Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 19, 2008 14:16:59 GMT -5
Thurso 4 Invergordon 0 - report by Iain Grant
The grooming of a new-look Thurso side continued on Saturday as they recorded a heartening first MSIS North Caley League win of the season.
The break-up of a tried-and-trusted fighting force to accommodate a clutch of promising but inexperienced youngsters is never an easy process.
A measure of the turnover can be gauged by the fact that of the 16 on duty on Saturday, just Derrick Shearer, Willie Inrig and Lee MacDougall started the corresponding fixture last year.
There are signs that new manager Stevie Reid is developing a decent squad which is capable on its day of beating any other in the league. What remains their Achilles heel is a predator up front who is going to dominate their scoring charts.
The 4-0 result is deceptive in that it included an opening own goal and a late brace of penalties from Inrig.
The vital second of the day is memorable for the header from Kevin Groundwater being his first touch after he came on to make his debut for the Vikings.
The central defender, who skippers Orkney’s county side, looks like being a useful signing for Thurso if he is able to play regularly.
He and fellow islander Wayne Monkman add much-needed nous and zest to the cause, which has also been helped by the recruitment of John O’Groats defender Stuart Sinclair.
Thurso failed to spark in a dour first half at the Dammies in which the early kick-off to accommodate Scotland’s international induced a dead feel to the game.
Early nerves in the home camp were not helped when Jamie MacLeod’s inswinging cross on 10 minutes produced an unconvincing punch from home keeper Asa Sinclair.
Most of Thurso’s early attacks were launched down the left wing.
Lee MacDougall could have done better on 12 minutes when he was unable to find the target after a Monkman header gave him a free passage down the inside left channel.
MacDougall was then unable to apply the finish after he pierced open the defence with a rampaging run.
Visiting wing-back Robbie McCormack became the first booking of the day on 20 minutes after tangling with Shearer.
Thurso’s attacks were too often being aborted by offside flags. The visitors’ threat was mainly contained to long-range strikes but they drew encouragement from the stalemate.
They were unlucky by the manner in which they fell behind on the half-hour mark.
Gavin Bremner and MacDougall combined to work a prime position for Monkman and his sweeping cross was deflected in off Gavin Legge. The visitors could easily have pulled level four minutes later when Asa Sinclair’s heavy first touch from a pass back encouraged a challenge from the inrushing Scott Wilde.
The keeper was more than relieved to see the ball ricochet a yard past his right post.
Asa Sinclair partly atoned for that error when he pulled off a fine, spring-heeled save to touch over a 30 yard rocket shot from McCornmack.
Two minutes from the interval, a piece of trickery from Monkman should have made it 2-0.
The Kirkwall man wrong-footed three defenders before rolling the ball into the path of Martin Sinclair who was unable to convert from a couple of yards out of the unguarded net.
The quality after the interval improved with early action seeing Monkman going close before Invergordon’s Andrew Murray wastefully skied Chris Rose’s cutback.
Thurso went desperately close on 53 minutes when Monkman put MacDougall clear. The wide man’s first attempt produced a fine parry from Campbell and he was crestfallen to see his follow-up come back off the base of the near post.
Thurso were now gathering a head of steam and Martin Sinclair was unlucky to see his powerful strike on 60 minutes being clawed behind by Campbell.
The keeper staged an action replay in the aftermath to the corner when he got to the midfielder’s thumping strike from the edge of the box.
Thurso’s frustration at failing to get a second goal would have intensified had the visitors managed to convert a couple of promising counters.
Shearer and Inrig were prominent with telling goalmouth interceptions during this nervous period.
The win was effectively confirmed on 74 minutes following Groundwater’s immediate contribution after coming off the bench.
He made his way forward for a corner and proceeded to shake off his marker and steer a firm header wide of Campbell.
Another decent long-ranger from McCormack, which fizzed wide, was the visitors’ last throw of the dice. After the industrious Martin Sinclair went close with a half-chance, he was responsible for winning his side’s first penalty on 79 minutes.
Campbell was taken out by Sinclair’s initial cross and was still A.W.O.L. when the ball fell to the John O’Groats man on the edge of the box. Sinclair’s firm, netbound shot was kept out by Legge’s outstretched arm.
