Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 13, 2010 6:02:00 GMT -5
Golspie Sutherland 0 Thurso 3 - report from Iain Grant
Thurso survived a torrid start to turn the tables on their Sutherland hosts and book a place in the final of the North Caledonian Cup.
Buoyed by their previous week’s Scottish Cup KO of Highland League side Fort William, Golspie dominated the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s semi at King George V Park.
There were a couple of close saves at the Vikings’ end before they won an 18th minute penalty.
Martin Sutherland’s late tackle on Aaron Smith brooked no argument with Stuart Thomson handed the responsibility to convert the spot-kick. Michael Gray flung himself to his right to turn Thomson’s effort round the post in what Vikings manager Stevie Reid reckoned proved the pivotal moment in the match.
Thurso proceeded to turn the contest on its head by notching three goals before the interval to secure a vice-like grip on proceedings.
Golspie worked hard to try and find a way back but the visiting defence proved equal to all that thrown at them.
The Vikings had yet another central defensive pairing with Shaun Forbes making his season’s debut alongside Grant Steven.
Ross Allan was feeling under the weather so his role was reduced to a late sub while Gary MacGregor returned to the centre of midfield after recovering from a troublesome hamstring.
Golspie quickly had their opponents on the rack and Donald Sutherland missed a first minute snip to put them in front.
Smith also passed up a clear opening before the penalty save.
The opening goal on 25 minutes came after Forbes directed a clearing header to James Murray who ambled down the left wing before picking out Sandy Sutherland’s forward run.
From just outside the box, Sutherland’s first-time lob arc-ed over keeper Mike McCallum whose outstretched hand made contact with the ball but could not prevent it crossing the line.
It continued Sutherland’s run of scoring in each of the four games he has played for his new club.
Within four minutes, Thurso were celebrating a landmark goal for Mark Nichol when he beat McCallum with a well-struck free-kick low to the keeper’s right.
The striker’s 150th goal for Thurso was the perfect present for his 30th birthday. Two minutes from half-time, a hand-ball offence in the Golspie penalty box gave Nichol the opportunity which he took to net his second from the spot.
From calling the shots in all areas of the park, the home side were suddenly three down and all but out of the cup.
Neither side troubled the respective keepers unduly in the second period.
Kyle Ross wasted an inviting opening when he blasted wildly over.
Golspie sub Mark Lamond meanwhile missed a sitter late on as his side slumped to one of their heaviest home defeats in recent seasons.
Their miserable day was compounded when substituted pair Adam Sutherland and Chris Campbell were shown red cards by ref Graham John for dissent from the technical area.
Vikings manager Stevie Reid was delighted by how his side had struck back from a woeful start.
“For the first 15-20 minutes, they were all over us,” he conceded.
“We were a bit off the pace and couldn’t get hold of the ball.
“I’d say Michael’s penalty save was the turning point of the game.
“After that, we started to get into things and once we went in front, we never really looked back.
Reid is happy to see Gary MacGregor back in his holding midfield role and also praised Forbes for his display in his first game back.
Golspie Sutherland – McCallum, A. Sutherland, Gunn, Thomson, Christie, Smith, Mikula, T. Campbell, Innes, C. Campbell, D. Sutherland. Subs – Bone, Whyte and Lamond.
Thurso – Gray, M.Sutherland, Steven, Forbes, Ross, MacGregor (Wann 75), MacKenzie, Nichol, S. Sutherland (Allan 78), Murray (MacNab 78), MacDougall.
Ref – Mr G. John.
Thurso survived a torrid start to turn the tables on their Sutherland hosts and book a place in the final of the North Caledonian Cup.
Buoyed by their previous week’s Scottish Cup KO of Highland League side Fort William, Golspie dominated the first 20 minutes of Saturday’s semi at King George V Park.
There were a couple of close saves at the Vikings’ end before they won an 18th minute penalty.
Martin Sutherland’s late tackle on Aaron Smith brooked no argument with Stuart Thomson handed the responsibility to convert the spot-kick. Michael Gray flung himself to his right to turn Thomson’s effort round the post in what Vikings manager Stevie Reid reckoned proved the pivotal moment in the match.
Thurso proceeded to turn the contest on its head by notching three goals before the interval to secure a vice-like grip on proceedings.
Golspie worked hard to try and find a way back but the visiting defence proved equal to all that thrown at them.
The Vikings had yet another central defensive pairing with Shaun Forbes making his season’s debut alongside Grant Steven.
Ross Allan was feeling under the weather so his role was reduced to a late sub while Gary MacGregor returned to the centre of midfield after recovering from a troublesome hamstring.
Golspie quickly had their opponents on the rack and Donald Sutherland missed a first minute snip to put them in front.
Smith also passed up a clear opening before the penalty save.
The opening goal on 25 minutes came after Forbes directed a clearing header to James Murray who ambled down the left wing before picking out Sandy Sutherland’s forward run.
From just outside the box, Sutherland’s first-time lob arc-ed over keeper Mike McCallum whose outstretched hand made contact with the ball but could not prevent it crossing the line.
It continued Sutherland’s run of scoring in each of the four games he has played for his new club.
Within four minutes, Thurso were celebrating a landmark goal for Mark Nichol when he beat McCallum with a well-struck free-kick low to the keeper’s right.
The striker’s 150th goal for Thurso was the perfect present for his 30th birthday. Two minutes from half-time, a hand-ball offence in the Golspie penalty box gave Nichol the opportunity which he took to net his second from the spot.
From calling the shots in all areas of the park, the home side were suddenly three down and all but out of the cup.
Neither side troubled the respective keepers unduly in the second period.
Kyle Ross wasted an inviting opening when he blasted wildly over.
Golspie sub Mark Lamond meanwhile missed a sitter late on as his side slumped to one of their heaviest home defeats in recent seasons.
Their miserable day was compounded when substituted pair Adam Sutherland and Chris Campbell were shown red cards by ref Graham John for dissent from the technical area.
Vikings manager Stevie Reid was delighted by how his side had struck back from a woeful start.
“For the first 15-20 minutes, they were all over us,” he conceded.
“We were a bit off the pace and couldn’t get hold of the ball.
“I’d say Michael’s penalty save was the turning point of the game.
“After that, we started to get into things and once we went in front, we never really looked back.
Reid is happy to see Gary MacGregor back in his holding midfield role and also praised Forbes for his display in his first game back.
Golspie Sutherland – McCallum, A. Sutherland, Gunn, Thomson, Christie, Smith, Mikula, T. Campbell, Innes, C. Campbell, D. Sutherland. Subs – Bone, Whyte and Lamond.
Thurso – Gray, M.Sutherland, Steven, Forbes, Ross, MacGregor (Wann 75), MacKenzie, Nichol, S. Sutherland (Allan 78), Murray (MacNab 78), MacDougall.
Ref – Mr G. John.