Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 28, 2008 10:36:19 GMT -5
Balintore 1 V Thurso 3 - report by Iain Grant
One of the youngest sides fieldest by the Vikings came up trumps on Saturday as they recorded their first away win in this year’s MSIS North Caledonian League campaign.
An out-of-sorts Balintore failed to get to grips with sparky opponents whose efforts deserved more than their two goal margin of victory.
A brace from Martin Sinclair had the visitors’ tails up before Graham Davis grabbed one back on 62 minutes with what was to be his side’s first effort on target all day.
The response rattled Thurso but within five minutes, a well-taken third from Sinclair steadied the nerves and allowed them to coast to victory.
With Willie Inrig, Jamie MacKenzie and Gavin Bremner among the absentees, manager Stevie Reid put his faith in youth.
Midfielders Greg Shearer and Sean Munro were given their first starts and defender Sean Stewart recalled to a line-up which featured just two over 21s in Michael Gray and Derrick Shearer.
The Vikings made the early running and forged in front on 17 minutes in controversial circumstances.
With the home side appealing in vain for offside against Greg Shearer, he collected Munro’s assist before centring to allow Martin Sinclair to sweep the ball in from six yards.
The home side failed to capitalise on their extra man in midfield while their rearguard throughout looked vulnerable as Greg Shearer, Martin Bain and Andy Cumming regularly exploited under-defended wide channels.
A rampaging run from Stewart on 24 minutes took him into the opposition penalty box and only a brave parry by keeper Ross Henderson prevented the youngster doubling his side’s advantage.
The Vikings maintained the pressure with Greg Shearer volleying over on 30 minutes when Cumming’s inch-perfect cross deserved better.
Greg Shearer then flashed a shot just off target before Munro saw his sweetly-struck 25 yarder beat Henderson but clatter off the top of the crossbar.
Balintore’s only mentions in the dispatches in the first half were cautions meted out to Jordan Mitchell for a scything tackle on Greg Shearer and Henderson for dissent.
It got no cheerier for the home side after the interval with Henderson excelling in the first play in reaching Cumming’s close-in shot from Derrick Shearer’s set-up.
Thurso went two up on 50 minutes following a probe from the increasingly influential Bain.
He released Cumming whose stinging attempt on goal had Henderson clutching thin air before it pinged off the inside of the keeper’s right post.
In a messy sequel, Martin Sinclair was able to wheel round and force the ball over the line from a couple of yards out.
The visitors had another couple of half-chances as they sought to close out the contest.
As often happens, opponents who look down and out were invigorated by a goal that came right out of the blue.
In a quickfire attack, Tony Farquhar found space down the left to deliver a low cross which Davis turned in at the far post.
Any prospect of a home revival was killed off when captain-for-the-day Michael Petrie picked out Martin Sinclair with a quickly-taken free-kick.
The striker’s sure first touch wrongfooted his marker and his powerful, rising strike fizzed past Henderson.
Thurso’s otherwise solid defence was pierced on 69 minutes when Stuart MacCallum was unable to profit after being given a clear view of goal.
Greg Shearer then went close when his six yard flick from Martin Sinclair’s astute pass was snaffled by Henderson.
Munro was yellow-carded for a foul on Farquhar before the game’s final drama two minutes from the end.
Farquhar was sent surging into the box when sub Steven Sinclair’s despairing, back-tracking lunge appeared to take the striker’s legs from him.
Referee John Nicolson’s failure to heed a chorus of penalty pleas sealed Balintore’s bleak day.
Manager Reid was more than happy with the three point return achieved by his young side.
He said: “I could have not have asked for more from them.
“Overall, I was really impressed by their play, their fitness and their bravery. None of them hid – they all wanted to be involved.”
He added: “It’s a big, big result for us.
“I was especially pleased how we reacted when they scored and, after we got the third, we could have gone on to get one or two more.”
Balintore – Henderson, Davis, MacFarquhar (E. Shearer (h/t), J. Skinner, Stainke, Stewart, MacCallum, Mitchell, MacDonald, S. Skinner, Farquhar. Subs (unused) – MacRitchie and Calderwood.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, D. Shearer, Steven, Stuart Sinclair, Petrie,
Cumming, Munro (Steven Sinclair 79), M. Sinclair (Miller 86), Bain, G. Shearer. Subs (unused) – A. Sinclair and Bremner.
