Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 6, 2010 16:55:30 GMT -5
Alness United 0 Thurso 5 - report from Iain Grant
Thurso got their PSG North Caley League defence up and running
on Saturday with a comfortable away victory.
A double from last year’s league’s ‘golden boot’ winner Mark Nichol, singles from Kyle Ross and Jamie MacKenzie, and an own goal made up the tally.
The win would have been even more impressive had the Vikings converted more of the clear chances that came their way though credit should also go to Alness keeper Scott McGruer.
Alness’s 11th hour confirmation of their return to the NCL fold left manager Kraig Vass with a tough job in getting a squad together.
His young guns made a real game of it in the second quarter when they were pressing hard to cancel out Nichol’s seventh minute opener.
The striker opened his account for the new campaign with a near-post header from Kyle Ross’s corner.
Alness lived dangerously on a couple of subsequent occasions but then hit a purple patch when they came desperately to drawing level.
Duncan Morris had just keeper Michael Gray to beat but sent the ball wide of the target.
Russell Lawrie then wriggled clear and struck a speculative, dipping effort from 20 yards which crashed back off the crossbar.
Morris missed another decent opener immediately before his side went 2-0 down a minute before the interval.
Nichol’s fist-time lay-off sent Kyle Ross on a weaving run from the half-way line which ended with him steering a shot past McGruer from just inside the penalty box. That proved a killer blow for the home outfit and it was no surprise when they went three behind on the hour-mark.
Neat interplay featuring new signing Stevie MacKintosh ended with Jamie MacKenzie beating the last outfield defender before he lashed a left-footer low past McGruer.
James Murray missed a couple of snips before Nichol weighed in with his second of the game.
Nichol was denied his first hat-trick of the new campaign when his fierce shot came back off the woodwork.
Alness were relieved to concede just once more when a cross confounded McGruer and defender Willie Stewart, with the latter ending up turning the ball into his own net.
The win was the perfect tonic after the disappointing opening 2-0 defeat in Halkirk.
Vikings manager Stevie Reid said: “I thought it was a good, solid performance overall.
“We looked more comfortable with a 4-4-2 and, with hindsight, we maybe should have set up like that the week before.“
He was impressed with MacKintosh who has moved to work as a policeman at Vulcan,
The left-sided midfielder, a one-time regular at Nairn County, has been out of action for the best part of a year and is obviously short of match fitness.
Reid said: “He certainly looked the part. He’s got good feet and a good awareness of the game – he’s certainly a good addition to the squad.
“I thought Sean Stewart also came in and played well.”
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Petrie, Steven, Bremner, Ross, S.MacKintosh (M.Sutherland 60), J.MacKenzie (Wann 75), Nichol, A.Murray, MacDougall (Trueman 75).
Subs – McGruer, Campbell, Doull, Stewart, Sutherland, Rose, Carling, Muir, Lawrie, Morris, Douglas. Subs (used) – Sinclair, Stainke and Gilliland.
Ref – Mr G. Elder
Thurso got their PSG North Caley League defence up and running
on Saturday with a comfortable away victory.
A double from last year’s league’s ‘golden boot’ winner Mark Nichol, singles from Kyle Ross and Jamie MacKenzie, and an own goal made up the tally.
The win would have been even more impressive had the Vikings converted more of the clear chances that came their way though credit should also go to Alness keeper Scott McGruer.
Alness’s 11th hour confirmation of their return to the NCL fold left manager Kraig Vass with a tough job in getting a squad together.
His young guns made a real game of it in the second quarter when they were pressing hard to cancel out Nichol’s seventh minute opener.
The striker opened his account for the new campaign with a near-post header from Kyle Ross’s corner.
Alness lived dangerously on a couple of subsequent occasions but then hit a purple patch when they came desperately to drawing level.
Duncan Morris had just keeper Michael Gray to beat but sent the ball wide of the target.
Russell Lawrie then wriggled clear and struck a speculative, dipping effort from 20 yards which crashed back off the crossbar.
Morris missed another decent opener immediately before his side went 2-0 down a minute before the interval.
Nichol’s fist-time lay-off sent Kyle Ross on a weaving run from the half-way line which ended with him steering a shot past McGruer from just inside the penalty box. That proved a killer blow for the home outfit and it was no surprise when they went three behind on the hour-mark.
Neat interplay featuring new signing Stevie MacKintosh ended with Jamie MacKenzie beating the last outfield defender before he lashed a left-footer low past McGruer.
James Murray missed a couple of snips before Nichol weighed in with his second of the game.
Nichol was denied his first hat-trick of the new campaign when his fierce shot came back off the woodwork.
Alness were relieved to concede just once more when a cross confounded McGruer and defender Willie Stewart, with the latter ending up turning the ball into his own net.
The win was the perfect tonic after the disappointing opening 2-0 defeat in Halkirk.
Vikings manager Stevie Reid said: “I thought it was a good, solid performance overall.
“We looked more comfortable with a 4-4-2 and, with hindsight, we maybe should have set up like that the week before.“
He was impressed with MacKintosh who has moved to work as a policeman at Vulcan,
The left-sided midfielder, a one-time regular at Nairn County, has been out of action for the best part of a year and is obviously short of match fitness.
Reid said: “He certainly looked the part. He’s got good feet and a good awareness of the game – he’s certainly a good addition to the squad.
“I thought Sean Stewart also came in and played well.”
Thurso – Gray, Stewart, Petrie, Steven, Bremner, Ross, S.MacKintosh (M.Sutherland 60), J.MacKenzie (Wann 75), Nichol, A.Murray, MacDougall (Trueman 75).
Subs – McGruer, Campbell, Doull, Stewart, Sutherland, Rose, Carling, Muir, Lawrie, Morris, Douglas. Subs (used) – Sinclair, Stainke and Gilliland.
Ref – Mr G. Elder