Post by Brian Mackay on Feb 2, 2009 11:55:51 GMT -5
Thurso 2 V Halkirk United 5 - report by Iain Grant
United’s four-pronged pursuit of more silverware remains firmly on track after they comfortably progressed in the Football Times Cup at the expense of their county rivals.
Having already captured the Port Services Cup, they are brimful of confidence as they prepare to face Golspie Sutherland in tomorrow’s SWL Cup final.
Up until three seasons go, the Anglers could not buy a win over Thurso. But they have put that seven year barren run firmly behind them, with Saturday’s first round cup victory adding to their two league wins over the Vikings.
The writing was firmly on the wall for the home men when their keeper Michael Gray was dismissed with under six minutes played.
The keeper went to ground after Halkirk striker Mark Nichol stepped past Stuart Sinclair and powered in on goal.
Nichol toe-ended the ball past Gray fractionally before the striker tumbled over the keeper’s outstretched arm.
Had the ball gone into the net instead of rolling wide, James Campbell may have been content to caution Gray.
But the ref – making his North Caley debut – had no hesitation in reaching for his red card. That prompted an emergency reshuffle in the Vikings’ ranks with Asa Sinclair coming off the bench to deputise for Gray with young midfielder Michael Petrie sacrificed.
The keeper guessed correctly the direction of the spot-kick but he had no chance to stop Nichol’s low, angled delivery just inside the keeper’s right post.
Thurso had barely had a chance to recover from the double whammie when they found themselves two down on 11 minutes.
Asa Sinclair was stumped by Graham MacDonald’s 25 yard switcher.
While it came off the crossbar, the keeper was powerless to prevent Sandy Sutherland burying the rebound.
A free-kick from Lee MacDougall which veered comfortably wide was the sum total of the home side’s early goal threat.
Having scored his first goal against his former side, Nichol almost added another on 20 minutes with a crack from just outside the box which sailed just wide.
Thurso were very much up against it with Asa Sinclair to the fore with decent stops to thwart Alan Farquhar and Sandy Sutherland.
United went three up on 26 minutes when a Colin Davidson cross caused pandemonium in the home goalmouth.
After several botched clearance attempts, the ball fell into the path of Nichol who made no mistake.
Halkirk continued to dominate with Chris Sutherland going close after good work by Nichol.
Kyle Ross then sent in MacDonald whose effort was beaten out by Asa Sinclair to the industrious Stuart Florence who could not direct the rebound on target.
Andrew Cumming had Thurso’s best effort on 42 minutes with his raid up the right flank ending with a shot which flashed wide of the far post.
The contest was put beyond doubt three minutes later when Henderson’s stinging 25 yarder put his side four ahead at the break.
The Vikings were at this stage in danger of sinking with all hands.
But their 10 men dug in to stave off the very real prospect of a rout.
After absorbing early pressure, they enjoyed good spells of possession and cause a clutch of awkward moments for visiting keeper Jack Mackay, hitherto a virtual spectator.
Chris Sutherland and Lee Elder missed decent openings shortly before Asa Sinclair’s brave smother prevented Florence converting Nichol’s assist.
Thurso got a goal back on 62 minutes when Mackay’s poor clearance elicited a jaw-dropping first-time 30 yard riposte from Gavin Bremner.
Nichol watched a cracking shot-on-the turn inch past the left upright before he completed his hat-trick with a gift goal on 72 minutes.
The glare of the low sun contributed to Asa Sinclair losing the flight of Ross’s spiralling punt into the goalmouth with Nichol perfectly placed to punish the keeper’s fumble.
Two minutes later, the home side reduced the leeway when Jamie MacKenzie got on the end of a sweeping move begun Cumming.
The home side came close again in the closing stages with sub Martin Bain’s snap-shot coming back off the junction of the bar and the right post and MacKenzie seeing a netbound effort deflected wide.
While the sending-off proved the main talking point after the match, the controversy did not detract from what was an assured league debut by ref Campbell.
Apart from the red card, he issued cautions to Ross, MacKenzie and Elder.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald agreed the dismissal was a big moment in the game. He said: “They took a wee while to regroup after Michael got sent off. “We took our chances and were well on top in the first half. “We missed a couple of decent opportunities soon after the interval but then we took our foot off the gas and our performance went downhill.
“To be fair to Thurso, they battled away in the second half.”
Thurso manager Stevie Reid contested the merit of the sending-off, which he said gave his side a mountain to climb.
He said prospects were bleak at the interval but he gave credit for the battling qualities of his side in a second half.
“To have your keeper sent off so early on is a massive blow.
“It was a shame as we had a strong squad and we could have run them close. “The second half was all about pride and credit to the guys for giving 100% and never letting their heads go down,”
Thurso – Gray, Cumming, Shearer, Steven, S. Sinclair, Inrig (M. Sinclair 64), Bremner, MacKenzie, Monkman, Petrie (A. Sinclair 6), MacDougall (Bain 78).
Halkirk – Mackay, Ross (C. Sinclair 75), Davidson, Farquhar, Miller, Henderson, MacDonald, C. Sutherland (Elder 50), S. Sutherland (Reid 75), Nichol, Florence.
