Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 12, 2010 1:48:05 GMT -5
Wick Academy 2 Thurso 2 (Academy won 5-4 on pens) -report by Iain Grant
Academy edged through to the last four of the HITS North of Scotland Cup on Wednesday evening after a dramatic win over their county rivals at Harmsworth Park.
A last minute deflected strike from Mark Nichol completed Thurso’s comeback from a two goal deficit and ensured the first competitive match between the pair would be settled by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
Alan Farquhar coolly converted the clincher to give Academy another crack at qualifying for their first final since they joined the Highland League 16 years ago.
Rather than anticipate the semi away to Inverness CT, the home management emerged just mightily relieved to have seen off the dogged challenge of last year’s North Caley champions.
Academy looked the part of the senior side in the opening 20 minutes when they just about monopolised possession.
They were knocking the ball about confidently and manufacturing openings against jittery, disjointed opponents.
A third minute booking for Vikings central defender Andrew Bremner, for handball, did nothing to settle his side’s nerves on an evening marred by frequent cloudbursts.
Vikings keeper Michael Gray was quickly involved, turning Richard MacAdie’s free-kick behind his right post.
David Allan then set MacAdie free down the right flank and his whipped cross was inches away from finding Gary Weir sliding in unopposed at the far post.
Weir threatened with a lob but Allan came closest to the opener on
17 minutes when he controlled MacAdie’s assist before firing a shot which shaved past Gray’s left post.
The keeper was relieved when the next attack ended with MacAdie failing to extend him when set free down the inside left channel.
Thurso were defending in depth and had to wait until 20 minutes for their first forward foray of any conviction.
Orcadian Wayne Monkman, who had answered a late call to arms, teed up Jamie MacKenzie for a 20 yarder which keeper Alan Bokas fisted clear.
Shortly afterwards, Academy’s defence got in a fankle deep in their own half to gift the ball to Nichol who was unable to find Monkman who was unmarked to his left.
On 28 minutes, Nichol’s header from Martin Sutherland’s centre was pouched on the goal-line by Bokas.
Academy suffered a blow on the half-hour mark when last season’s top scorer David Allan hobbled off with a hamstring pull.
Just as the Vikings had fought their way back into the game, the Scorries promptly contrived to strike twice in as many minutes.
A pincer move down the right on 29 minutes involved MacAdie’s through ball to Stevie Cunningham being cut back into the path of Gary Weir who swept the ball into the net from 10 yards.
Two minutes later, the latter two exchanged passes to send Cunningham romping in to the box and he slotted past Gray to make it 2-0.
Bremner tested Bokas with a header from a Lee MacDougall corner before giving his side fresh hope from the same source a minute from the interval.
Bremner’s back-post header from the deep delivery was pawed out by the keeper but the big defender showed quick reactions in lashing the rebound into the roof of the net.
Gary Manson and sub Bryan McKiddie both shot narrowly wide from two lightning counters after the turnaround.
At the other end, Alec Lamb was fully extended on the edge of his six yard box to prevent Nichol connecting with Monkman’s lay-off.
Neither side was able to wrest control with Academy failing to reproduce their early dominance on account of too many passes going astray.
Nichol’s 25 yard snap-shot just cleared the bar before a glorious move at the other end ended with Cunningham setting up Martin Gunn for a howitzer which fizzed inches past with Gray beaten.
On 73 minutes, Academy could have sealed the tie when MacAdie and Cunningham – their side’s top two performers by far – combined to play in Weir whose close-in effort produced a reaction stop form Gray.
Thurso pushed resources forward in the latter stages with the lively James Murray roving to good effect and MacDougall sending in a salvo of hanging crosses from the left.
Academy looked set to hang on when Nichol seized on a loose ball 20 yards and his shot picked up a wicked deflection of a defender to loop over Bokas.
The Academy keeper made the first breakthrough in the penalty shoot-out when he saved Murray’s unconvincing attempt.
After Weir and Nichol converted, Gunn missed to restore parity.
Monkman, Bremner and Blair McIntosh, for Thurso, and McKiddie, Manson and MacAdie, for Academy, nervelessly nailed their spot-kicks to set up sudden death.
Jamie MacKenzie blasted high over to leave the stage clear for Farquhar to settle the tie.
Shaun Sinclair’s post-match reaction earned him a caution to add to second half bookings for Thurso’s Chris Wann and Academy’s Weir.
Afterwards, Thurso manager Stevie Reid was full of praise for his side’s valiant efforts.
“I thought it was a superb display by what was a makeshift side,” he said. “We knew they would come at us strong early on but then we settled into the game and were starting to get on top when they scored two quick goals.”
Reid reckoned the second half was evenly fought though his side had finished the stronger. He said: “It could have gone either way and I was particularly pleased as they are a very good footballing side. “Given the performance we put in, we can all hold our heads up high and it certainly gives us confidence going into the new season.
Academy co-manager Ian Munro was unhappy his side had nothing to show for their high-tempo start to the game.
He said: “We looked the better side for 20 minutes before they came back into it. “We then scored a couple of quick goals which should have settle d us down. “But fair play to Thurso, they battled back and got their tails up after they got one back just before half-time.”
Munro was disappointed his men failed to convert more of the chances they created and credited Gray with several top-drawer saves. Munro added: “Thurso are a good side. They have some quality players and gave us the toughest game we’ve had this season. “We’re just glad to have got through to the next round.”
Academy – Bokas, Sinclair, Manson, Farquhar, Lamb, Shearer, Gunn, Weir, Allan (McKiddie 30), MacAdie, Cunningham (MacLeod (82).
Thurso – Gray, M. Sutherland (Makhouli 69), McIntosh, Steven, Bremner, Wann, Monkman, MacKenzie, Nichol, Budge (Murray 42), MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Petrie, R. Sutherland and McLean.
