Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 27, 2008 9:31:07 GMT -5
Derby is controversial opener to league season - By Iain Grant
Halkirk Utd 3, Thurso 2
Published: 27 August, 2008
THIS MSIS North Caley League opener had a slow burn but developed into a humdinger of a match laced with controversy and talking points.
United thoroughly deserved to emerge with three points after being comfortably ahead in the possession stakes and chances created.
Only the heroics of visiting keeper Michael Gray and some indifferent finishing ensured the game remained a contest for so long.
But the Vikings camp was left sore at two refereeing decisions which had a major effect on the outcome of the first Caithness derby of the season.
New manager Stevie Reid was aggrieved at the penalty awarded against Murray Coghill on 53 minutes which led to Halkirk's opener. He was also more than surprised that United keeper Stuart MacCulloch did not walk for his downing of sub Jimmy Budge in the box in the incident which resulted in the equaliser 17 minutes later.
There could be no quibble about United's second, 13 minutes from time – a sublime 30-yard rocket-shot from Gavin Henderson.
Alan Farquhar scored from close range to make it 3-1 with two minutes remaining before Thurso sub Andrew Cumming netted with a header deep in injury time.
On a glorious day with a breeze blowing diagonally towards the village, it was Halkirk who made most of the early running.
On three minutes, a neat interchange between Sandy Sutherland and Chris Sutherland created space for Mark Nichol on the edge of the box, but the former Thurso striker failed to find the target.
Lee Elder then made good progress down the left with Sandy Sutherland nipping in ahead of Gray outside the near post, but his inviting cross across goal failed to find a colleague.
Chris Sutherland was showing up well, with one of his crosses deflecting off a heel of David Mowat to almost give Nichol a free run on goal.
The frontmen of both sides were regularly getting caught offside by well-organised defensive lines.
On 18 minutes, Chris Sutherland darted down the right, cut inside Graham Tait and fired a shot just over the top.
Thurso were very much on the back foot with Nichol and Stuart Florence both having decent efforts on goal.
United maintained the pressure with a Chris Sutherland dig on goal deflecting handily to Sandy Sutherland whose 12-yard attempt produced a saving block from Christopher Taylor.
A rushed clearance from Gray created the next opening on 28 minutes with the ex-Brora Rangers keeper grateful to see Chris Sutherland's lob from wide out on the right pass fractionally over the unguarded goal.
Five minutes later, Farquhar messed up when he skied Chris Sutherland's cutback which had given him a clear sight of goal 16 yards out.
The pressure was kept up and on 36 minutes Gray pulled off a super stop to beat away Chris Sutherland's piledriver after he had been set up by Nichol's sweeping, long-range assist. Minutes later, Gray made a more routine save to prevent Nichol opening his account against his home side.
Thurso had to wait until 41 minutes for their first attack of any note when Taylor's through-ball gave Des MacLeod a sight of goal 12 yards out.
MacLeod – who was playing as the lone frontman – opted against the first-time strike and he was soon crowded out.
Halkirk maintained the momentum after the interval with Gray diving to divert a stinging effort from Florence.
Florence then saw his well-weighted through-ball poked past the post by Sandy Sutherland.
In between, Alan Sinclair required a cool head deep in his own box to steer the ball to safety after Michael Petrie charged on to a long pass from Coghill.
The goal drought was broken when Colin Sinclair's free kick into a packed goalmouth bounced up and struck Coghill's forearm.
Referee Willie Sinclair had no hesitation in awarding a spot-kick which Colin Sinclair netted with the minimum of ceremony.
United defender Graham MacDonald's foul on Grant Steven on 56 minutes was the first in a spate of bookings in what was generally a well-tempered affair.
Sandy Sutherland and Thurso's Willie Inrig were cautioned for late tackles on Tait and Nichol respectively. The next flashpoint came on 68 minutes when Tait's perceptive pass found Budge racing into the box. After he went past MacCulloch, the keeper upended the striker as he prepared to shoot.
The debutant could count himself very fortunate to escape with a caution before he was sent the wrong way by Inrig's spot-kick.
The Vikings had had a decent spell in the 10 minutes before the goal and the equaliser fuelled hopes that, against the odds, they could earn some reward from their first outing.
They had again to rely on Gray on 73 minutes to ensure Nichol did not get a debut goal.
Gavin Henderson and Willie Inrig battle in midfield. John Baikie, 07789 557586
The danger was created by a coruscating 30-yard run by MacDonald which split open the Thurso defence. His angled attempt at goal came back off the crossbar to Nichol whose well-struck follow-up elicited a razor-sharp reflex save from Gray.
Three minutes later, Nichol looked odds-on to convert Sandy Sutherland's looping cross only for Tait to somehow get in the way of the striker's netbound header to send the ball behind for a corner.
Henderson's big moment came when there appeared no obvious threat after the corner was cleared.
Budge conceded possession to Henderson who took a quick look up before despatching a fierce, rising, 30-yarder which blurred past Gray into the left postage-stamp corner of the goal.
United's support acclaimed what they thought was a third goal 10 minutes from time when a sweeping move ended with Florence's chipped cross being converted by a precise header from Nichol. But the goal celebrations were cut short by a marginal offside flag.
