Post by Brian Mackay on Apr 20, 2010 14:18:41 GMT -5
Thurso 1 V Dingwall Thistle 0 - report from Iain Grant
Mark Nichol’s 32nd strike of the PSG North Caley season could prove his most vital in his side’s quest to secure the title.
The 63rd minute goal snuffed out Thistle’s hopes of landing the championship in their debut campaign.
That it separated the sides at the end fuelled the visitors’ grievance that Nichol was a couple of yards offside when he capitalised on Nigel MacKenzie’s assist.
Thistle made their first foray to Thurso seeking a victory which would put their destiny in their own hands.
From the outset, there was little to choose between the sides with the visitors enjoying a marginal first half advantage but finding themselves under the cosh for long spells after the interval.
The home camp had a few early sharp intakes of breath as Gary Urquhart and Alan Houston unsettled the Vikings’ rearguard.
Home keeper Michael Gray had to dash from his area to prevent the pacy Urquhart latch on to a long-range feed.
David Taylor also went close with an audacious 30 yard lob. At the other end, Thistle defender Muir Morton was at full stretch to ensure Nichol was not given a clear run.
Craig Munro was similarly extended to cut out Nigel MacKenzie’s driven, low cross across the six yard box, with Wayne Monkman ready to pounce.
MacKenzie’s spiralling corner on 19 minutes had Jags’ keeper Neil Mackay in trouble and he was relieved no-one punished his fumble.
A minute later, the visitors came agonisingly close to going on front
when David Murray’s centre from the left induced a fizzing volley from Andrew Miller.
It bounced high off the ground and looked bound for the top left-hand corner of the net before being diverted off the side of Houston’s head.
The hard-working Gary MacGregor was a stand-out for the Vikings for his work off the ball and in initiating attacks.
The holding midfielder also almost finished off his side’s best move of the match on 26 minutes.
Nichol’s searching pass found Nigel MacKenzie racing down the left and his long diagonal picked out MacGregor’s lung-busting run.
The latter’s first-time strike from just inside the box carried punch but was just the right height for Mackay to parry behind.
The game was starting to turn Thurso’s way with Monkman and MacGregor both snatching half-chances wide.
They kept the pressure on after the turnaround when they were playing with the blustery wind on their backs.
The normally shot-shy MacGregor saw another effort just clear the crossbar while Gordon Steven was inches away from meeting a Lee MacDougall corner.
On 55 minutes, James Murray’s through ball had Nichol racing in on goal. Mackay hared from his line to make a good block with Murray’s follow-up shot coming back off a defender.
The mounting pressure finally paid off, albeit in controversial circumstances. Nichol looked offside when he collected Nigel MacKenzie’s defence-busting pass on 63 minutes.
The striker rightly ignored the chorus of appeals to dribble through and place a firm, low shot between Mackay and his far post.
Ref Graham Elder was promptly mobbed by a host of angry Thistle players.
When the smoke died down, Neil Mackay and defender David Mackay’s dissent was marked by cautions.
Shortly afterwards, Martin Sutherland joined colleagues Stuart Sinclair and Jamie MacKenzie and Thistle’s Norman Bain among those yellow-carded.
Home keeper Michael Gray added to the list for alleged time-wasting.
As much as they tried, Thistle struggled to pierce the Vikings’ defence which looked more imposing the longer the game wore on.
Just about Gray’s only live involvement after the break was to make a routine pouch late on from sub Stephen Hyslop.
Thurso continued to look dangerous with Nigel MacKenzie testing Neil Mackay with an ankle-height 30 yard free-kick.
Nigel Mackenzie should have got the killer second on 90 minutes after being given he freedom of the Dingwall half.
After homing in on goal, he could have slipped the ball either side of Neil Mackay or given Nichol a tap-in. Instead, he miskicked tamely into the keeper’s hands.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid believed his side just about deserved to prevail. He said: “I thought we were a wee bit tentative at the start -- perhaps there was a bit of nerves.
“But once we settled, I thought we did well. “It was pretty even though we got on top in the second half and if anyone looked likely to score, it was us. “I’d say we just deserved it.”
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland, Steven, Sinclair, MacGregor, N. MacKenzie, Monkman, Murray (Petrie 80), Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Stewart, Begg, Munro and Bremner.
Dingwall Thistle – N. Mackay, Morton, Bain, Duff, D. Mackay, Munro, Miller (Hyslop 84), Taylor, Urquhart, Houston, Murray. Subs (unused) – Reid and Gair.
