Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 10, 2010 15:55:31 GMT -5
Thurso 0 V Muir of Ord Rovers 1 - report by Iain Grant
Rovers sustained their invincible North Caley cup record on Saturday as they became the first visiting side this season to taste victory at Sir Georges Park.
An appetising game peppered with near things at both ends was settled by right-sided midfielder Scott Morrison’s impressive strike two minutes from half-time.
Neither Thurso’s Michael Gray nor Rovers’ Robert Rose were over-stretched in terms of having to pull off do-or-die saves.
Equally, neither of the keepers had a comfortable day as two attack-minded sides created a glut of meaningful action in the respective final thirds.
Muir claimed the majority of menacing strikes on goal though they had to survive a furious late rally when Vikings centre-back Grant Steven came desperately close to taking the tie into extra-time.
Both teams were close to full strength for the Football Times Cup quarter-final played on a sticky surface.
Gray’s first scare came on four minutes when Ewan Dance ghosted past Steven before rifling a shot which eluded the keeper’s outstretched grasp before veering inches wide of his right post.
James Skinner’s subsequent overhead attempt from a corner was spectacular but lacked direction.
On seven minutes, Thurso went close when Nigel Mackenzie scampered down the left before finding his brother Jamie near the penalty spot.
The latter opted against a first-time shot and while his step past a defender was nicely executed, it gave John Skinner time to smother the eventual effort on goal.
Morrison is proving a useful acquisition for Rovers and on 11 minutes he picked out Tony Farquhar who dragged his shot wide of the target.
The unrelenting pace of the game was sustained with Thurso’s Wayne Monkman rifling a shot just over and Rovers’ Martin Callum having a 20 yarder turned behind by Gray.
Orkney-based Monkman then won the aerial battle to reach Lee MacDonald’s free-kick though his head flick was not strong enough to trouble Rose.
Muir’s Gary Calvert looked the most threatening of the wide men.
On 24 minutes, one of his forays down the left ended with his pull-back giving Farquhar another clear glimpse of goal from eight yards. The striker’s attempt beat Gray but slipped inches past the far post.
A hanging cross from MacDougall almost caught out Rose before the keeper rose to clutch a flashing header from Monkman.
Nigel MacKenzie on 32 minutes almost paid a heavy price for the cardinal sin of being caught in possession deep in his own half.
Callum fed the unmarked Paul Gair who appeared to take stage fright with his weak effort being gratefully scooped up by Gray.
A minute later, Thurso had their best chance of the half when Nigel MacKenzie’s free kick was headed on by Jamie MacKenzie.
The ball fell to Shaun Forbes whose close-in effort was bravely blocked by Rose, who needed treatment after the head-on collision.
Muir took the lead after a lull in proceedings when neither side looked likely to make the breakthrough.
Morrison won a scrap for possession with MacDougall near the right corner-flag before drifting infield and clipping a shot which flashed between Gray and his left post.
Jamie MacKenzie had a great chance to level soon after the restart but he was unable to react quickly enough to a deflection from a corner and volleyed wide of the inviting net from six yards.
Mark Nichol then headed narrowly past and Muir’s George Stewart almost bagged an own goal in the dying minutes of the half.
Thurso were frustrated in the third quarter with the Easter Ross men confining them to the occasional half-chance.
Muir, on the other hand, several times came close to doubling their advantage.
After 58 minutes, a sharp counter created space near the edge of the box for Gair whose lusty drive flew a foot wide, with Gray out of the equation.
Ten minutes later, their failure to add to their lead was down to a lack of composure on the part of Callum.
Sent free by James Skinner’s insightful diagonal, he skipped past the outrushing Gray only to send a wild shot over the unguarded goal.
The Vikings’ energy levels were not matched by openings in front of goal until their late onslaught.
In an action replay to an earlier free-kick, Jamie Mackenzie’s knock-on from MacDougall’s delivery fell to Forbes at the far post.
The centre-back was unable to dink the ball over Rose who again was able to make a vital block.
On 79 minutes, one in a series of Thurso corners came agonisingly
close to the equaliser.
Steven’s power header looked a winner all the way as it blurred past Rose only for it to cannon back of Dave Brennan who was stationed on the goal-line.
In a game largely devoid of the game’s darker arts, bookings were handed out to Brennan and Callum (both dissent); Morrison (deliberate hand-ball) and Monkman, for a late tackle.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Petrie (Munro 84), Steven, Forbes, MacGregor (Sutherland 76), N. MacKenzie (Begg 89), Monkman, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall.
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Stewart, Morrison, John Skinner, Brennan, James Skinner, Callum, Gair (MacMillan 75), Dance, Farquhar (Geegan 85), Calvert. Sub (unused) – Turner.