Two minutes later, Colin Sinclair added to the crime statistics when he was booked for downing Inrig.
The Wick man risked seeing red had referee Sinclair taken a dimmer view of the defender driving the ball directly at Inrig as he lay on the ground after the foul.
The free kick at the edge of the penalty box afforded Thurso a rare opportunity but Mowat did not trouble MacCulloch with his over-hit delivery.
United got an insurance goal when Gray marred an otherwise inspired display after dropping Chris Sutherland's corner to allow Farquhar to net with a simple tap-in.
Thurso kept working and were rewarded by an injury-time goal when Manson released Taylor down the right and his well-measured cross provided Cumming with the chance to nod home a debut goal.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald was more than happy with the performance that netted the three points.
"I liked the way that we played a patient game and didn't just punt the ball forward and hope for something to happen. We passed it about well and I thought our movement was good.
"Overall, I thought it was quite a professional job."
MacDonald reckoned that on the run of the game, his side could have been a couple to the good at the break.
He added: "We started the second half well and had a good few more chances. I felt sorry for Mark Nichol as he was trying his hardest but just couldn't find the net."
United's manager felt his side's penalty was a soft one and confessed that he expected his keeper to be red-carded after the penalty at the other end.
"I was already thinking about who he would put in goal," he revealed. "They [the officials] said that we had players coming back and that is why he only got a yellow card."
Stevie Reid was reasonably pleased with how the much-changed Thurso side performed.
"It was always going to be a tough match for us, especially as quite a few of our guys have no North Caley experience," he said of his first game in charge.
"I set us up to try and contain them in the first half, which I think we did quite well in that most of their efforts on goal were from long range.
"We wanted to open up a bit more after the break and after we changed it to play two up and matched their 4-4-2, we started to pose them more problems."
Reid also rated United's penalty in the soft category and thought MacCulloch should have been sent off.
He said: "I know they had a lot of the ball and a lot of chances but these were two big decisions and we could have ended up nipping a draw."
United: MacCulloch, C. Sinclair, Florence, MacDonald, A. Sinclair, Henderson, Farquhar, C. Sutherland, Nichol, S. Sutherland (Manson 84), Elder (Ross 71). Subs not used: Davidson, Nicolson and Mackay.
Thurso: Gray, Taylor, Tait, Steven, Mowat, Inrig, Bain (Cumming 80), Petrie (Budge 65), MacLeod, M. Coghill, Cook (Warner 57). Subs not used: Shearer and G. Coghill.
Referee: Mr W. Sinclair.
iain-grant@ukf.net
Halkirk Utd 3, Thurso 2
Published: 27 August, 2008
THIS MSIS North Caley League opener had a slow burn but developed into a humdinger of a match laced with controversy and talking points.
United thoroughly deserved to emerge with three points after being comfortably ahead in the possession stakes and chances created.
Only the heroics of visiting keeper Michael Gray and some indifferent finishing ensured the game remained a contest for so long.
But the Vikings camp was left sore at two refereeing decisions which had a major effect on the outcome of the first Caithness derby of the season.
New manager Stevie Reid was aggrieved at the penalty awarded against Murray Coghill on 53 minutes which led to Halkirk's opener. He was also more than surprised that United keeper Stuart MacCulloch did not walk for his downing of sub Jimmy Budge in the box in the incident which resulted in the equaliser 17 minutes later.
There could be no quibble about United's second, 13 minutes from time – a sublime 30-yard rocket-shot from Gavin Henderson.
Alan Farquhar scored from close range to make it 3-1 with two minutes remaining before Thurso sub Andrew Cumming netted with a header deep in injury time.
On a glorious day with a breeze blowing diagonally towards the village, it was Halkirk who made most of the early running.
On three minutes, a neat interchange between Sandy Sutherland and Chris Sutherland created space for Mark Nichol on the edge of the box, but the former Thurso striker failed to find the target.
Lee Elder then made good progress down the left with Sandy Sutherland nipping in ahead of Gray outside the near post, but his inviting cross across goal failed to find a colleague.
Chris Sutherland was showing up well, with one of his crosses deflecting off a heel of David Mowat to almost give Nichol a free run on goal.
The frontmen of both sides were regularly getting caught offside by well-organised defensive lines.
On 18 minutes, Chris Sutherland darted down the right, cut inside Graham Tait and fired a shot just over the top.
Thurso were very much on the back foot with Nichol and Stuart Florence both having decent efforts on goal.
United maintained the pressure with a Chris Sutherland dig on goal deflecting handily to Sandy Sutherland whose 12-yard attempt produced a saving block from Christopher Taylor.
A rushed clearance from Gray created the next opening on 28 minutes with the ex-Brora Rangers keeper grateful to see Chris Sutherland's lob from wide out on the right pass fractionally over the unguarded goal.
Five minutes later, Farquhar messed up when he skied Chris Sutherland's cutback which had given him a clear sight of goal 16 yards out.
The pressure was kept up and on 36 minutes Gray pulled off a super stop to beat away Chris Sutherland's piledriver after he had been set up by Nichol's sweeping, long-range assist. Minutes later, Gray made a more routine save to prevent Nichol opening his account against his home side.
