Post by Brian Mackay on Feb 16, 2009 17:57:16 GMT -5
MSIS North Caledonian League
#####################
Alness United 1 V Thurso 0 - report from Iain Grant
Thurso on Saturday continued their expensive habit of dropping points to sides in the bottom half of the MSIS North Caley League.
Their failure to convert incessant pressure in the second half condemned them to a defeat which effectively snuffs out their chance of a top four finish.
A well-taken strike by the experienced Gary Reid shortly before half-time proved decisive in earning Tommy Regan’s troops their fourth win of the campaign.
The Vikings again missed the guile of Jamie MacKenzie in midfield while Blair McIntosh’s day-off from rugby enabled him to replace the unavailable Stuart Sinclair at the heart of defence.
There was a scare within the opening minute for the visitors when a slip let in teenager James Cochrane whose first-time effort produced a smart save from Asa Sinclair.
In a competitive first half, the industrious Martin Bain carved out Thurso’s two best chances.
His prompt set Martin Sinclair racing in on goal on 15 minutes with the striker’s heavy first touch giving home keeper Grant Robertson the chance to snaffle the ball.
Bain then teed up Andrew Cumming whose half-volley from outside the box looked a winner all the way until Robertson diverted it past a post.
The home side worked a clear opening for striker Stuart Murray but the ball came at an awkward height and his hurried shot ran harmlessly past.
Alness also had several half-chances before Reid’s crucial intervention.
The ex-Clach and Golspie man breezed down the right and rode a desperate lunge from Willie Inrig before drifting inside and steering a precise shot wide of Asa Sinclair.
Thurso may have gone on to dominate the second half but the pressure did not translate into over-work for Robertson.
Too often, the keeper was not tested as the wave of attacks directed towards him fizzled out through over-hit crosses or botched attempts at goal.
On the hour-mark, another defence-splitting pass from Bain opened the way up for Sean Stewart but he was unable to find a way past Robertson.
With Thurso increasingly committing resources forward, they were inevitably vulnerable to counter-attack.
The most dangerous of several rapier-like attacks was foiled by Asa Sinclair after he spread himself to make a reaction stop from David Murray after the latter had run through unopposed.
A frantic last push saw Thurso sub Andrew Bremner unable to convert two uncontested headers from corners.
Home boss Regan said: “I thought we edged it in the first half and if we were a bit sharper could have been a couple ahead.
“To be fair, Thurso put us through the mill after the break but they
lacked a cutting edge.
“I honestly didn’t think that one goal would be enough for us.”
The defeat left Vikings manager Stevie Reid desperately disappointed. He said: “I felt we allowed them too much space in the first half. “We were much better after the break when they were camped deep in their own half for just about the whole 45 minutes.
“I couldn’t fault anyone for effort after the break but again we suffered because we could not turn the pressure into goals.”
Thurso tomorrow could do neighbours Halkirk a favour if they were to take something from their trip to title-chasing Golspie.
Stuart Sinclair is again unavailable while MacKenzie looks unlikely to feature again this season.
Keeper Sinclair is struggling to shake off a knock with Michael Gray likely to appear between the sticks.
Thurso could also have a new signing in defender Michael Steven if his release from Brora Rangers comes through in time.
Alness – G. Robertson, Campbell, Manson, Stewart, Dingwall, Cochrane (Vass 70), Munro, Reid, S. Robertson, D. Murray, S. Murray (Bremner 75). Subs (unused) – Maitland, Miller and E. Murray.
Thurso – A. Sinclair, Cumming, Stewart, Steven, McIntosh, G.Bremner, Petrie (A. Bremner 76), Inrig, M. Sinclair, Bain, MacDougall. Subs (unused) – S. Sinclair and Shearer.
Ref – Mr J. Johnston.
Golspie maintained their two point advantage on Halkirk at the top of the league thanks to a late fightback against Bonar Bridge.
Ryan Maclean shot the visitors into a surprise lead on the hour-mark but Neil MacDonald levelled and veteran Robbie MacDougall popped up with the winner with just five minutes left.
It’s been good week for Muir of Ord Rovers whose back-to-back wins have propelled them into third place.
Muir claimed all three points after David Niven’s injury-time strike gave them a 3-2 victory over Alness United in a midweek floodlit game in Dingwall.
They also left it late on Saturday with Gary Calvert’s goal enough to earn them a 1-0 win at home to Invergordon.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
GOLSPIE 12 11 0 1 57 12 33
HALKIRK UNITED 13 10 1 2 53 17 31
MUIR OF ORD 16 9 1 6 34 33 28
BALINTORE 14 8 1 5 37 28 25
THURSO 16 6 4 6 30 25 22
BONAR BRIDGE 13 6 1 6 28 29 19
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 14 5 2 7 21 38 17
INVERGORDON 16 5 1 10 18 45 16
ALNESS UNITED 13 4 2 7 24 28 14
TAIN THISTLE 17 1 1 15 23 70 4
#####################
Alness United 1 V Thurso 0 - report from Iain Grant
Thurso on Saturday continued their expensive habit of dropping points to sides in the bottom half of the MSIS North Caley League.