After Legge’s mandatory dismissal, Inrig set Campbell the wrong way from the spot. Campbell did well to foil Martin Sinclair and Michael Petrie’s diving header found the side-net as Thurso finished well on top.
McCormack’s downing of Petrie in the box in the final minute gave Inrig another chance to demonstrate his penalty-taking prowess.
He sent the ball into the other side of the net to complete a perfect six out of six spot-kicks this season.
Invergordon’s Alan Campbell booking late on was followed by the red card shown by ref Graham John to McCormack for an outburst after the final whistle.
Manager Reid was happy to get his side’s first league win while accepting that they were some way short of their best.
He said: “I don’t think we played as well as did in out cup win against Golspie the previous week when our passing was a bit crisper.
“It was a bit scrappy in the first half on Saturday but I thought we played a lot better after the interval.
“Once the second goal went in, we relaxed and played some good stuff.”
Thurso tomorrow entertain Alness United in the semi-final of the Port Services Cup.
“It’s a big game for us,” said Reid. “It would give us a big lift to get to the final but I’m sure Alness will give us a rough game.”
Stuart Sinclair is working but Murray Coghill and Gordon Steven are available for the match, which kicks off at 2.30 p.m.
Thurso – A. Sinclair, Stewart, Shearer, S. Sinclair (Tait 83), A. Bremner (Groundwater 74), G. Bremner, Inrig, Petrie, Monkman, M. Sinclair (Miller 83), MacDougall. Sub (unused) – S. Sinclair and Murray.
Invergordon – S. Campbell, McCormack, Murray (MacGruer 63), Kennedy, A. Campbell, Stevens, Stone, Legge, S. Wilde (R. Wilde 84), MacLeod, Rose. Sub (unused) – Ross.
Ref – Mr G. John, Wick.
Golspie made it five league wins out of five after they brushed aside the challenge of county rivals Bunillidh Thistle.
Aaron Smith bagged a hat-trick and Tommy Campbell and Andy Keveren doubles in their 8-1 rout at King George V Park.
Alness were shocked to be at the end of a 4-3 defeat which gave newcomers Tain Thistle their debut North Caley triumph.
Ex-Balintore man Colin Burry bagged a double for the Jags.
Bonar Bridge’s home fixture with Muir of Ord was postponed.
The grooming of a new-look Thurso side continued on Saturday as they recorded a heartening first MSIS North Caley League win of the season.
The break-up of a tried-and-trusted fighting force to accommodate a clutch of promising but inexperienced youngsters is never an easy process.
A measure of the turnover can be gauged by the fact that of the 16 on duty on Saturday, just Derrick Shearer, Willie Inrig and Lee MacDougall started the corresponding fixture last year.
There are signs that new manager Stevie Reid is developing a decent squad which is capable on its day of beating any other in the league. What remains their Achilles heel is a predator up front who is going to dominate their scoring charts.
The 4-0 result is deceptive in that it included an opening own goal and a late brace of penalties from Inrig.
The vital second of the day is memorable for the header from Kevin Groundwater being his first touch after he came on to make his debut for the Vikings.
The central defender, who skippers Orkney’s county side, looks like being a useful signing for Thurso if he is able to play regularly.
He and fellow islander Wayne Monkman add much-needed nous and zest to the cause, which has also been helped by the recruitment of John O’Groats defender Stuart Sinclair.
Thurso failed to spark in a dour first half at the Dammies in which the early kick-off to accommodate Scotland’s international induced a dead feel to the game.
Early nerves in the home camp were not helped when Jamie MacLeod’s inswinging cross on 10 minutes produced an unconvincing punch from home keeper Asa Sinclair.
Most of Thurso’s early attacks were launched down the left wing.
Lee MacDougall could have done better on 12 minutes when he was unable to find the target after a Monkman header gave him a free passage down the inside left channel.
MacDougall was then unable to apply the finish after he pierced open the defence with a rampaging run.
Visiting wing-back Robbie McCormack became the first booking of the day on 20 minutes after tangling with Shearer.
Thurso’s attacks were too often being aborted by offside flags. The visitors’ threat was mainly contained to long-range strikes but they drew encouragement from the stalemate.
They were unlucky by the manner in which they fell behind on the half-hour mark.
