Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 13, 2009 19:56:20 GMT -5
Thurso 4 V Bunillidh Thistle 2 - report by Iain Grant
Thurso turned on the style after the interval to claim victory in Saturday’s MSIS North Caley League tussle at the Dammies.
Martin Sinclair continued his recent success in front of goal after grabbing his second hat-trick in the last three matches.
After seeing a 1-0 lead turn into a 3-1 deficit, Bunillidh bagged a disputed second on 69 minutes to revive their hopes of returning with at least a point.
The controversy over its award undoubtedly ruffled the Vikings and a home win was by no means certain until Jamie MacKenzie netted their fourth with three minutes remaining.
Both sides made light of a strong, unrelenting wind blowing diagonally across the pitch.
With Bunillidh’s regular brigade of half-a-dozen from east Caithness , the match had something of a derby feel to it.
The first half, in which Thurso failed to profit from their edge on possession, was largely uneventful.
Bunillidh went ahead on 28 minutes after striker Robert MacDonald was impeded in the box by Sean Stewart.
MacDonald dusted himself down before tucking the spot-kick just outside the reach of keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso took just two minutes to restore parity.
Martin Sinclair, presented with a clear view of goal, had his first shot beaten away by keeper Alan Bokas. The striker had lost his footing but recovered to sweep in the rebound.
Bokas was then called into action to palm over Martin Bain’s lob-shot and to make a foot-block to prevent Martin Sinclair claiming his second.
The Vikings enjoyed their best spell in the third quarter of the match when two goals were just reward for the new-found enterprise and ingenuity which characterised their play.
With Bain and Greg Shearer lively presences down the flanks and
the centre midfield trio as combative off the ball as they were
occasionally inspired on it, the home side had a clear advantage.
They went ahead on 52 minutes when Martin Sinclair stole a march on his would-be marker before rising to meet Willie Inrig’s angled free-kick with a powerful header high past Bokas.
The keeper was soon dashing off his line to hack clear to deny Petrie converting Jamie MacKenzie’s through-ball.
Bokas was helpless to prevent Thurso going two clear on the hour-mark.
The keeper was implicit in the lead-up, with his sclaffed clearance putting his side under pressure.
The home side took full advantage with Bain sent scurrying down the right and his centre eliciting an unanswerable first-time strike from Martin Sinclair from the edge of the six yard box.
Bunillidh, for the first time, looked on the ropes though their cause was almost revived by a stunning 40 yarder from Blair Duncan which clattered back across goal off the inside of the right post.
Their second goal came from a corner when MacDonald’s head-on induced a diving header from at the far post from defender John Smith. Gray’s parry looked to have kept the ball in play but ref Graeme Elder awarded a goal after a signal from assistant Stevie Tait.
Thurso’s feelings of injustice and discomfort at the narrowing of their lead was mirrored by back-to-back bookings for Stuart Sinclair and sub Gavin Bremner.
Duncan had earlier been cautioned for a rash tackle.
Bunillidh came desperately close to equalising five minutes from time when Barry Gordon’s deflected shot from just outside the box trickled past the post with Gray beaten.
Petrie went close at the other end before Thurso made sure of the win with the final goal of the afternoon.
Shaun Forbes’s quick distribution after breaking up an opposition attack ended with Stewart teeing up Mackenzie to lash the ball past Bokas from six yards. Amid a chorus of offside appeals, Ian Innes’s volley of abuse to assistant Bob Wheatcroft saw the defender red-carded.
Before the end, Shearer saw a close-in attempt come back off the bar while Forbes had a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid said: “I thought we had some decent spells, especially in the second half but also had spells when we were a bit naive.
“We gave away a soft penalty but were well in control by the time they got their second.
“We then lost our shape for about 10 minutes but overall I was pleased with how we played and I was delighted Martin got another hat-trick.”
The Vikings tomorrow head for Invergordon, bidding to complete a league double over the Easter Ross outfit.
Jamie MacKenzie is struggling to shake off a chest infection but Lee MacDougall is fit to rejoin the squad.
Thurso – Gray, Cumming, Stewart, Steven, Stuart Sinclair, Inrig (Bremner 59), Bain (Forbes 71), Petrie, MacKenzie, M. Sinclair, Shearer. Subs (unused) – D. Shearer, Steven Sinclair and A. Sinclair.
Bunillidh – Bokas, Sutherland, Duncan, Innes, Smith, MacGregor, Gordon (A. Banks 85), Urquhart, MacDonald, MacNab (Mackay (59), Kelly (M. Banks 59). Sub (unused) – Groat.
