Post by Brian Mackay on Feb 11, 2009 5:31:41 GMT -5
Thurso 3 Bunillidh Thistle 1 - report by Iain Grant
The Vikings braved a numbingly cold afternoon on Saturday to progress to the last four of the Jock Mackay Memorial Cup.
They used the advantage of the stiff wind at their backs to score three goals without reply by the interval through Martin Sinclair, Martin Bain and Gavin Bremner.
The deficit proved too much to overcome for Bunillidh though they did threaten to mount a comeback after scoring soon after the interval.
Had the visitors managed to convert a snip minutes after Ian Innes’s wind-assisted free-kick, the game would have taken on a whole new feel.
But there were precious few chances thereafter in what was the only North Caley game to survive the freeze-up.
Both teams featured debutants with former Bunillidh keeper Graeme Williamson answering an emergency call-up in the absence of the suspended Michael Gray and unavailable Asa Sinclair.
Thistle meanwhile welcomed back Greg Shearer following his recent brief stint with Thurso during which he played in their 4-2 league win over his new club.
After a cagey opening, Jamie MacKenzie carved out the first clearcut opening with a sparky pass after 16 minutes which pierced the visiting rearguard.
Lee MacDougall’s first touch was sure and his second sent the ball beyond the reach of oncoming keeper Alan Bokas but also fractionally wide of the left post.
Williamson, only just recovered from a prolonged injury break, had a couple of awkward moments early on.
He needed two stabs at gathering a less-than menacing strike from Shearer before making a hash of a clearance.
A clever switch from MacDougall on 19 minutes found Bremner in space and he quickly dispatched a ferocious 25 yarder which Bokas could only watch thudding against the top of his bar before going behind.
Williamson made a decent block to deny veteran Waller Mackay before the Vikings took the lead on 22 minutes.
Michael Petrie was the key link in a multi-pass move to send in Martin Sinclair who stepped past Bokas before converting his 11th goal of the season.
The lead was doubled eight minutes later following a clever free-kick routine.
MacDougall fed to MacKenzie whose centre was headed powerfully towards goal by Andy Cumming.
Bokas rose to palm the ball out but Bain was on the spot to lash the rebound into the net.
On 37 minutes, Thurso again capitalised on their extended periods in the final third of the pitch.
This time, Bain was released behind the last outfielder defender.
As he dribbled into the box and played the ball wide of Bokas, he was taken down by the keeper.
Ref Graham John was content to book Bokas after awarding the spot-kick, which was comfortably converted by Bremner.
Bunillidh’s attacks were rare but invariably carried menace and the home side were fortunate not to conceded two minutes from the break.
Good work by Robert MacDonald ended with his lay-off being struck inches wide by Liam Sutherland.
Thurso missed two gilt-edged chances in the opening exchanges of the second half to kill off the contest.
Bain’s incisive delivery ended with a weak chip by MacDougall into the hands of the outrushing Bokas.
Martin Sinclair then sprinted clear before rounding Bokas, only to inadvisedly strike at goal from 25 yards out on the angle against the wind.
The misses were magnified following Innes’s lusty 53rd minute 35 yard free-kick which foxed Williamson as it changed tack in the air.
Within two minutes, another Innes free-kick from the same area hung up at the far post and should have been converted by the inrushing Shearer.
The game degenerated after this with MacDougall, Bain and MacKenzie all yellow-carded and Bunillidh defender Martin Sutherland somehow escaping punishment for a trip on Bain, having already been yellow-carded.
Innes was denied a second by a good block by Williamson while Grant Steven twice robbed MacDonald in the closing stages when the striker was poised to score.
MacDougall went close with a stinging effort while Cumming miscued from close-in after a lung-bursting run to get on the end of Bain’s assist.
Thurso are at home in their semi to the winner of tomorrow’s tussle between Muir of Ord and Invergordon.
Vikings manager Stevie Reid was happy with the victory which keeps alive the club’s hopes of landing some silverware this season.
“Despite the heavy conditions, I thought we played some really good stuff, especially in the first half.
“There were some excellent 1-2s in the build-up to all three goals and our movement was good.
“We fell out of it a bit in the second half but you have to give credit to Bulillidh for never giving up.”
Thurso – Williamson, Cumming (Steven Sinclair 87), Shearer, Steven, Stuart Sinclair, Bremner, Petrie (Stewart 76), MacKenzie, M. Sinclair, Bain (Inrig 85), MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Forbes.
Bunillidh – Bokas, M. Sutherland, Duncan, Innes, Smith, MacGregor, Shearer, Urquhart, MacDonald, L. Sutherland (Kelly 67), W. Mackay (C. Mackay h/t).
