Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 30, 2009 16:42:57 GMT -5
Dingwall Thistle 2 V Thurso 2 - report by Iain Grant
The Vikings preserved their unbeaten North Caley record on Saturday after playing a full part in an entertaining contest at Jubillee Park .
For the second successive week, they had to battle back from a 2-0 deficit against fired-up opponents.
Strikes from Nigel MacKenzie and Mark Nichol soon after the restart had them level and both sides thereafter had chances to claim all three points.
The battling display pleased manager Stevie Reid who is now looking forward to tomorrow’s cup semi-final in Halkirk.
Reid said: “A draw on Saturday was probably just about the right result. “We need to stop giving our opponents two goal starts but I thought we showed real character in the way we came back.”
Dingwall Thistle have already justified the pre-season belief that they would be in the hunt to win silverware in their first season back in the PSG North Caley League after a 22 year absence.
The hosts failed to sustain an enterprising start and were soon regularly on the back foot as Thurso’s hard-working midfield took control.
The visitors’ threat was confined to strikes from distance but they had gone close a couple of times through Nigel MacKenzie and Nichol.
It was very much against the grain when the far north outfit found themselves behind on 24 minutes.
The goal was a comedy of errors as Lee MacDougall intercepted a cross only to watch in horror as his attempted headed back-pass bypassed keeper Michael Gray before lodging in the back of the net.
The Vikings were caught out again 13 minutes later when defender David MacKay’s cross found the unmarked Gary Urquhart to power a header past Gray.
The Jags had their tails up but were stunned when they conceded two goals in three minutes soon after the turnaround.
The first on 50 minutes stemmed from a home attack which was nipped in the bud by a well-timed tackle from Michael Petrie.
Petrie fed Jamie MacKenzie who was put clear on keeper Neil Mackay. As the keeper closed in, Nigel MacKenzie appeared on the scene to take responsibility and bury a firm shot past the keeper.
Thurso’s next attack paid further dividends when Nichol gathered on the edge of the area before spinning round and steering an unstoppable shot just inside the keeper’s left-hand post.
Both sides had a couple of half-chances to win the match but it finished all-square.
There was a major flashpoint 10 minutes from time when Urquhart was put in the clear and was sent crashing to the ground by the retreating MacDougall.
The free-kick was awarded but the officials appeared not to be able to identify the guilty man, thus sparing the Thurso man from what
undoubtedly would have been a red card for preventing a scoring opportunity.
Manager Reid was unhappy at the manner his side conceded the goals. But he was full of praise for the way they reacted after going two down. “I thought the overall performance was excellent,” he said. "At half-time, we did not deserve to be two behind and kicked on after the goals got us back into the game.”
Dingwall Thistle – N. Mackay, Reid, MacBean, d. Mackay, Pirie, Munro, Stuart, Murray, Urquhart, Macleod, MacCallum. Subs (all used) – Dorrian, MacCallum and MacAllister.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Steven, Bremner (Sinclair 77), Sutherland (Begg 75), MacGregor, Petrie, N. Mackenzie, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Munro.
Ref – Mr B. Gunn.
The Vikings preserved their unbeaten North Caley record on Saturday after playing a full part in an entertaining contest at Jubillee Park .
For the second successive week, they had to battle back from a 2-0 deficit against fired-up opponents.
Strikes from Nigel MacKenzie and Mark Nichol soon after the restart had them level and both sides thereafter had chances to claim all three points.
The battling display pleased manager Stevie Reid who is now looking forward to tomorrow’s cup semi-final in Halkirk.
Reid said: “A draw on Saturday was probably just about the right result. “We need to stop giving our opponents two goal starts but I thought we showed real character in the way we came back.”
Dingwall Thistle have already justified the pre-season belief that they would be in the hunt to win silverware in their first season back in the PSG North Caley League after a 22 year absence.
The hosts failed to sustain an enterprising start and were soon regularly on the back foot as Thurso’s hard-working midfield took control.
The visitors’ threat was confined to strikes from distance but they had gone close a couple of times through Nigel MacKenzie and Nichol.
It was very much against the grain when the far north outfit found themselves behind on 24 minutes.
The goal was a comedy of errors as Lee MacDougall intercepted a cross only to watch in horror as his attempted headed back-pass bypassed keeper Michael Gray before lodging in the back of the net.
The Vikings were caught out again 13 minutes later when defender David MacKay’s cross found the unmarked Gary Urquhart to power a header past Gray.
The Jags had their tails up but were stunned when they conceded two goals in three minutes soon after the turnaround.
The first on 50 minutes stemmed from a home attack which was nipped in the bud by a well-timed tackle from Michael Petrie.
Petrie fed Jamie MacKenzie who was put clear on keeper Neil Mackay. As the keeper closed in, Nigel MacKenzie appeared on the scene to take responsibility and bury a firm shot past the keeper.
Thurso’s next attack paid further dividends when Nichol gathered on the edge of the area before spinning round and steering an unstoppable shot just inside the keeper’s left-hand post.
Both sides had a couple of half-chances to win the match but it finished all-square.
There was a major flashpoint 10 minutes from time when Urquhart was put in the clear and was sent crashing to the ground by the retreating MacDougall.
The free-kick was awarded but the officials appeared not to be able to identify the guilty man, thus sparing the Thurso man from what
undoubtedly would have been a red card for preventing a scoring opportunity.
Manager Reid was unhappy at the manner his side conceded the goals. But he was full of praise for the way they reacted after going two down. “I thought the overall performance was excellent,” he said. "At half-time, we did not deserve to be two behind and kicked on after the goals got us back into the game.”
Dingwall Thistle – N. Mackay, Reid, MacBean, d. Mackay, Pirie, Munro, Stuart, Murray, Urquhart, Macleod, MacCallum. Subs (all used) – Dorrian, MacCallum and MacAllister.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Steven, Bremner (Sinclair 77), Sutherland (Begg 75), MacGregor, Petrie, N. Mackenzie, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Munro.
Ref – Mr B. Gunn.