Post by Brian Mackay on Apr 13, 2008 15:00:14 GMT -5
Thurso 0 Bunillidh Thistle 2 - report by Iain Grant
The wheels came off the Vikings’ MSIS North Caley title challenge on Saturday as they slumped to their first home league defeat of the campaign.
Bunillidh continued their late season flourish with a victory which was as unexpected as it was deserved.
The unstinting effort and pressure exerted by the Jags thoroughly discomfited their hosts who tomorrow travel to Bonar Bridge on the back of two demoralising defeats.
It could have so different on Saturday had Thurso been able to capitalise on a strong start.
They had the ball in the net after 10 minutes only to have the effort chalked off.
Lee MacDougall had broken free and had options as he looked to exploit Bunillidh’s lack of cover.
He chose the direct approach with his shot being parried by keeper Graeme Williamson into the path of Alan Murray who looked to have marked his emergency call-up with an early goal.
But his effort was ruled out by ref David Anderson following assistant Graham Elder’s offside flag.
Murray and Nigel MacKenzie had other decent opportunities which were either sent wide or kept out by Willaimson.
Bunillidh gradually worked their way into the game and were soon carving out their own openings.
Their first clear chance produced their opening goal on 15th minute when Leon Urquhart’s defence-splitting chip played in Paul Cadden who fired past keeper Lee Allan.
Williamson protected the lead when he got down smartly to deny Murray.
If Thurso had the better of the first period, the visitors certainly could claim the bragging rights after the break.
They were more than holding their own in the midfield exchanges and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead midway through the half.
Thurso’s Gary Coghill played a major part in needlessly conceding possession to Wick-based Andrew Cumming deep in the Thurso half.
Cumming needed no second invitation as he blasted the ball home.
Thurso huffed and puffed with MacKenzie again unable to find a way past the inspired Williamson.
With Mark Makhouli having called off with an injury sustained playing for Thurso Pentland the previous evening, the Vikings’ lack of cutting edge proved decisive.
Given his long lay-off, Murray did well and veteran Willie Steven was one of his side’s few successes but the lack of an in-form striker is badly hampering their cause.
The problem has been made acute by the sudden exit of 32 goal striker Mark Nichol.
Manager Duncan Gray said: “It was one of these games when I felt we were never going to score.”
Bunillidh, who conceded a last-minute goal to go down 2-1 to Halkirk the previous week, were delighted to put one over the other Caithness outfit.
After a difficult start to the season, Thistle’s young guns have developed well under the charge of Lybster manager George Groat and can look forward to good times ahead if he manages to keep their squad together.
The Thurso boss accepts the defeat ends his side’s title challenge.
He said: “Starting with this one, we really needed to win all our games.
“We now have to buckle down and try and finish as high up the league as we can.”
Thurso – Allan, Shearer, Coghill, Miller, Petrie (Bell 80), Inrig, Steven (Munro 75), MacKenzie, Bain, Murray (Sinclair 70), MacDougall.
Ref – Mr D. Anderson, Melvich.
Golspie took another major stride to retaining the championship with a 5-0 home win versus Alness United.
Andy Keveren grabbed three with Donald Sutherland and Gordon Connelly scoring one each.
NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
INVERNESS CITY 19 13 2 4 73 31 41
GOLSPIE 15 13 1 1 63 18 40
THURSO 16 12 1 3 65 25 37
MUIR OF ORD 16 10 4 2 55 25 34
HALKIRK UNITED 16 10 3 3 54 26 33
BALINTORE 18 7 5 6 40 35 26
INVERGORDON 20 5 4 11 32 57 19
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 18 5 2 11 32 68 17
ALNESS UNITED 19 4 3 12 25 48 15
BONAR BRIDGE 18 3 1 14 22 54 10
DORNOCH 19 2 0 17 17 91 6
The wheels came off the Vikings’ MSIS North Caley title challenge on Saturday as they slumped to their first home league defeat of the campaign.
Bunillidh continued their late season flourish with a victory which was as unexpected as it was deserved.
The unstinting effort and pressure exerted by the Jags thoroughly discomfited their hosts who tomorrow travel to Bonar Bridge on the back of two demoralising defeats.
It could have so different on Saturday had Thurso been able to capitalise on a strong start.
They had the ball in the net after 10 minutes only to have the effort chalked off.
Lee MacDougall had broken free and had options as he looked to exploit Bunillidh’s lack of cover.
He chose the direct approach with his shot being parried by keeper Graeme Williamson into the path of Alan Murray who looked to have marked his emergency call-up with an early goal.
But his effort was ruled out by ref David Anderson following assistant Graham Elder’s offside flag.
Murray and Nigel MacKenzie had other decent opportunities which were either sent wide or kept out by Willaimson.
Bunillidh gradually worked their way into the game and were soon carving out their own openings.
Their first clear chance produced their opening goal on 15th minute when Leon Urquhart’s defence-splitting chip played in Paul Cadden who fired past keeper Lee Allan.
Williamson protected the lead when he got down smartly to deny Murray.
If Thurso had the better of the first period, the visitors certainly could claim the bragging rights after the break.
They were more than holding their own in the midfield exchanges and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead midway through the half.
Thurso’s Gary Coghill played a major part in needlessly conceding possession to Wick-based Andrew Cumming deep in the Thurso half.
Cumming needed no second invitation as he blasted the ball home.
Thurso huffed and puffed with MacKenzie again unable to find a way past the inspired Williamson.
With Mark Makhouli having called off with an injury sustained playing for Thurso Pentland the previous evening, the Vikings’ lack of cutting edge proved decisive.
Given his long lay-off, Murray did well and veteran Willie Steven was one of his side’s few successes but the lack of an in-form striker is badly hampering their cause.
The problem has been made acute by the sudden exit of 32 goal striker Mark Nichol.
Manager Duncan Gray said: “It was one of these games when I felt we were never going to score.”
Bunillidh, who conceded a last-minute goal to go down 2-1 to Halkirk the previous week, were delighted to put one over the other Caithness outfit.
After a difficult start to the season, Thistle’s young guns have developed well under the charge of Lybster manager George Groat and can look forward to good times ahead if he manages to keep their squad together.
The Thurso boss accepts the defeat ends his side’s title challenge.
He said: “Starting with this one, we really needed to win all our games.
“We now have to buckle down and try and finish as high up the league as we can.”
Thurso – Allan, Shearer, Coghill, Miller, Petrie (Bell 80), Inrig, Steven (Munro 75), MacKenzie, Bain, Murray (Sinclair 70), MacDougall.
Ref – Mr D. Anderson, Melvich.
Golspie took another major stride to retaining the championship with a 5-0 home win versus Alness United.
Andy Keveren grabbed three with Donald Sutherland and Gordon Connelly scoring one each.
NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
INVERNESS CITY 19 13 2 4 73 31 41
GOLSPIE 15 13 1 1 63 18 40
THURSO 16 12 1 3 65 25 37
MUIR OF ORD 16 10 4 2 55 25 34
HALKIRK UNITED 16 10 3 3 54 26 33
BALINTORE 18 7 5 6 40 35 26
INVERGORDON 20 5 4 11 32 57 19
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 18 5 2 11 32 68 17
ALNESS UNITED 19 4 3 12 25 48 15
BONAR BRIDGE 18 3 1 14 22 54 10
DORNOCH 19 2 0 17 17 91 6