superiority to take the lead from a 10th minute corner.
But the Vikings hit back within a couple of minutes with a stunning equaliser from Nigel MacKenzie.
Two further strikes from Des MacLeod and Willie Steven put them in the box-seat before the interval.
Further goals from Mark Nichol and Martin Bain embellished the victory, which could have been even more decisive had two further efforts from Nichol not come back off the woodwork.
But the winning margin failed to do justice to Balintore who for long spells gave as good as they got.
The crucial difference was the visitors’ clinical strike-rate, which allowed them to repeat the score-line they achieved on their last visit at the tail-end of last season.
Seaboard Park must have been one of the few firm surfaces in the country on Saturday on a dry day with a gathering wind, which favoured the home side in the second period.
Nigel MacKenzie was to enjoy plenty of success down the left flank, notably getting the better of his joust with Martin Farquhar.
He impressed his authority as early as the third minute when he skipped past Farquhar and whipped over a low cross.
MacLeod’s angled run to the near post afforded him the first opening of the day which would have counted had keeper Ross Henderson not rushed out to make a smother-save at the striker’s feet.
MacLeod and MacKenzie then combined to give Steven a half-chance which he headed narrowly over.
Thurso manager Duncan Gray had warned his side about the aerial threat Balintore could present from setpieces.
It took only 10 minutes for his fears to materialise when rangy centre-back David Calderwood netted with a powerful downward header from Colin Burry’s corner.
Balintore had barely got used to being in front when they conceded a shock equaliser.
There appeared no obvious danger when MacKenzie accepted a throw-in from just inside the Balintore half and strode forward.
He was allowed a free passage and from 35 yards, he unleashed a wind-assisted shot which left Henderson statuesque as the ball scorched into the roof of the net.
Balintore’s first decent attempt on goal came on 16 minutes when Stevie MacCallum went close with a free-kick.
Four minutes later, Henderson’s busy start to the match continued when he had to race out to thwart Nichol after the striker had ghosted in unmarked wide on the right.
The home side were winning most of the 50/50 challenges and had at least a parity of possession but Thurso throughout carried the greater goal threat.
Michael Petrie had seen a stinging effort from outside the box fizz narrowly past before his side went ahead on 25 minutes.
Clever hold-up play by MacLeod engineered the chance for Steven who netted despite making less than perfect contact.
Seven minutes later, Thurso finished off a good spell with a third.
This time, MacLeod appeared to take the wrong option in drifting right instead of linking with the unmarked MacKenzie.
But after exchanging passes with Nichol, MacLeod steered the ball from an acute angle past Henderson in off the inside of the right post.
That was the cue to Thurso going off the boil for the rest of the half.
Balintore bustled forward with Burry a growing influence. A sparky piece of play by the number 11 put George Stuart in on goal. He was denied a close-in crack at goal by a full-stretch block from Steven.
Both keepers were given early chances to impress after the break, Henderson doing well to hold a daisycutter from MacLeod and Lee Allan pouching a well-struck 35 yard free-kick from MacCallum.
Allan was again called into action on 57 minutes, turning away a decent effort from Burry.
The contest was effectively closed out on 63 minutes when Nichol made it 4-1.
After sub Gary Coghill won possession and sent Bain racing down the right flank, the latter’s centre was controlled by Nichol before he netted with a powerful, rising shot.
There was further joy for the visitors on 72 minutes when MacKenzie fed Nichol whose cutback across the face of the goal was turned in by Bain.
A dispirited Balintore were fortunate to escape further punishment.
On 75 minutes, MacKenzie’s inviting pull-back to Nichol saw the stiker’s shot come back off the left post.
Four minutes later, Nichol’s head flick from Bain’s assist rebounded off the other post.
In a final flurry, Balintore’s sub Lewis Ross would have got one back had Allan not displayed such sharp reflexes to parry his close-in attempt.
Balintore – Henderson, S. Skinner, Stuart, J. Skinner, Calderwood, Thomson, MacCallum, Farquhar (Smith 73), G. Skinner (Ross 50), MacVicar (D. Taylor 50), Burry. Sub (unused) – L. Taylor and Mitchell.
Thurso – Allan, Tait (Coghill 57), Gray, Forbes, Steven (Foy 77), Sutherland, Bain, Petrie, Nichol, MacLeod, MacKenzie. Sub (unused) – Inrig.
Ref – Mr G. John, Wick.
Thurso have a free today tomorrow before facing two crucial matches away to Golspie and Halkirk on either side of Christmas.
The early omens were less than auspicious on Saturday as Thurso set about making up ground on MSIS North Caley League leaders Inverness City.
Just before setting off, centre-back and skipper Kevin Miller and winger Lee MacDougall pulled out with ‘flu.