Gavin Bremner and MacDougall combined to work a prime position for Monkman and his sweeping cross was deflected in off Gavin Legge. The visitors could easily have pulled level four minutes later when Asa Sinclair’s heavy first touch from a pass back encouraged a challenge from the inrushing Scott Wilde.
The keeper was more than relieved to see the ball ricochet a yard past his right post.
Asa Sinclair partly atoned for that error when he pulled off a fine, spring-heeled save to touch over a 30 yard rocket shot from McCornmack.
Two minutes from the interval, a piece of trickery from Monkman should have made it 2-0.
The Kirkwall man wrong-footed three defenders before rolling the ball into the path of Martin Sinclair who was unable to convert from a couple of yards out of the unguarded net.
The quality after the interval improved with early action seeing Monkman going close before Invergordon’s Andrew Murray wastefully skied Chris Rose’s cutback.
Thurso went desperately close on 53 minutes when Monkman put MacDougall clear. The wide man’s first attempt produced a fine parry from Campbell and he was crestfallen to see his follow-up come back off the base of the near post.
Thurso were now gathering a head of steam and Martin Sinclair was unlucky to see his powerful strike on 60 minutes being clawed behind by Campbell.
The keeper staged an action replay in the aftermath to the corner when he got to the midfielder’s thumping strike from the edge of the box.
Thurso’s frustration at failing to get a second goal would have intensified had the visitors managed to convert a couple of promising counters.
Shearer and Inrig were prominent with telling goalmouth interceptions during this nervous period.
The win was effectively confirmed on 74 minutes following Groundwater’s immediate contribution after coming off the bench.
He made his way forward for a corner and proceeded to shake off his marker and steer a firm header wide of Campbell.
Another decent long-ranger from McCormack, which fizzed wide, was the visitors’ last throw of the dice. After the industrious Martin Sinclair went close with a half-chance, he was responsible for winning his side’s first penalty on 79 minutes.
Campbell was taken out by Sinclair’s initial cross and was still A.W.O.L. when the ball fell to the John O’Groats man on the edge of the box. Sinclair’s firm, netbound shot was kept out by Legge’s outstretched arm.
After Legge’s mandatory dismissal, Inrig set Campbell the wrong way from the spot. Campbell did well to foil Martin Sinclair and Michael Petrie’s diving header found the side-net as Thurso finished well on top.
McCormack’s downing of Petrie in the box in the final minute gave Inrig another chance to demonstrate his penalty-taking prowess.
He sent the ball into the other side of the net to complete a perfect six out of six spot-kicks this season.
Invergordon’s Alan Campbell booking late on was followed by the red card shown by ref Graham John to McCormack for an outburst after the final whistle.
Manager Reid was happy to get his side’s first league win while accepting that they were some way short of their best.
He said: “I don’t think we played as well as did in out cup win against Golspie the previous week when our passing was a bit crisper.
“It was a bit scrappy in the first half on Saturday but I thought we played a lot better after the interval.
“Once the second goal went in, we relaxed and played some good stuff.”
Thurso tomorrow entertain Alness United in the semi-final of the Port Services Cup.
“It’s a big game for us,” said Reid. “It would give us a big lift to get to the final but I’m sure Alness will give us a rough game.”
Stuart Sinclair is working but Murray Coghill and Gordon Steven are available for the match, which kicks off at 2.30 p.m.
Thurso – A. Sinclair, Stewart, Shearer, S. Sinclair (Tait 83), A. Bremner (Groundwater 74), G. Bremner, Inrig, Petrie, Monkman, M. Sinclair (Miller 83), MacDougall. Sub (unused) – S. Sinclair and Murray.
Invergordon – S. Campbell, McCormack, Murray (MacGruer 63), Kennedy, A. Campbell, Stevens, Stone, Legge, S. Wilde (R. Wilde 84), MacLeod, Rose. Sub (unused) – Ross.
Ref – Mr G. John, Wick.
Golspie made it five league wins out of five after they brushed aside the challenge of county rivals Bunillidh Thistle.
Aaron Smith bagged a hat-trick and Tommy Campbell and Andy Keveren doubles in their 8-1 rout at King George V Park.
Alness were shocked to be at the end of a 4-3 defeat which gave newcomers Tain Thistle their debut North Caley triumph.
Ex-Balintore man Colin Burry bagged a double for the Jags.
Bonar Bridge’s home fixture with Muir of Ord was postponed.