Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 26, 2009 14:41:07 GMT -5
Muir of Ord Rovers 1 V Thurso 3 - report by Iain Grant
A particularly busy off-season for North Caledonian League teams in Easter Ross has left opponents facing a number of unknown quantities. With Alness United withdrawing, Dingwall Thistle restarting after a 20-plus year absence and Balintore keeping their place after an eleventh-hour rethink, the transfer market has been red-hot.
Among those to benefit have been Muir who welcome a handful of experienced recruits, including Balintore trio Tony Farquhar and brothers John and James Skinner.
Injuries meant only the latter was able to make his debut in Saturday’s PSG League opener.
The Vikings’ blend of youngsters and old hands were quick to settle and Martin Sinclair passed up several clear openings to add to his early breakthrough.
Mark Nichol’s well-taken second soon after the interval provided a more realistic score-line.
But Martin Callum’s quick riposte spooked the visitors and for a 10 minute spell, they were in serious danger of undoing their earlier good work.
After regaining their collective composure, they made sure of victory with Nichol’s precision free-kick 10 minutes from time.
Muir’s rearguard was shaken in the opening minutes by long-range feeds which twice had Nichol bearing in on goal.
He was thwarted the first time after being adjudged to have balked last outfield defender Dave Brennan and then by a saving tackle.
Thurso’s bright opening was capped on six minutes when Nigel MacKenzie’s inspired diagonal switch-pass to Lee MacDougall was matched by the wide man’s delivery from wide out on the left.
Nichol was unable to connect but Sinclair arrived behind him to thump the ball high past keeper David Aitchison.
Ewan Dance was first to threaten for the hosts when he was unable to direct a header from Skinner’s cross on target.
Dance also went close with a speculative long-ranger but it was Thurso who looked the better bet to score next.
Sinclair passed up two excellent chances in the space of four minutes.
On 24 minutes, Nigel Mackenzie’s driven cross found him in prime position but it seemed to catch him unawares and he snatched a shot wide.
He then should have capitalised on an opportunist piece of play by Michael Petrie after he robbed an opponent on the right bye-line. He rolled the ball towards Sinclair who blasted a shot against Aitchison’s body before firing the rebound high and wide.
MacDougall kept his side’s noses in front when he stood his ground in guarding a near-post corner to turn away a netbound shot from ex-Alness striker Jamie MacDonald.
Dance wasted another decent headed opportunity before a heavy first touch from Sinclair at the other end allowed Aitchison to prevent the striker providing the finish which Nichol’s assist deserved.
Nichol then almost put MacDougall in the clear before he bagged his first on his return to Thurso.
Nigel and Jamie MacKenzie created the space for Nichol to home in from the right and power a low shot from outside the box between Aitchison and the keeper’s right-hand post.
Four minutes later, Sean Munro was dispossessed in his own box and Callum wasted no time before slotting the ball past Michael Gray.
The reverse signalled panic stations for the Vikings and they could very easily have conceded again in the ensuing 10 minutes.
Rovers thought they had equalised but Dance was clearly offside as he netted Scott Morrison’s centre.
The home revival however fizzled out with bookings for Callum and Morris MacCallum – adding to Skinner’s earlier caution – mirroring their growing frustration. Their effort was killed off when Nichol targeted an inviting gap between the wall and the near-post at a free-kick just outside the box. His execution had Aitchison clawing thin air.
Thurso would have added to their lead had the home keeper not made a fearless block to deny Nigel MacKenzie who had raced on to Andrew Bremner’s through-ball.
The final opporunities fell to Rovers’ Gary Calvert who was just off-target with a stinging volley and a wide-out chip-shot.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid had no complaints about the opening win. “I couldn’t really have asked for a better start,” he said.
“With the chances we had, we could have been three up at half-time. “Muir have strengthened from last season and it was good to get the better of them.”
Reid added: “There’s no doubt Mark’s finishing makes a difference and all three subs all made a valuable contribution after they came on.”
Tomorrow, Thurso are at home to Fort William .
The only absentee from Saturday’s squad is Jamie MacKenzie, who is on holiday. The match kicks off at 3 p.m.
Muir of Ord – Aitchison, J. Calvert, Callum, Brennan, MacMillan, Gair (Tulloch 41), MacDonald (Brindle 87), Skinner, Dance, Morrison, G. Calvert. Subs (unused) – Geegan, Gow and Cadden.
Thurso – Gray, Munro (Sutherland 68), Stewart, Steven, Bremner, Petrie, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Nichol, Sinclair (MacGregor 65), MacDougall (Begg 85).
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell.
Referee John Bicknell was last year a top grade assistant ref, officiating at Scottish Premier League matches and running the line at the Old Firm Co-op Insurance Cup Final in March.