Academy edged through to the last four of the HITS North of Scotland Cup on Wednesday evening after a dramatic win over their county rivals at Harmsworth Park.
A last minute deflected strike from Mark Nichol completed Thurso’s comeback from a two goal deficit and ensured the first competitive match between the pair would be settled by the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
Alan Farquhar coolly converted the clincher to give Academy another crack at qualifying for their first final since they joined the Highland League 16 years ago.
Rather than anticipate the semi away to Inverness CT, the home management emerged just mightily relieved to have seen off the dogged challenge of last year’s North Caley champions.
Academy looked the part of the senior side in the opening 20 minutes when they just about monopolised possession.
They were knocking the ball about confidently and manufacturing openings against jittery, disjointed opponents.
A third minute booking for Vikings central defender Andrew Bremner, for handball, did nothing to settle his side’s nerves on an evening marred by frequent cloudbursts.
Vikings keeper Michael Gray was quickly involved, turning Richard MacAdie’s free-kick behind his right post.
David Allan then set MacAdie free down the right flank and his whipped cross was inches away from finding Gary Weir sliding in unopposed at the far post.
Weir threatened with a lob but Allan came closest to the opener on
17 minutes when he controlled MacAdie’s assist before firing a shot which shaved past Gray’s left post.
The keeper was relieved when the next attack ended with MacAdie failing to extend him when set free down the inside left channel.
Thurso were defending in depth and had to wait until 20 minutes for their first forward foray of any conviction.
Orcadian Wayne Monkman, who had answered a late call to arms, teed up Jamie MacKenzie for a 20 yarder which keeper Alan Bokas fisted clear.
Shortly afterwards, Academy’s defence got in a fankle deep in their own half to gift the ball to Nichol who was unable to find Monkman who was unmarked to his left.
On 28 minutes, Nichol’s header from Martin Sutherland’s centre was pouched on the goal-line by Bokas.
Academy suffered a blow on the half-hour mark when last season’s top scorer David Allan hobbled off with a hamstring pull.
Just as the Vikings had fought their way back into the game, the Scorries promptly contrived to strike twice in as many minutes.
A pincer move down the right on 29 minutes involved MacAdie’s through ball to Stevie Cunningham being cut back into the path of Gary Weir who swept the ball into the net from 10 yards.
Two minutes later, the latter two exchanged passes to send Cunningham romping in to the box and he slotted past Gray to make it 2-0.
Bremner tested Bokas with a header from a Lee MacDougall corner before giving his side fresh hope from the same source a minute from the interval.
Bremner’s back-post header from the deep delivery was pawed out by the keeper but the big defender showed quick reactions in lashing the rebound into the roof of the net.
Gary Manson and sub Bryan McKiddie both shot narrowly wide from two lightning counters after the turnaround.
At the other end, Alec Lamb was fully extended on the edge of his six yard box to prevent Nichol connecting with Monkman’s lay-off.
Neither side was able to wrest control with Academy failing to reproduce their early dominance on account of too many passes going astray.
Nichol’s 25 yard snap-shot just cleared the bar before a glorious move at the other end ended with Cunningham setting up Martin Gunn for a howitzer which fizzed inches past with Gray beaten.
On 73 minutes, Academy could have sealed the tie when MacAdie and Cunningham – their side’s top two performers by far – combined to play in Weir whose close-in effort produced a reaction stop form Gray.
Thurso pushed resources forward in the latter stages with the lively James Murray roving to good effect and MacDougall sending in a salvo of hanging crosses from the left.
Academy looked set to hang on when Nichol seized on a loose ball 20 yards and his shot picked up a wicked deflection of a defender to loop over Bokas.
The Academy keeper made the first breakthrough in the penalty shoot-out when he saved Murray’s unconvincing attempt.
After Weir and Nichol converted, Gunn missed to restore parity.
Monkman, Bremner and Blair McIntosh, for Thurso, and McKiddie, Manson and MacAdie, for Academy, nervelessly nailed their spot-kicks to set up sudden death.
Jamie MacKenzie blasted high over to leave the stage clear for Farquhar to settle the tie.
Shaun Sinclair’s post-match reaction earned him a caution to add to second half bookings for Thurso’s Chris Wann and Academy’s Weir.
Afterwards, Thurso manager Stevie Reid was full of praise for his side’s valiant efforts.
“I thought it was a superb display by what was a makeshift side,” he said. “We knew they would come at us strong early on but then we settled into the game and were starting to get on top when they scored two quick goals.”
Reid reckoned the second half was evenly fought though his side had finished the stronger. He said: “It could have gone either way and I was particularly pleased as they are a very good footballing side. “Given the performance we put in, we can all hold our heads up high and it certainly gives us confidence going into the new season.
Academy co-manager Ian Munro was unhappy his side had nothing to show for their high-tempo start to the game.
He said: “We looked the better side for 20 minutes before they came back into it. “We then scored a couple of quick goals which should have settle d us down. “But fair play to Thurso, they battled back and got their tails up after they got one back just before half-time.”
Munro was disappointed his men failed to convert more of the chances they created and credited Gray with several top-drawer saves. Munro added: “Thurso are a good side. They have some quality players and gave us the toughest game we’ve had this season. “We’re just glad to have got through to the next round.”
Academy – Bokas, Sinclair, Manson, Farquhar, Lamb, Shearer, Gunn, Weir, Allan (McKiddie 30), MacAdie, Cunningham (MacLeod (82).
Thurso – Gray, M. Sutherland (Makhouli 69), McIntosh, Steven, Bremner, Wann, Monkman, MacKenzie, Nichol, Budge (Murray 42), MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Petrie, R. Sutherland and McLean.