Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 10, 2008 8:18:51 GMT -5
Thurso 3 v Muir of Ord Rovers 0 - report by Iain Grant
A rejigged Vikings outfit came up trumps on Saturday as they scored a decisive MSIS North Caley League win over Rovers.
The win served to lift the spirits in the home camp after a recent flat spell.
The defeat for Muir, unbeaten in their previous eight matches, is a bodyblow as three points would have allowed them to leapfrog Golspie into top spot.
In the first half-hour, the visitors looked a good bet to extend their run as they impressed with some neat interplay and promising attacks.
But Thurso then came far more into the picture with Jamie MacKenzie sending them in front two minutes from the break.
Stevie Reid’s men capitalised on the counter to dominate the second half when their superiority was reflected with a brace of goals from Wayne Monkman.
Thurso were first to threaten when a looping cross from Lee MacDougall on two minutes elicited a decent strike from Martin Sinclair which was just too high.
There was a close escape at the other end when Stuart Sinclair’s miscued pass back had keeper Asa Sinclair scrambling back to clear his lines.
On 12 minutes, the alarm bells were ringing again when a Muir corner ended with Gary Calvert’s close-range header being bundled off the line by MacDougall.
Visiting striker Ewan Dance was looking a good bet to bag the first goal.
After several half-chances, he seemed set to finish on 24 minutes, only to drag his shot wide after Morris MacMillan’s flick put him in the clear.
Asa Sinclair was then relieved to see a snap 35 yard shot from Dance fly just over on the half-hour mark.
Thurso thereafter wrested control of the game with MacKenzie’s return giving the side more poise and nous in the midfield.
Andrew Cumming’s new deployment at right wingback was also a success and it was his driving run that created his side’s opening goal.
His through ball was controlled on the penalty spot by MacKenzie before he turned and drilled a low shot past keeper Ian Bartlett.
The lead would not have lasted had Derrick Shearer not managed to get back to pull off a marvellous saving tackle in first half injury time.
From the resultant corner, Monkman came perilously close to heading into his own goal.
Muir went close within five minutes of the resumption when David Brennan’s bullet header from a corner produced an instinctive fingertip stop from Asa Sinclair.
MacDougall went close for Thurso before Monkman grabbed the second goal with a lunging header in the follow-up to a corner on 60 minutes.
That knocked the stuffing out of Rovers and thereafter it was just a question of the margin of their defeat.
MacDougall missed a snip when he volleyed wide after a sparky move before Martin Sinclair had a header cleared off the line by David Niven.
MacKenzie and MacDougall both went close before another incisive attack saw Willie Inrig and Martin Sinclair set up Monkman for his second of the afternoon on 73 minutes.
Bartlett pulled off a fine double save from MacDougall and Inrig and Monkman were denied in the latter stages as the Vikings finished well on top.
The display impressed manager Reid who is looking for a repeat showing in tomorrow’s SWL Cup quarter-final at home to Golspie Sutherland.
Reid said: “Given that we hadn’t played for a couple for weeks, I thought our fitness levels were good and we played some really good football.
“Everything came together well. Jamie’s return was a big plus while I thought Andrew fitted in really well at right back.”
Ex-Academy man Greg Shearer is set to make his debut tomorrow. Midfielder Michael Petrie is also set to return from injury but an ankle knock continues to sideline Gavin Bremner.
The match kicks off at 1 p.m.
Thurso – A. Sinclair, Cumming, Shearer, Steven, S. Sinclair, Inrig (S. Sinclair 86), Bain, Monkman, M. Sinclair (Miller 86), MacKenzie, MacDougall (Munro 77). Sub (unused) – Forbes.
Muir of Ord -- Bartlett, Geegan (Cadden 61), Pirie, Niven (Clark 63),Brennan, MacMillan, Callum, Gair (Ireland h/t), Dance, Calvert, Lyall.
Ref – Mr G. Elder
A rejigged Vikings outfit came up trumps on Saturday as they scored a decisive MSIS North Caley League win over Rovers.
The win served to lift the spirits in the home camp after a recent flat spell.
The defeat for Muir, unbeaten in their previous eight matches, is a bodyblow as three points would have allowed them to leapfrog Golspie into top spot.
In the first half-hour, the visitors looked a good bet to extend their run as they impressed with some neat interplay and promising attacks.
But Thurso then came far more into the picture with Jamie MacKenzie sending them in front two minutes from the break.
Stevie Reid’s men capitalised on the counter to dominate the second half when their superiority was reflected with a brace of goals from Wayne Monkman.
Thurso were first to threaten when a looping cross from Lee MacDougall on two minutes elicited a decent strike from Martin Sinclair which was just too high.
There was a close escape at the other end when Stuart Sinclair’s miscued pass back had keeper Asa Sinclair scrambling back to clear his lines.
On 12 minutes, the alarm bells were ringing again when a Muir corner ended with Gary Calvert’s close-range header being bundled off the line by MacDougall.
Visiting striker Ewan Dance was looking a good bet to bag the first goal.
After several half-chances, he seemed set to finish on 24 minutes, only to drag his shot wide after Morris MacMillan’s flick put him in the clear.
Asa Sinclair was then relieved to see a snap 35 yard shot from Dance fly just over on the half-hour mark.
Thurso thereafter wrested control of the game with MacKenzie’s return giving the side more poise and nous in the midfield.
Andrew Cumming’s new deployment at right wingback was also a success and it was his driving run that created his side’s opening goal.
His through ball was controlled on the penalty spot by MacKenzie before he turned and drilled a low shot past keeper Ian Bartlett.
The lead would not have lasted had Derrick Shearer not managed to get back to pull off a marvellous saving tackle in first half injury time.
From the resultant corner, Monkman came perilously close to heading into his own goal.
Muir went close within five minutes of the resumption when David Brennan’s bullet header from a corner produced an instinctive fingertip stop from Asa Sinclair.
MacDougall went close for Thurso before Monkman grabbed the second goal with a lunging header in the follow-up to a corner on 60 minutes.
That knocked the stuffing out of Rovers and thereafter it was just a question of the margin of their defeat.
MacDougall missed a snip when he volleyed wide after a sparky move before Martin Sinclair had a header cleared off the line by David Niven.
MacKenzie and MacDougall both went close before another incisive attack saw Willie Inrig and Martin Sinclair set up Monkman for his second of the afternoon on 73 minutes.
Bartlett pulled off a fine double save from MacDougall and Inrig and Monkman were denied in the latter stages as the Vikings finished well on top.
The display impressed manager Reid who is looking for a repeat showing in tomorrow’s SWL Cup quarter-final at home to Golspie Sutherland.
Reid said: “Given that we hadn’t played for a couple for weeks, I thought our fitness levels were good and we played some really good football.
“Everything came together well. Jamie’s return was a big plus while I thought Andrew fitted in really well at right back.”
Ex-Academy man Greg Shearer is set to make his debut tomorrow. Midfielder Michael Petrie is also set to return from injury but an ankle knock continues to sideline Gavin Bremner.
The match kicks off at 1 p.m.
Thurso – A. Sinclair, Cumming, Shearer, Steven, S. Sinclair, Inrig (S. Sinclair 86), Bain, Monkman, M. Sinclair (Miller 86), MacKenzie, MacDougall (Munro 77). Sub (unused) – Forbes.
Muir of Ord -- Bartlett, Geegan (Cadden 61), Pirie, Niven (Clark 63),Brennan, MacMillan, Callum, Gair (Ireland h/t), Dance, Calvert, Lyall.
Ref – Mr G. Elder