Their failure to convert incessant pressure in the second half condemned them to a defeat which effectively snuffs out their chance of a top four finish.
A well-taken strike by the experienced Gary Reid shortly before half-time proved decisive in earning Tommy Regan’s troops their fourth win of the campaign.
The Vikings again missed the guile of Jamie MacKenzie in midfield while Blair McIntosh’s day-off from rugby enabled him to replace the unavailable Stuart Sinclair at the heart of defence.
There was a scare within the opening minute for the visitors when a slip let in teenager James Cochrane whose first-time effort produced a smart save from Asa Sinclair.
In a competitive first half, the industrious Martin Bain carved out Thurso’s two best chances.
His prompt set Martin Sinclair racing in on goal on 15 minutes with the striker’s heavy first touch giving home keeper Grant Robertson the chance to snaffle the ball.
Bain then teed up Andrew Cumming whose half-volley from outside the box looked a winner all the way until Robertson diverted it past a post.
The home side worked a clear opening for striker Stuart Murray but the ball came at an awkward height and his hurried shot ran harmlessly past.
Alness also had several half-chances before Reid’s crucial intervention.
The ex-Clach and Golspie man breezed down the right and rode a desperate lunge from Willie Inrig before drifting inside and steering a precise shot wide of Asa Sinclair.
Thurso may have gone on to dominate the second half but the pressure did not translate into over-work for Robertson.
Too often, the keeper was not tested as the wave of attacks directed towards him fizzled out through over-hit crosses or botched attempts at goal.
On the hour-mark, another defence-splitting pass from Bain opened the way up for Sean Stewart but he was unable to find a way past Robertson.
With Thurso increasingly committing resources forward, they were inevitably vulnerable to counter-attack.
The most dangerous of several rapier-like attacks was foiled by Asa Sinclair after he spread himself to make a reaction stop from David Murray after the latter had run through unopposed.
A frantic last push saw Thurso sub Andrew Bremner unable to convert two uncontested headers from corners.
Home boss Regan said: “I thought we edged it in the first half and if we were a bit sharper could have been a couple ahead.
“To be fair, Thurso put us through the mill after the break but they
lacked a cutting edge.
“I honestly didn’t think that one goal would be enough for us.”
The defeat left Vikings manager Stevie Reid desperately disappointed. He said: “I felt we allowed them too much space in the first half. “We were much better after the break when they were camped deep in their own half for just about the whole 45 minutes.
“I couldn’t fault anyone for effort after the break but again we suffered because we could not turn the pressure into goals.”
Thurso tomorrow could do neighbours Halkirk a favour if they were to take something from their trip to title-chasing Golspie.
Stuart Sinclair is again unavailable while MacKenzie looks unlikely to feature again this season.
Keeper Sinclair is struggling to shake off a knock with Michael Gray likely to appear between the sticks.
Thurso could also have a new signing in defender Michael Steven if his release from Brora Rangers comes through in time.
Alness – G. Robertson, Campbell, Manson, Stewart, Dingwall, Cochrane (Vass 70), Munro, Reid, S. Robertson, D. Murray, S. Murray (Bremner 75). Subs (unused) – Maitland, Miller and E. Murray.
Thurso – A. Sinclair, Cumming, Stewart, Steven, McIntosh, G.Bremner, Petrie (A. Bremner 76), Inrig, M. Sinclair, Bain, MacDougall. Subs (unused) – S. Sinclair and Shearer.
Ref – Mr J. Johnston.
Golspie maintained their two point advantage on Halkirk at the top of the league thanks to a late fightback against Bonar Bridge.
Ryan Maclean shot the visitors into a surprise lead on the hour-mark but Neil MacDonald levelled and veteran Robbie MacDougall popped up with the winner with just five minutes left.
It’s been good week for Muir of Ord Rovers whose back-to-back wins have propelled them into third place.
Muir claimed all three points after David Niven’s injury-time strike gave them a 3-2 victory over Alness United in a midweek floodlit game in Dingwall.
They also left it late on Saturday with Gary Calvert’s goal enough to earn them a 1-0 win at home to Invergordon.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
GOLSPIE 12 11 0 1 57 12 33
HALKIRK UNITED 13 10 1 2 53 17 31
MUIR OF ORD 16 9 1 6 34 33 28
BALINTORE 14 8 1 5 37 28 25
THURSO 16 6 4 6 30 25 22
BONAR BRIDGE 13 6 1 6 28 29 19
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 14 5 2 7 21 38 17
INVERGORDON 16 5 1 10 18 45 16
ALNESS UNITED 13 4 2 7 24 28 14
TAIN THISTLE 17 1 1 15 23 70 4