Ref – Mr G. John.
The Vikings braved a numbingly cold afternoon on Saturday to progress to the last four of the Jock Mackay Memorial Cup.
They used the advantage of the stiff wind at their backs to score three goals without reply by the interval through Martin Sinclair, Martin Bain and Gavin Bremner.
The deficit proved too much to overcome for Bunillidh though they did threaten to mount a comeback after scoring soon after the interval.
Had the visitors managed to convert a snip minutes after Ian Innes’s wind-assisted free-kick, the game would have taken on a whole new feel.
But there were precious few chances thereafter in what was the only North Caley game to survive the freeze-up.
Both teams featured debutants with former Bunillidh keeper Graeme Williamson answering an emergency call-up in the absence of the suspended Michael Gray and unavailable Asa Sinclair.
Thistle meanwhile welcomed back Greg Shearer following his recent brief stint with Thurso during which he played in their 4-2 league win over his new club.
After a cagey opening, Jamie MacKenzie carved out the first clearcut opening with a sparky pass after 16 minutes which pierced the visiting rearguard.
Lee MacDougall’s first touch was sure and his second sent the ball beyond the reach of oncoming keeper Alan Bokas but also fractionally wide of the left post.
Williamson, only just recovered from a prolonged injury break, had a couple of awkward moments early on.
He needed two stabs at gathering a less-than menacing strike from Shearer before making a hash of a clearance.
A clever switch from MacDougall on 19 minutes found Bremner in space and he quickly dispatched a ferocious 25 yarder which Bokas could only watch thudding against the top of his bar before going behind.
Williamson made a decent block to deny veteran Waller Mackay before the Vikings took the lead on 22 minutes.
Michael Petrie was the key link in a multi-pass move to send in Martin Sinclair who stepped past Bokas before converting his 11th goal of the season.
The lead was doubled eight minutes later following a clever free-kick routine.
MacDougall fed to MacKenzie whose centre was headed powerfully towards goal by Andy Cumming.
Bokas rose to palm the ball out but Bain was on the spot to lash the rebound into the net.
On 37 minutes, Thurso again capitalised on their extended periods in the final third of the pitch.
This time, Bain was released behind the last outfielder defender.
As he dribbled into the box and played the ball wide of Bokas, he was taken down by the keeper.
Ref Graham John was content to book Bokas after awarding the spot-kick, which was comfortably converted by Bremner.
Bunillidh’s attacks were rare but invariably carried menace and the home side were fortunate not to conceded two minutes from the break.
Good work by Robert MacDonald ended with his lay-off being struck inches wide by Liam Sutherland.
Thurso missed two gilt-edged chances in the opening exchanges of the second half to kill off the contest.
Bain’s incisive delivery ended with a weak chip by MacDougall into the hands of the outrushing Bokas.
Martin Sinclair then sprinted clear before rounding Bokas, only to inadvisedly strike at goal from 25 yards out on the angle against the wind.
The misses were magnified following Innes’s lusty 53rd minute 35 yard free-kick which foxed Williamson as it changed tack in the air.
Within two minutes, another Innes free-kick from the same area hung up at the far post and should have been converted by the inrushing Shearer.
The game degenerated after this with MacDougall, Bain and MacKenzie all yellow-carded and Bunillidh defender Martin Sutherland somehow escaping punishment for a trip on Bain, having already been yellow-carded.
Innes was denied a second by a good block by Williamson while Grant Steven twice robbed MacDonald in the closing stages when the striker was poised to score.
MacDougall went close with a stinging effort while Cumming miscued from close-in after a lung-bursting run to get on the end of Bain’s assist.
Thurso are at home in their semi to the winner of tomorrow’s tussle between Muir of Ord and Invergordon.
Vikings manager Stevie Reid was happy with the victory which keeps alive the club’s hopes of landing some silverware this season.
“Despite the heavy conditions, I thought we played some really good stuff, especially in the first half.
“There were some excellent 1-2s in the build-up to all three goals and our movement was good.
“We fell out of it a bit in the second half but you have to give credit to Bulillidh for never giving up.”
Thurso – Williamson, Cumming (Steven Sinclair 87), Shearer, Steven, Stuart Sinclair, Bremner, Petrie (Stewart 76), MacKenzie, M. Sinclair, Bain (Inrig 85), MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Forbes.
Bunillidh – Bokas, M. Sutherland, Duncan, Innes, Smith, MacGregor, Shearer, Urquhart, MacDonald, L. Sutherland (Kelly 67), W. Mackay (C. Mackay h/t).
Ref – Mr G. John.