Thurso turned on the style after the interval to claim victory in Saturday’s MSIS North Caley League tussle at the Dammies.
Martin Sinclair continued his recent success in front of goal after grabbing his second hat-trick in the last three matches.
After seeing a 1-0 lead turn into a 3-1 deficit, Bunillidh bagged a disputed second on 69 minutes to revive their hopes of returning with at least a point.
The controversy over its award undoubtedly ruffled the Vikings and a home win was by no means certain until Jamie MacKenzie netted their fourth with three minutes remaining.
Both sides made light of a strong, unrelenting wind blowing diagonally across the pitch.
With Bunillidh’s regular brigade of half-a-dozen from east Caithness , the match had something of a derby feel to it.
The first half, in which Thurso failed to profit from their edge on possession, was largely uneventful.
Bunillidh went ahead on 28 minutes after striker Robert MacDonald was impeded in the box by Sean Stewart.
MacDonald dusted himself down before tucking the spot-kick just outside the reach of keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso took just two minutes to restore parity.
Martin Sinclair, presented with a clear view of goal, had his first shot beaten away by keeper Alan Bokas. The striker had lost his footing but recovered to sweep in the rebound.
Bokas was then called into action to palm over Martin Bain’s lob-shot and to make a foot-block to prevent Martin Sinclair claiming his second.
The Vikings enjoyed their best spell in the third quarter of the match when two goals were just reward for the new-found enterprise and ingenuity which characterised their play.
With Bain and Greg Shearer lively presences down the flanks and
the centre midfield trio as combative off the ball as they were
occasionally inspired on it, the home side had a clear advantage.
They went ahead on 52 minutes when Martin Sinclair stole a march on his would-be marker before rising to meet Willie Inrig’s angled free-kick with a powerful header high past Bokas.
The keeper was soon dashing off his line to hack clear to deny Petrie converting Jamie MacKenzie’s through-ball.
Bokas was helpless to prevent Thurso going two clear on the hour-mark.
The keeper was implicit in the lead-up, with his sclaffed clearance putting his side under pressure.
The home side took full advantage with Bain sent scurrying down the right and his centre eliciting an unanswerable first-time strike from Martin Sinclair from the edge of the six yard box.
Bunillidh, for the first time, looked on the ropes though their cause was almost revived by a stunning 40 yarder from Blair Duncan which clattered back across goal off the inside of the right post.
Their second goal came from a corner when MacDonald’s head-on induced a diving header from at the far post from defender John Smith. Gray’s parry looked to have kept the ball in play but ref Graeme Elder awarded a goal after a signal from assistant Stevie Tait.
Thurso’s feelings of injustice and discomfort at the narrowing of their lead was mirrored by back-to-back bookings for Stuart Sinclair and sub Gavin Bremner.
Duncan had earlier been cautioned for a rash tackle.
Bunillidh came desperately close to equalising five minutes from time when Barry Gordon’s deflected shot from just outside the box trickled past the post with Gray beaten.
Petrie went close at the other end before Thurso made sure of the win with the final goal of the afternoon.
Shaun Forbes’s quick distribution after breaking up an opposition attack ended with Stewart teeing up Mackenzie to lash the ball past Bokas from six yards. Amid a chorus of offside appeals, Ian Innes’s volley of abuse to assistant Bob Wheatcroft saw the defender red-carded.
Before the end, Shearer saw a close-in attempt come back off the bar while Forbes had a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid said: “I thought we had some decent spells, especially in the second half but also had spells when we were a bit naive.
“We gave away a soft penalty but were well in control by the time they got their second.
“We then lost our shape for about 10 minutes but overall I was pleased with how we played and I was delighted Martin got another hat-trick.”
The Vikings tomorrow head for Invergordon, bidding to complete a league double over the Easter Ross outfit.
Jamie MacKenzie is struggling to shake off a chest infection but Lee MacDougall is fit to rejoin the squad.
Thurso – Gray, Cumming, Stewart, Steven, Stuart Sinclair, Inrig (Bremner 59), Bain (Forbes 71), Petrie, MacKenzie, M. Sinclair, Shearer. Subs (unused) – D. Shearer, Steven Sinclair and A. Sinclair.
Bunillidh – Bokas, Sutherland, Duncan, Innes, Smith, MacGregor, Gordon (A. Banks 85), Urquhart, MacDonald, MacNab (Mackay (59), Kelly (M. Banks 59). Sub (unused) – Groat.