Ref – Mr B. Gunn.
Rovers sustained their invincible North Caley cup record on Saturday as they became the first visiting side this season to taste victory at Sir Georges Park.
An appetising game peppered with near things at both ends was settled by right-sided midfielder Scott Morrison’s impressive strike two minutes from half-time.
Neither Thurso’s Michael Gray nor Rovers’ Robert Rose were over-stretched in terms of having to pull off do-or-die saves.
Equally, neither of the keepers had a comfortable day as two attack-minded sides created a glut of meaningful action in the respective final thirds.
Muir claimed the majority of menacing strikes on goal though they had to survive a furious late rally when Vikings centre-back Grant Steven came desperately close to taking the tie into extra-time.
Both teams were close to full strength for the Football Times Cup quarter-final played on a sticky surface.
Gray’s first scare came on four minutes when Ewan Dance ghosted past Steven before rifling a shot which eluded the keeper’s outstretched grasp before veering inches wide of his right post.
James Skinner’s subsequent overhead attempt from a corner was spectacular but lacked direction.
On seven minutes, Thurso went close when Nigel Mackenzie scampered down the left before finding his brother Jamie near the penalty spot.
The latter opted against a first-time shot and while his step past a defender was nicely executed, it gave John Skinner time to smother the eventual effort on goal.
Morrison is proving a useful acquisition for Rovers and on 11 minutes he picked out Tony Farquhar who dragged his shot wide of the target.
The unrelenting pace of the game was sustained with Thurso’s Wayne Monkman rifling a shot just over and Rovers’ Martin Callum having a 20 yarder turned behind by Gray.
Orkney-based Monkman then won the aerial battle to reach Lee MacDonald’s free-kick though his head flick was not strong enough to trouble Rose.
Muir’s Gary Calvert looked the most threatening of the wide men.
On 24 minutes, one of his forays down the left ended with his pull-back giving Farquhar another clear glimpse of goal from eight yards. The striker’s attempt beat Gray but slipped inches past the far post.
A hanging cross from MacDougall almost caught out Rose before the keeper rose to clutch a flashing header from Monkman.
Nigel MacKenzie on 32 minutes almost paid a heavy price for the cardinal sin of being caught in possession deep in his own half.
Callum fed the unmarked Paul Gair who appeared to take stage fright with his weak effort being gratefully scooped up by Gray.
A minute later, Thurso had their best chance of the half when Nigel MacKenzie’s free kick was headed on by Jamie MacKenzie.
The ball fell to Shaun Forbes whose close-in effort was bravely blocked by Rose, who needed treatment after the head-on collision.
Muir took the lead after a lull in proceedings when neither side looked likely to make the breakthrough.
Morrison won a scrap for possession with MacDougall near the right corner-flag before drifting infield and clipping a shot which flashed between Gray and his left post.
Jamie MacKenzie had a great chance to level soon after the restart but he was unable to react quickly enough to a deflection from a corner and volleyed wide of the inviting net from six yards.
Mark Nichol then headed narrowly past and Muir’s George Stewart almost bagged an own goal in the dying minutes of the half.
Thurso were frustrated in the third quarter with the Easter Ross men confining them to the occasional half-chance.
Muir, on the other hand, several times came close to doubling their advantage.
After 58 minutes, a sharp counter created space near the edge of the box for Gair whose lusty drive flew a foot wide, with Gray out of the equation.
Ten minutes later, their failure to add to their lead was down to a lack of composure on the part of Callum.
Sent free by James Skinner’s insightful diagonal, he skipped past the outrushing Gray only to send a wild shot over the unguarded goal.
The Vikings’ energy levels were not matched by openings in front of goal until their late onslaught.
In an action replay to an earlier free-kick, Jamie Mackenzie’s knock-on from MacDougall’s delivery fell to Forbes at the far post.
The centre-back was unable to dink the ball over Rose who again was able to make a vital block.
On 79 minutes, one in a series of Thurso corners came agonisingly
close to the equaliser.
Steven’s power header looked a winner all the way as it blurred past Rose only for it to cannon back of Dave Brennan who was stationed on the goal-line.
In a game largely devoid of the game’s darker arts, bookings were handed out to Brennan and Callum (both dissent); Morrison (deliberate hand-ball) and Monkman, for a late tackle.
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Petrie (Munro 84), Steven, Forbes, MacGregor (Sutherland 76), N. MacKenzie (Begg 89), Monkman, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall.
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Stewart, Morrison, John Skinner, Brennan, James Skinner, Callum, Gair (MacMillan 75), Dance, Farquhar (Geegan 85), Calvert. Sub (unused) – Turner.
Ref – Mr B. Gunn.