With Graeme Reid injured, Graeme Tait and Shaun Forbes joined Brian Gray in a new-look rearguard while long-time casualty Willie Inrig was pulled in for emergency cover on the bench.
The day got worse when the home side exploited an aerial superiority to take the lead from a 10th minute corner.
But the Vikings hit back within a couple of minutes with a stunning equaliser from Nigel MacKenzie.
Two further strikes from Des MacLeod and Willie Steven put them in the box-seat before the interval.
Further goals from Mark Nichol and Martin Bain embellished the victory, which could have been even more decisive had two further efforts from Nichol not come back off the woodwork.
But the winning margin failed to do justice to Balintore who for long spells gave as good as they got.
The crucial difference was the visitors’ clinical strike-rate, which allowed them to repeat the score-line they achieved on their last visit at the tail-end of last season.
Seaboard Park must have been one of the few firm surfaces in the country on Saturday on a dry day with a gathering wind, which favoured the home side in the second period.
Nigel MacKenzie was to enjoy plenty of success down the left flank, notably getting the better of his joust with Martin Farquhar.
He impressed his authority as early as the third minute when he skipped past Farquhar and whipped over a low cross.
MacLeod’s angled run to the near post afforded him the first opening of the day which would have counted had keeper Ross Henderson not rushed out to make a smother-save at the striker’s feet.
MacLeod and MacKenzie then combined to give Steven a half-chance which he headed narrowly over.
Thurso manager Duncan Gray had warned his side about the aerial threat Balintore could present from setpieces.
It took only 10 minutes for his fears to materialise when rangy centre-back David Calderwood netted with a powerful downward header from Colin Burry’s corner.
Balintore had barely got used to being in front when they conceded a shock equaliser.
There appeared no obvious danger when MacKenzie accepted a throw-in from just inside the Balintore half and strode forward.
He was allowed a free passage and from 35 yards, he unleashed a wind-assisted shot which left Henderson statuesque as the ball scorched into the roof of the net.
Balintore’s first decent attempt on goal came on 16 minutes when Stevie MacCallum went close with a free-kick.
Four minutes later, Henderson’s busy start to the match continued when he had to race out to thwart Nichol after the striker had ghosted in unmarked wide on the right.
The home side were winning most of the 50/50 challenges and had at least a parity of possession but Thurso throughout carried the greater goal threat.
Michael Petrie had seen a stinging effort from outside the box fizz narrowly past before his side went ahead on 25 minutes.
Clever hold-up play by MacLeod engineered the chance for Steven who netted despite making less than perfect contact.
Seven minutes later, Thurso finished off a good spell with a third.
This time, MacLeod appeared to take the wrong option in drifting right instead of linking with the unmarked MacKenzie.
But after exchanging passes with Nichol, MacLeod steered the ball from an acute angle past Henderson in off the inside of the right post.
That was the cue to Thurso going off the boil for the rest of the half.
Balintore bustled forward with Burry a growing influence. A sparky piece of play by the number 11 put George Stuart in on goal. He was denied a close-in crack at goal by a full-stretch block from Steven.
Both keepers were given early chances to impress after the break, Henderson doing well to hold a daisycutter from MacLeod and Lee Allan pouching a well-struck 35 yard free-kick from MacCallum.
Allan was again called into action on 57 minutes, turning away a decent effort from Burry.
The contest was effectively closed out on 63 minutes when Nichol made it 4-1.
After sub Gary Coghill won possession and sent Bain racing down the right flank, the latter’s centre was controlled by Nichol before he netted with a powerful, rising shot.
There was further joy for the visitors on 72 minutes when MacKenzie fed Nichol whose cutback across the face of the goal was turned in by Bain.
A dispirited Balintore were fortunate to escape further punishment.
On 75 minutes, MacKenzie’s inviting pull-back to Nichol saw the stiker’s shot come back off the left post.
Four minutes later, Nichol’s head flick from Bain’s assist rebounded off the other post.
In a final flurry, Balintore’s sub Lewis Ross would have got one back had Allan not displayed such sharp reflexes to parry his close-in attempt.
Balintore – Henderson, S. Skinner, Stuart, J. Skinner, Calderwood, Thomson, MacCallum, Farquhar (Smith 73), G. Skinner (Ross 50), MacVicar (D. Taylor 50), Burry. Sub (unused) – L. Taylor and Mitchell.
Thurso – Allan, Tait (Coghill 57), Gray, Forbes, Steven (Foy 77), Sutherland, Bain, Petrie, Nichol, MacLeod, MacKenzie. Sub (unused) – Inrig.
Ref – Mr G. John, Wick.
Thurso have a free today tomorrow before facing two crucial matches away to Golspie and Halkirk on either side of Christmas.