Post by Brian Mackay on Apr 24, 2008 14:39:24 GMT -5
Thurso 3 Muir of Ord Rovers 1 - report by Iain Grant
Golspie Sutherland clinched the MSIS North Caley championship on Wednesday evening with a thumping 5-0 win versus Bonar Bridge.
Braces from top scorer Andy Keveren and Donald Sutherland and a single from Ross Thomson allowed them to cruise towards the retention of their title.
Golspie recovered well from an opening 5-2 home reverse to Halkirk United, which will be their only blip if they avoid defeat in their final match versus Inverness City.
Thurso’s title bid withered on the vine with late season defeats to Bunillidh Thistle and Halkirk United.
The Vikings completed their campaign on Saturday against Muir of Ord in a game which doubled as a league clash and the quarter-final of the Football Times Cup.
The Vikings racked up a 3-1 win but there was a sting in the tail after it was found Michael Gray had not been eligible to play.
The Brora Rangers keeper, who replaced the injured Lee Allan, was released after the March 16 deadline set by the SFA.
After the lapse came to light, the North Caley committee eliminated Thurso from the cup, meaning Muir of Ord now play Balintore in the semi. It is also likely the Caithness side will lose the league points.
Saturday’s double-header was held up for just over an hour after the Muir bus broke down on the way north.
Thurso were by far the brighter side in a first half which ended with the visitors fortunate to trail by just 2-1.
After the interval, Rovers Muir rediscovered the form which allowed them to go 15 matches unbeaten in their first North Caley campaign.
The Vikings had Gray to thank for keeping their lead before sub Kyle Ross weighed in with a late counter to seal the victory.
Thurso drew first blood on 15 minutes when Willie Inrig picked out Nigel Mackenzie whose cutback was dispatched by Lee MacDougall.
Thurso had several further half-chances before Muir drew level on 34 minutes.
A defensive mix-up left Gray exposed and Ewan Dance took full advantage to fire home.
Nigel MacKenzie missed a decent chance before the home men recaptured their lead three minutes from the break.
Martin Strathearn, deputising for Muir’s regular Number 1 Martin Rae could not hold a stinging shot from Jamie MacKenzie and MacDougall converted the rebound.
Nigel MacKenzie – one of a handful home players playing their fourth game in a week – was unable to stretch the lead when given a clear sight of goal shortly after the turnaround.
His attempt cannoned off the frame of the goal, with Strathearn unable to get near the ball.
Jamie MacKenzie then made good space for himself on the fringe of the penalty box, only to over-cook his shot.
Muir responded with some lively play down the flanks where the pace of wingers Gary Calvert and Kenny Lyall troubled the Thurso rearguard.
On 72 minutes, Dance came desperately close to the equaliser when his glancing header from a corner nudged just past the far post.
Dance then played in Calvert who to got the break of a deflection off a defender to unleash an angled shot which Gray did well to stop.
Young Thurso sub James Murray showed some good touches and contrived a snap-shot on 76 minutes which flashed narrowly wide of Strathearn’s right post.
Muir were increasingly committing more men forward and their enterprise almost paid dividends two minutes later.
Lyall’s pace and trickery took him clear down the inside left channel and his
powerful, low drive required careful handling by Gray, with Calvert ready to punish any mistake.
The clincher for the Vikings came three minutes from time following a devastating counter from an abortive Muir corner.
Michael Petrie’s long-range pass found sub Kyle Ross hovering just inside his own half.
The Wick striker held off the pursuing Alan Geegan to hold his nerve as he sped towards goal before placing the ball past Strathearn.
A generally well-tempered game ended with Martin Callum’s injury-time booking for a foul on Petrie.
That added to the early yellow cards shown to Calvert and Thurso pair Martin Bain and Ross Sutherland.
Thurso – Gray, Shearer, Bell, Miller, Inrig, Petrie, Sutherland, J. MacKenzie, Bain (Ross h/t), N. MacKenzie (Sinclair 69), MacDougall (Murray 68).
Muir of Ord – Strathearn, Geegan, MacLean, Lewis, Brennan, Callum, Lyall, MacMillan, Dance, Colquhoun, Calvert (McGruer 76).