Having reached 45, the Muir of Ord-based official has had to take a couple of steps down the ladder and will be regularly seen on NCL duty this season.
A particularly busy off-season for North Caledonian League teams in Easter Ross has left opponents facing a number of unknown quantities. With Alness United withdrawing, Dingwall Thistle restarting after a 20-plus year absence and Balintore keeping their place after an eleventh-hour rethink, the transfer market has been red-hot.
Among those to benefit have been Muir who welcome a handful of experienced recruits, including Balintore trio Tony Farquhar and brothers John and James Skinner.
Injuries meant only the latter was able to make his debut in Saturday’s PSG League opener.
The Vikings’ blend of youngsters and old hands were quick to settle and Martin Sinclair passed up several clear openings to add to his early breakthrough.
Mark Nichol’s well-taken second soon after the interval provided a more realistic score-line.
But Martin Callum’s quick riposte spooked the visitors and for a 10 minute spell, they were in serious danger of undoing their earlier good work.
After regaining their collective composure, they made sure of victory with Nichol’s precision free-kick 10 minutes from time.
Muir’s rearguard was shaken in the opening minutes by long-range feeds which twice had Nichol bearing in on goal.
He was thwarted the first time after being adjudged to have balked last outfield defender Dave Brennan and then by a saving tackle.
Thurso’s bright opening was capped on six minutes when Nigel MacKenzie’s inspired diagonal switch-pass to Lee MacDougall was matched by the wide man’s delivery from wide out on the left.
Nichol was unable to connect but Sinclair arrived behind him to thump the ball high past keeper David Aitchison.
Ewan Dance was first to threaten for the hosts when he was unable to direct a header from Skinner’s cross on target.
Dance also went close with a speculative long-ranger but it was Thurso who looked the better bet to score next.
Sinclair passed up two excellent chances in the space of four minutes.
On 24 minutes, Nigel Mackenzie’s driven cross found him in prime position but it seemed to catch him unawares and he snatched a shot wide.
He then should have capitalised on an opportunist piece of play by Michael Petrie after he robbed an opponent on the right bye-line. He rolled the ball towards Sinclair who blasted a shot against Aitchison’s body before firing the rebound high and wide.
MacDougall kept his side’s noses in front when he stood his ground in guarding a near-post corner to turn away a netbound shot from ex-Alness striker Jamie MacDonald.
Dance wasted another decent headed opportunity before a heavy first touch from Sinclair at the other end allowed Aitchison to prevent the striker providing the finish which Nichol’s assist deserved.
Nichol then almost put MacDougall in the clear before he bagged his first on his return to Thurso.
Nigel and Jamie MacKenzie created the space for Nichol to home in from the right and power a low shot from outside the box between Aitchison and the keeper’s right-hand post.
Four minutes later, Sean Munro was dispossessed in his own box and Callum wasted no time before slotting the ball past Michael Gray.
The reverse signalled panic stations for the Vikings and they could very easily have conceded again in the ensuing 10 minutes.
Rovers thought they had equalised but Dance was clearly offside as he netted Scott Morrison’s centre.
The home revival however fizzled out with bookings for Callum and Morris MacCallum – adding to Skinner’s earlier caution – mirroring their growing frustration. Their effort was killed off when Nichol targeted an inviting gap between the wall and the near-post at a free-kick just outside the box. His execution had Aitchison clawing thin air.
Thurso would have added to their lead had the home keeper not made a fearless block to deny Nigel MacKenzie who had raced on to Andrew Bremner’s through-ball.
The final opporunities fell to Rovers’ Gary Calvert who was just off-target with a stinging volley and a wide-out chip-shot.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid had no complaints about the opening win. “I couldn’t really have asked for a better start,” he said.
“With the chances we had, we could have been three up at half-time. “Muir have strengthened from last season and it was good to get the better of them.”
Reid added: “There’s no doubt Mark’s finishing makes a difference and all three subs all made a valuable contribution after they came on.”
Tomorrow, Thurso are at home to Fort William .
The only absentee from Saturday’s squad is Jamie MacKenzie, who is on holiday. The match kicks off at 3 p.m.
Muir of Ord – Aitchison, J. Calvert, Callum, Brennan, MacMillan, Gair (Tulloch 41), MacDonald (Brindle 87), Skinner, Dance, Morrison, G. Calvert. Subs (unused) – Geegan, Gow and Cadden.
Thurso – Gray, Munro (Sutherland 68), Stewart, Steven, Bremner, Petrie, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Nichol, Sinclair (MacGregor 65), MacDougall (Begg 85).
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell.
Referee John Bicknell was last year a top grade assistant ref, officiating at Scottish Premier League matches and running the line at the Old Firm Co-op Insurance Cup Final in March.
Having reached 45, the Muir of Ord-based official has had to take a couple of steps down the ladder and will be regularly seen on NCL duty this season.