Post by Brian Mackay on Apr 28, 2010 4:07:14 GMT -5
Fort William 0 V Thurso 12 - report by Iain Grant
The Vikings on Saturday grossly exceeded the single point they needed to prise from their final PSG North Caley fixture to clinch the championship.
They ran up the biggest score of the league season to lift their first title for seven years and condemn their hosts to a sorry end to their debut season.
Stuart MacKenzie led the goal chase with five with Nigel and Jamie of that ilk grabbing three and one respectively.
The tally was completed by a brace from arch marksman Mark Nichol and a single from Sean Munro.
Thurso made light of the potentially sapping effects of the long coach trip as they set about wrapping up the championship within the first 20 minutes.
By then, they were 4-0 up and shoo-ins to add to the club’s previous league flags claimed in 1999/2000 and 20002/3.
Thurso welcomed back Andrew Bremner to the centre of defence after recovering from the recurrence of a knee complaint.
Stuart MacKenzie also pepped up their attacking options after work commitments meant he has only been able to play a handful of gamers this season.
The latter’s early strike settled any nerves and they were soon regularly cutting open Fort’s brittle defence all too easily.
After being put in the clear, Stuart MacKenzie closed in on Jay Smith before slotting the ball between the keeper and his far post.
The visitors went on to strike at regular intervals before the interval with a left-foot half volley the pick of Nigel MacKenzie’s threesome.
His brother Jamie MacKenzie added a solo effort and Stuart MacKenzie grabbed another with a tap-in.
Nichol then broke the clan stranglehold on the scoring with the first of his brace either side of the break.
The Vikings were in rampant form with Stuart MacKenzie adding three in the second half while he had several other ‘goals’ chalked off by offside flags.
He reserved his best for his last when he ran on to a through ball from sub Marc Begg, tricked his way past the two home central defenders before finessing the ball past Smith from eight yards.
Nichol was denied a hat-trick when his free-kick came back of a post
while Lee MacDougall was left red-faced after blasting over an unguarded net.
The scoring was rounded off near the end with a diving header from sub Sean Munro.
Visiting keeper Michael Gray was a virtual spectator as his team ran riot on their first visit to Lochaber.
Stevie Reid, in his second spell in charge of Thurso, took a full part in the post-match celebrations.
He said: “I thought we showed cool heads on Saturday and went about our job in the right way.
“It was a struggle for Fort William who had some young boys who need to get a bit more experience.
“After the third goal, you could see their heads going down and they just disappeared out of the game.”
Reflecting on the league season, Reid points to the goals against column as a major reason for the side’s success.
The concession of 13 goals in 18 matches reflects a defensive solidity which they have displayed throughout the campaign.
“It’s been a strong point of the whole season,” he said. “I’ve been delighted for guys like Andrew Bremner. “He’s come on by leaps and bounds, as have a clutch of young guys we’ve taken in.” He said the combination of Jamie MacKenzie and Gary MacGregor in the centre of midfield and Nichol’s 34-goal haul had also been vital ingredients.
Thurso were unbeaten in their title campaign, with nine wins out of nine at Sir Georges Park and six victories and three draws on their travels.
Fort William -- Smith, Love, Macdonald, Ellis, Lawrie, Macleod, Ridpeath, Gillespie, MacNeil, MacLellan, Ferguson. Subs -- Barker and MacGillivray.
Thurso – Gray, M. Sutherland, Steven, Bremner (Munro h/t), Steven (Stewart h/t), MacGregor, N. MacKenzie (Begg 55), S. MacKenzie, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – R. Sutherland.
Referee – Mr J. Bicknell.
The Vikings on Saturday grossly exceeded the single point they needed to prise from their final PSG North Caley fixture to clinch the championship.
They ran up the biggest score of the league season to lift their first title for seven years and condemn their hosts to a sorry end to their debut season.
Stuart MacKenzie led the goal chase with five with Nigel and Jamie of that ilk grabbing three and one respectively.
The tally was completed by a brace from arch marksman Mark Nichol and a single from Sean Munro.
Thurso made light of the potentially sapping effects of the long coach trip as they set about wrapping up the championship within the first 20 minutes.
By then, they were 4-0 up and shoo-ins to add to the club’s previous league flags claimed in 1999/2000 and 20002/3.
Thurso welcomed back Andrew Bremner to the centre of defence after recovering from the recurrence of a knee complaint.
Stuart MacKenzie also pepped up their attacking options after work commitments meant he has only been able to play a handful of gamers this season.
The latter’s early strike settled any nerves and they were soon regularly cutting open Fort’s brittle defence all too easily.
After being put in the clear, Stuart MacKenzie closed in on Jay Smith before slotting the ball between the keeper and his far post.
The visitors went on to strike at regular intervals before the interval with a left-foot half volley the pick of Nigel MacKenzie’s threesome.
His brother Jamie MacKenzie added a solo effort and Stuart MacKenzie grabbed another with a tap-in.
Nichol then broke the clan stranglehold on the scoring with the first of his brace either side of the break.
The Vikings were in rampant form with Stuart MacKenzie adding three in the second half while he had several other ‘goals’ chalked off by offside flags.
He reserved his best for his last when he ran on to a through ball from sub Marc Begg, tricked his way past the two home central defenders before finessing the ball past Smith from eight yards.
Nichol was denied a hat-trick when his free-kick came back of a post
while Lee MacDougall was left red-faced after blasting over an unguarded net.
The scoring was rounded off near the end with a diving header from sub Sean Munro.
Visiting keeper Michael Gray was a virtual spectator as his team ran riot on their first visit to Lochaber.
Stevie Reid, in his second spell in charge of Thurso, took a full part in the post-match celebrations.
He said: “I thought we showed cool heads on Saturday and went about our job in the right way.
“It was a struggle for Fort William who had some young boys who need to get a bit more experience.
“After the third goal, you could see their heads going down and they just disappeared out of the game.”
Reflecting on the league season, Reid points to the goals against column as a major reason for the side’s success.
The concession of 13 goals in 18 matches reflects a defensive solidity which they have displayed throughout the campaign.
“It’s been a strong point of the whole season,” he said. “I’ve been delighted for guys like Andrew Bremner. “He’s come on by leaps and bounds, as have a clutch of young guys we’ve taken in.” He said the combination of Jamie MacKenzie and Gary MacGregor in the centre of midfield and Nichol’s 34-goal haul had also been vital ingredients.
Thurso were unbeaten in their title campaign, with nine wins out of nine at Sir Georges Park and six victories and three draws on their travels.
Fort William -- Smith, Love, Macdonald, Ellis, Lawrie, Macleod, Ridpeath, Gillespie, MacNeil, MacLellan, Ferguson. Subs -- Barker and MacGillivray.
Thurso – Gray, M. Sutherland, Steven, Bremner (Munro h/t), Steven (Stewart h/t), MacGregor, N. MacKenzie (Begg 55), S. MacKenzie, Nichol, J. MacKenzie, MacDougall. Sub (unused) – R. Sutherland.
Referee – Mr J. Bicknell.