Ref – Mr J. Nicolson
One of the youngest sides fieldest by the Vikings came up trumps on Saturday as they recorded their first away win in this year’s MSIS North Caledonian League campaign.
An out-of-sorts Balintore failed to get to grips with sparky opponents whose efforts deserved more than their two goal margin of victory.
A brace from Martin Sinclair had the visitors’ tails up before Graham Davis grabbed one back on 62 minutes with what was to be his side’s first effort on target all day.
The response rattled Thurso but within five minutes, a well-taken third from Sinclair steadied the nerves and allowed them to coast to victory.
With Willie Inrig, Jamie MacKenzie and Gavin Bremner among the absentees, manager Stevie Reid put his faith in youth.
Midfielders Greg Shearer and Sean Munro were given their first starts and defender Sean Stewart recalled to a line-up which featured just two over 21s in Michael Gray and Derrick Shearer.
The Vikings made the early running and forged in front on 17 minutes in controversial circumstances.
With the home side appealing in vain for offside against Greg Shearer, he collected Munro’s assist before centring to allow Martin Sinclair to sweep the ball in from six yards.
The home side failed to capitalise on their extra man in midfield while their rearguard throughout looked vulnerable as Greg Shearer, Martin Bain and Andy Cumming regularly exploited under-defended wide channels.
A rampaging run from Stewart on 24 minutes took him into the opposition penalty box and only a brave parry by keeper Ross Henderson prevented the youngster doubling his side’s advantage.
The Vikings maintained the pressure with Greg Shearer volleying over on 30 minutes when Cumming’s inch-perfect cross deserved better.
Greg Shearer then flashed a shot just off target before Munro saw his sweetly-struck 25 yarder beat Henderson but clatter off the top of the crossbar.
Balintore’s only mentions in the dispatches in the first half were cautions meted out to Jordan Mitchell for a scything tackle on Greg Shearer and Henderson for dissent.
It got no cheerier for the home side after the interval with Henderson excelling in the first play in reaching Cumming’s close-in shot from Derrick Shearer’s set-up.
Thurso went two up on 50 minutes following a probe from the increasingly influential Bain.
He released Cumming whose stinging attempt on goal had Henderson clutching thin air before it pinged off the inside of the keeper’s right post.
In a messy sequel, Martin Sinclair was able to wheel round and force the ball over the line from a couple of yards out.
The visitors had another couple of half-chances as they sought to close out the contest.
As often happens, opponents who look down and out were invigorated by a goal that came right out of the blue.
In a quickfire attack, Tony Farquhar found space down the left to deliver a low cross which Davis turned in at the far post.
Any prospect of a home revival was killed off when captain-for-the-day Michael Petrie picked out Martin Sinclair with a quickly-taken free-kick.
The striker’s sure first touch wrongfooted his marker and his powerful, rising strike fizzed past Henderson.
Thurso’s otherwise solid defence was pierced on 69 minutes when Stuart MacCallum was unable to profit after being given a clear view of goal.
Greg Shearer then went close when his six yard flick from Martin Sinclair’s astute pass was snaffled by Henderson.
Munro was yellow-carded for a foul on Farquhar before the game’s final drama two minutes from the end.
Farquhar was sent surging into the box when sub Steven Sinclair’s despairing, back-tracking lunge appeared to take the striker’s legs from him.
Referee John Nicolson’s failure to heed a chorus of penalty pleas sealed Balintore’s bleak day.
Manager Reid was more than happy with the three point return achieved by his young side.
He said: “I could have not have asked for more from them.
“Overall, I was really impressed by their play, their fitness and their bravery. None of them hid – they all wanted to be involved.”
He added: “It’s a big, big result for us.
“I was especially pleased how we reacted when they scored and, after we got the third, we could have gone on to get one or two more.”
Balintore – Henderson, Davis, MacFarquhar (E. Shearer (h/t), J. Skinner, Stainke, Stewart, MacCallum, Mitchell, MacDonald, S. Skinner, Farquhar. Subs (unused) – MacRitchie and Calderwood.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, D. Shearer, Steven, Stuart Sinclair, Petrie,
Cumming, Munro (Steven Sinclair 79), M. Sinclair (Miller 86), Bain, G. Shearer. Subs (unused) – A. Sinclair and Bremner.
Ref – Mr J. Nicolson