Referee – Mr J. Campbell.
United’s four-pronged pursuit of more silverware remains firmly on track after they comfortably progressed in the Football Times Cup at the expense of their county rivals.
Having already captured the Port Services Cup, they are brimful of confidence as they prepare to face Golspie Sutherland in tomorrow’s SWL Cup final.
Up until three seasons go, the Anglers could not buy a win over Thurso. But they have put that seven year barren run firmly behind them, with Saturday’s first round cup victory adding to their two league wins over the Vikings.
The writing was firmly on the wall for the home men when their keeper Michael Gray was dismissed with under six minutes played.
The keeper went to ground after Halkirk striker Mark Nichol stepped past Stuart Sinclair and powered in on goal.
Nichol toe-ended the ball past Gray fractionally before the striker tumbled over the keeper’s outstretched arm.
Had the ball gone into the net instead of rolling wide, James Campbell may have been content to caution Gray.
But the ref – making his North Caley debut – had no hesitation in reaching for his red card. That prompted an emergency reshuffle in the Vikings’ ranks with Asa Sinclair coming off the bench to deputise for Gray with young midfielder Michael Petrie sacrificed.
The keeper guessed correctly the direction of the spot-kick but he had no chance to stop Nichol’s low, angled delivery just inside the keeper’s right post.
Thurso had barely had a chance to recover from the double whammie when they found themselves two down on 11 minutes.
Asa Sinclair was stumped by Graham MacDonald’s 25 yard switcher.
While it came off the crossbar, the keeper was powerless to prevent Sandy Sutherland burying the rebound.
A free-kick from Lee MacDougall which veered comfortably wide was the sum total of the home side’s early goal threat.
Having scored his first goal against his former side, Nichol almost added another on 20 minutes with a crack from just outside the box which sailed just wide.
Thurso were very much up against it with Asa Sinclair to the fore with decent stops to thwart Alan Farquhar and Sandy Sutherland.
United went three up on 26 minutes when a Colin Davidson cross caused pandemonium in the home goalmouth.
After several botched clearance attempts, the ball fell into the path of Nichol who made no mistake.
Halkirk continued to dominate with Chris Sutherland going close after good work by Nichol.
Kyle Ross then sent in MacDonald whose effort was beaten out by Asa Sinclair to the industrious Stuart Florence who could not direct the rebound on target.
Andrew Cumming had Thurso’s best effort on 42 minutes with his raid up the right flank ending with a shot which flashed wide of the far post.
The contest was put beyond doubt three minutes later when Henderson’s stinging 25 yarder put his side four ahead at the break.
The Vikings were at this stage in danger of sinking with all hands.
But their 10 men dug in to stave off the very real prospect of a rout.
After absorbing early pressure, they enjoyed good spells of possession and cause a clutch of awkward moments for visiting keeper Jack Mackay, hitherto a virtual spectator.
Chris Sutherland and Lee Elder missed decent openings shortly before Asa Sinclair’s brave smother prevented Florence converting Nichol’s assist.
Thurso got a goal back on 62 minutes when Mackay’s poor clearance elicited a jaw-dropping first-time 30 yard riposte from Gavin Bremner.
Nichol watched a cracking shot-on-the turn inch past the left upright before he completed his hat-trick with a gift goal on 72 minutes.
The glare of the low sun contributed to Asa Sinclair losing the flight of Ross’s spiralling punt into the goalmouth with Nichol perfectly placed to punish the keeper’s fumble.
Two minutes later, the home side reduced the leeway when Jamie MacKenzie got on the end of a sweeping move begun Cumming.
The home side came close again in the closing stages with sub Martin Bain’s snap-shot coming back off the junction of the bar and the right post and MacKenzie seeing a netbound effort deflected wide.
While the sending-off proved the main talking point after the match, the controversy did not detract from what was an assured league debut by ref Campbell.
Apart from the red card, he issued cautions to Ross, MacKenzie and Elder.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald agreed the dismissal was a big moment in the game. He said: “They took a wee while to regroup after Michael got sent off. “We took our chances and were well on top in the first half. “We missed a couple of decent opportunities soon after the interval but then we took our foot off the gas and our performance went downhill.
“To be fair to Thurso, they battled away in the second half.”
Thurso manager Stevie Reid contested the merit of the sending-off, which he said gave his side a mountain to climb.
He said prospects were bleak at the interval but he gave credit for the battling qualities of his side in a second half.
“To have your keeper sent off so early on is a massive blow.
“It was a shame as we had a strong squad and we could have run them close. “The second half was all about pride and credit to the guys for giving 100% and never letting their heads go down,”
Thurso – Gray, Cumming, Shearer, Steven, S. Sinclair, Inrig (M. Sinclair 64), Bremner, MacKenzie, Monkman, Petrie (A. Sinclair 6), MacDougall (Bain 78).
Halkirk – Mackay, Ross (C. Sinclair 75), Davidson, Farquhar, Miller, Henderson, MacDonald, C. Sutherland (Elder 50), S. Sutherland (Reid 75), Nichol, Florence.
Referee – Mr J. Campbell.