Ref: W. Sinclair.
Golspie Sutherland clinched the MSIS North Caley championship on Wednesday evening with a thumping 5-0 win versus Bonar Bridge.
Braces from top scorer Andy Keveren and Donald Sutherland and a single from Ross Thomson allowed them to cruise towards the retention of their title.
Golspie recovered well from an opening 5-2 home reverse to Halkirk United, which will be their only blip if they avoid defeat in their final match versus Inverness City.
Thurso’s title bid withered on the vine with late season defeats to Bunillidh Thistle and Halkirk United.
The Vikings completed their campaign on Saturday against Muir of Ord in a game which doubled as a league clash and the quarter-final of the Football Times Cup.
The Vikings racked up a 3-1 win but there was a sting in the tail after it was found Michael Gray had not been eligible to play.
The Brora Rangers keeper, who replaced the injured Lee Allan, was released after the March 16 deadline set by the SFA.
After the lapse came to light, the North Caley committee eliminated Thurso from the cup, meaning Muir of Ord now play Balintore in the semi. It is also likely the Caithness side will lose the league points.
Saturday’s double-header was held up for just over an hour after the Muir bus broke down on the way north.
Thurso were by far the brighter side in a first half which ended with the visitors fortunate to trail by just 2-1.
After the interval, Rovers Muir rediscovered the form which allowed them to go 15 matches unbeaten in their first North Caley campaign.
The Vikings had Gray to thank for keeping their lead before sub Kyle Ross weighed in with a late counter to seal the victory.
Thurso drew first blood on 15 minutes when Willie Inrig picked out Nigel Mackenzie whose cutback was dispatched by Lee MacDougall.
Thurso had several further half-chances before Muir drew level on 34 minutes.
A defensive mix-up left Gray exposed and Ewan Dance took full advantage to fire home.
Nigel MacKenzie missed a decent chance before the home men recaptured their lead three minutes from the break.
Martin Strathearn, deputising for Muir’s regular Number 1 Martin Rae could not hold a stinging shot from Jamie MacKenzie and MacDougall converted the rebound.
Nigel MacKenzie – one of a handful home players playing their fourth game in a week – was unable to stretch the lead when given a clear sight of goal shortly after the turnaround.
His attempt cannoned off the frame of the goal, with Strathearn unable to get near the ball.
Jamie MacKenzie then made good space for himself on the fringe of the penalty box, only to over-cook his shot.
Muir responded with some lively play down the flanks where the pace of wingers Gary Calvert and Kenny Lyall troubled the Thurso rearguard.
On 72 minutes, Dance came desperately close to the equaliser when his glancing header from a corner nudged just past the far post.
Dance then played in Calvert who to got the break of a deflection off a defender to unleash an angled shot which Gray did well to stop.
Young Thurso sub James Murray showed some good touches and contrived a snap-shot on 76 minutes which flashed narrowly wide of Strathearn’s right post.
Muir were increasingly committing more men forward and their enterprise almost paid dividends two minutes later.
Lyall’s pace and trickery took him clear down the inside left channel and his
powerful, low drive required careful handling by Gray, with Calvert ready to punish any mistake.
The clincher for the Vikings came three minutes from time following a devastating counter from an abortive Muir corner.
Michael Petrie’s long-range pass found sub Kyle Ross hovering just inside his own half.
The Wick striker held off the pursuing Alan Geegan to hold his nerve as he sped towards goal before placing the ball past Strathearn.
A generally well-tempered game ended with Martin Callum’s injury-time booking for a foul on Petrie.
That added to the early yellow cards shown to Calvert and Thurso pair Martin Bain and Ross Sutherland.
Thurso – Gray, Shearer, Bell, Miller, Inrig, Petrie, Sutherland, J. MacKenzie, Bain (Ross h/t), N. MacKenzie (Sinclair 69), MacDougall (Murray 68).
Muir of Ord – Strathearn, Geegan, MacLean, Lewis, Brennan, Callum, Lyall, MacMillan, Dance, Colquhoun, Calvert (McGruer 76).
Ref: W. Sinclair.