Referee – Mr G. Elder.
Mark Nichol’s 32nd strike of the PSG North Caley season could prove his most vital in his side’s quest to secure the title.
The 63rd minute goal snuffed out Thistle’s hopes of landing the championship in their debut campaign.
That it separated the sides at the end fuelled the visitors’ grievance that Nichol was a couple of yards offside when he capitalised on Nigel MacKenzie’s assist.
Thistle made their first foray to Thurso seeking a victory which would put their destiny in their own hands.
From the outset, there was little to choose between the sides with the visitors enjoying a marginal first half advantage but finding themselves under the cosh for long spells after the interval.
The home camp had a few early sharp intakes of breath as Gary Urquhart and Alan Houston unsettled the Vikings’ rearguard.
Home keeper Michael Gray had to dash from his area to prevent the pacy Urquhart latch on to a long-range feed.
David Taylor also went close with an audacious 30 yard lob. At the other end, Thistle defender Muir Morton was at full stretch to ensure Nichol was not given a clear run.
Craig Munro was similarly extended to cut out Nigel MacKenzie’s driven, low cross across the six yard box, with Wayne Monkman ready to pounce.
MacKenzie’s spiralling corner on 19 minutes had Jags’ keeper Neil Mackay in trouble and he was relieved no-one punished his fumble.
A minute later, the visitors came agonisingly close to going on front
when David Murray’s centre from the left induced a fizzing volley from Andrew Miller.
It bounced high off the ground and looked bound for the top left-hand corner of the net before being diverted off the side of Houston’s head.
The hard-working Gary MacGregor was a stand-out for the Vikings for his work off the ball and in initiating attacks.
The holding midfielder also almost finished off his side’s best move of the match on 26 minutes.
Nichol’s searching pass found Nigel MacKenzie racing down the left and his long diagonal picked out MacGregor’s lung-busting run.
The latter’s first-time strike from just inside the box carried punch but was just the right height for Mackay to parry behind.
The game was starting to turn Thurso’s way with Monkman and MacGregor both snatching half-chances wide.
They kept the pressure on after the turnaround when they were playing with the blustery wind on their backs.
The normally shot-shy MacGregor saw another effort just clear the crossbar while Gordon Steven was inches away from meeting a Lee MacDougall corner.
On 55 minutes, James Murray’s through ball had Nichol racing in on goal. Mackay hared from his line to make a good block with Murray’s follow-up shot coming back off a defender.
The mounting pressure finally paid off, albeit in controversial circumstances. Nichol looked offside when he collected Nigel MacKenzie’s defence-busting pass on 63 minutes.
The striker rightly ignored the chorus of appeals to dribble through and place a firm, low shot between Mackay and his far post.
Ref Graham Elder was promptly mobbed by a host of angry Thistle players.
When the smoke died down, Neil Mackay and defender David Mackay’s dissent was marked by cautions.
Shortly afterwards, Martin Sutherland joined colleagues Stuart Sinclair and Jamie MacKenzie and Thistle’s Norman Bain among those yellow-carded.
Home keeper Michael Gray added to the list for alleged time-wasting.
As much as they tried, Thistle struggled to pierce the Vikings’ defence which looked more imposing the longer the game wore on.
Just about Gray’s only live involvement after the break was to make a routine pouch late on from sub Stephen Hyslop.
Thurso continued to look dangerous with Nigel MacKenzie testing Neil Mackay with an ankle-height 30 yard free-kick.
Nigel Mackenzie should have got the killer second on 90 minutes after being given he freedom of the Dingwall half.
After homing in on goal, he could have slipped the ball either side of Neil Mackay or given Nichol a tap-in. Instead, he miskicked tamely into the keeper’s hands.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid believed his side just about deserved to prevail. He said: “I thought we were a wee bit tentative at the start -- perhaps there was a bit of nerves.
“But once we settled, I thought we did well. “It was pretty even though we got on top in the second half and if anyone looked likely to score, it was us. “I’d say we just deserved it.”
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland, Steven, Sinclair, MacGregor, N. MacKenzie, Monkman, Murray (Petrie 80), Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Stewart, Begg, Munro and Bremner.
Dingwall Thistle – N. Mackay, Morton, Bain, Duff, D. Mackay, Munro, Miller (Hyslop 84), Taylor, Urquhart, Houston, Murray. Subs (unused) – Reid and Gair.
Referee – Mr G. Elder.