Thurso had to wait until 41 minutes for their first attack of any note when Taylor's through-ball gave Des MacLeod a sight of goal 12 yards out.
MacLeod – who was playing as the lone frontman – opted against the first-time strike and he was soon crowded out.
Halkirk maintained the momentum after the interval with Gray diving to divert a stinging effort from Florence.
Florence then saw his well-weighted through-ball poked past the post by Sandy Sutherland.
In between, Alan Sinclair required a cool head deep in his own box to steer the ball to safety after Michael Petrie charged on to a long pass from Coghill.
The goal drought was broken when Colin Sinclair's free kick into a packed goalmouth bounced up and struck Coghill's forearm.
Referee Willie Sinclair had no hesitation in awarding a spot-kick which Colin Sinclair netted with the minimum of ceremony.
United defender Graham MacDonald's foul on Grant Steven on 56 minutes was the first in a spate of bookings in what was generally a well-tempered affair.
Sandy Sutherland and Thurso's Willie Inrig were cautioned for late tackles on Tait and Nichol respectively. The next flashpoint came on 68 minutes when Tait's perceptive pass found Budge racing into the box. After he went past MacCulloch, the keeper upended the striker as he prepared to shoot.
The debutant could count himself very fortunate to escape with a caution before he was sent the wrong way by Inrig's spot-kick.
The Vikings had had a decent spell in the 10 minutes before the goal and the equaliser fuelled hopes that, against the odds, they could earn some reward from their first outing.
They had again to rely on Gray on 73 minutes to ensure Nichol did not get a debut goal.
Gavin Henderson and Willie Inrig battle in midfield. John Baikie, 07789 557586
The danger was created by a coruscating 30-yard run by MacDonald which split open the Thurso defence. His angled attempt at goal came back off the crossbar to Nichol whose well-struck follow-up elicited a razor-sharp reflex save from Gray.
Three minutes later, Nichol looked odds-on to convert Sandy Sutherland's looping cross only for Tait to somehow get in the way of the striker's netbound header to send the ball behind for a corner.
Henderson's big moment came when there appeared no obvious threat after the corner was cleared.
Budge conceded possession to Henderson who took a quick look up before despatching a fierce, rising, 30-yarder which blurred past Gray into the left postage-stamp corner of the goal.
United's support acclaimed what they thought was a third goal 10 minutes from time when a sweeping move ended with Florence's chipped cross being converted by a precise header from Nichol. But the goal celebrations were cut short by a marginal offside flag.
Two minutes later, Colin Sinclair added to the crime statistics when he was booked for downing Inrig.
The Wick man risked seeing red had referee Sinclair taken a dimmer view of the defender driving the ball directly at Inrig as he lay on the ground after the foul.
The free kick at the edge of the penalty box afforded Thurso a rare opportunity but Mowat did not trouble MacCulloch with his over-hit delivery.
United got an insurance goal when Gray marred an otherwise inspired display after dropping Chris Sutherland's corner to allow Farquhar to net with a simple tap-in.
Thurso kept working and were rewarded by an injury-time goal when Manson released Taylor down the right and his well-measured cross provided Cumming with the chance to nod home a debut goal.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald was more than happy with the performance that netted the three points.
"I liked the way that we played a patient game and didn't just punt the ball forward and hope for something to happen. We passed it about well and I thought our movement was good.
"Overall, I thought it was quite a professional job."
MacDonald reckoned that on the run of the game, his side could have been a couple to the good at the break.
He added: "We started the second half well and had a good few more chances. I felt sorry for Mark Nichol as he was trying his hardest but just couldn't find the net."
United's manager felt his side's penalty was a soft one and confessed that he expected his keeper to be red-carded after the penalty at the other end.
"I was already thinking about who he would put in goal," he revealed. "They [the officials] said that we had players coming back and that is why he only got a yellow card."
Stevie Reid was reasonably pleased with how the much-changed Thurso side performed.
"It was always going to be a tough match for us, especially as quite a few of our guys have no North Caley experience," he said of his first game in charge.
"I set us up to try and contain them in the first half, which I think we did quite well in that most of their efforts on goal were from long range.
"We wanted to open up a bit more after the break and after we changed it to play two up and matched their 4-4-2, we started to pose them more problems."
Reid also rated United's penalty in the soft category and thought MacCulloch should have been sent off.
He said: "I know they had a lot of the ball and a lot of chances but these were two big decisions and we could have ended up nipping a draw."
United: MacCulloch, C. Sinclair, Florence, MacDonald, A. Sinclair, Henderson, Farquhar, C. Sutherland, Nichol, S. Sutherland (Manson 84), Elder (Ross 71). Subs not used: Davidson, Nicolson and Mackay.
Thurso: Gray, Taylor, Tait, Steven, Mowat, Inrig, Bain (Cumming 80), Petrie (Budge 65), MacLeod, M. Coghill, Cook (Warner 57). Subs not used: Shearer and G. Coghill.
Referee: Mr W. Sinclair.
iain-grant@ukf.net