Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 20, 2010 3:54:40 GMT -5
Muir of Ord Rovers 3 Thurso 0 - report from Iain Grant
Thurso on Saturday slumped to their second reverse in their defence of the PSG North Caley title they won last year without once tasting defeat.
The three goal margin may have come as a surprise to others prospective championship contenders
But if anything, Rovers were short-changed in that they passed up a couple of gilt-edged opportunities to score an even more convincing victory.
Rocked by the concession of a second minute goal, the Vikings enjoyed plenty of possession but ended the day with just two efforts on target.
A black day for the visitors was capped by the post-match dismissal of recent signing Ross Allan after he picked up a second caution.
They were caught napping from a quickly-taken throw-in deep in their own half.
Morris MacMillan was afforded the time and space on the edge of the penalty area to play in Richard Finnis whose firm, low shot found the net despite keeper Michael Gray getting fingertips to it.
Within a minute of the restart, Mark Nichol almost provided the perfect riposte.
His skimming shot from a tight angle had home keeper Robert Rose stooping to touch the ball against the base of the right post.
Nichol shortly afterwards was responsible for what turned out to be Thurso’s only other genuine effort on goal.
Rose’s leap elicited the faintest of touches but it was vital in deflecting the striker’s 35 yard free-kick on to and over the bar.
The visitors throughout the game looked more stylish in their build-up and regularly worked the ball into promising wide areas but crosses, centres and cutbacks appeared to unfailingly find the first defender.
Forty-year-old centre-back David Brennan, who played in Inverness CT’s first season in 1994, impressed as David Weir’s North Caley counterpart.
A slip by Lee MacDougall on 22 minute let in Paul Brindle who fired wastefully past the far post from the edge of the box.
Muir’s second on 35 minutes followed a lively spell from their opponents when first James Murray and then Sandy Sutherland were a whisker away from being put clear on Rose.
Caught unawares for the first, the Thurso defence got in an almighty tangle for the second.
A punt forward in the box had two backtracking defenders and Gray transfixed as Finnis nipped in to touch the ball past the keeper and into the empty net.
Jamie MacKenzie was the creative hub for Thurso and he was
at the heart of the game’s best move on 25 minutes which should have seen his team halve the deficit.
Martin Sutherland’s inch-perfect, long-range delivery from deep in his own half picked out MacKenzie’s diagonal run down the right flank.
He centred to Murray who skied his shot from premium position.
The visiting camp were incensed when their strong start to the second half was not rewarded with a penalty.
Ref Jason Hasson however saw nothing amiss with Jason Calvert’s check on Sandy Sutherland a metre inside the box.
Thurso’s sense of injustice was heightened when Muir came up trumps with their next attack.
A high-tempo counter saw Finnis feed Brindle whose cross was swept in from six yards by Ewan Dance.
Brindle was then inches away from connecting with a looping header after lead-up work by Martin Callum and Dance.
Allan brought extra pace to Thurso’s left side and Rose survived another penalty appeal when he flattened the youngster as he chased a through-ball into the box.
A cantankerous phase ensued in which James Skinner, MacKenzie, Nichol and Allan were all booked.
The latter two cautions followed yet another strong penalty claim involving Nichol.
Kyle Ross was just off-target with two stinging efforts before Gray got down smartly to turn Callum’s netbound effort past.
Allan’s sledging of Mr Hassan as the players and officials made their way to the dressing rooms was marked by a second yellow.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid had no complaints about ther outcome.
“We didn’t really deserve to take anything out of the game,” he mused.
They were well organised and took the chances that came their way.
“We saw plenty of the ball but it just didn’t happen for us in the final third of the pitch.
“We also gift-wrapped their first two goals, which was very disappointing.”
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Pirie, J. Calvert, MacMillan (Tulloch 82), Brennan, Skinner, Callum, G. Calvert, Dance, Brindle (McGruer 70), Finnis (Fuller 86). Sub (unused) – Dowling.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland, Steven, Smith, Ross, MacGregor (Wann 75), MacKenzie, Nichol, S. Sutherland (Mackintosh 75), Murray (Allan 54), MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Petrie.
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell.
Thurso on Saturday slumped to their second reverse in their defence of the PSG North Caley title they won last year without once tasting defeat.
The three goal margin may have come as a surprise to others prospective championship contenders
But if anything, Rovers were short-changed in that they passed up a couple of gilt-edged opportunities to score an even more convincing victory.
Rocked by the concession of a second minute goal, the Vikings enjoyed plenty of possession but ended the day with just two efforts on target.
A black day for the visitors was capped by the post-match dismissal of recent signing Ross Allan after he picked up a second caution.
They were caught napping from a quickly-taken throw-in deep in their own half.
Morris MacMillan was afforded the time and space on the edge of the penalty area to play in Richard Finnis whose firm, low shot found the net despite keeper Michael Gray getting fingertips to it.
Within a minute of the restart, Mark Nichol almost provided the perfect riposte.
His skimming shot from a tight angle had home keeper Robert Rose stooping to touch the ball against the base of the right post.
Nichol shortly afterwards was responsible for what turned out to be Thurso’s only other genuine effort on goal.
Rose’s leap elicited the faintest of touches but it was vital in deflecting the striker’s 35 yard free-kick on to and over the bar.
The visitors throughout the game looked more stylish in their build-up and regularly worked the ball into promising wide areas but crosses, centres and cutbacks appeared to unfailingly find the first defender.
Forty-year-old centre-back David Brennan, who played in Inverness CT’s first season in 1994, impressed as David Weir’s North Caley counterpart.
A slip by Lee MacDougall on 22 minute let in Paul Brindle who fired wastefully past the far post from the edge of the box.
Muir’s second on 35 minutes followed a lively spell from their opponents when first James Murray and then Sandy Sutherland were a whisker away from being put clear on Rose.
Caught unawares for the first, the Thurso defence got in an almighty tangle for the second.
A punt forward in the box had two backtracking defenders and Gray transfixed as Finnis nipped in to touch the ball past the keeper and into the empty net.
Jamie MacKenzie was the creative hub for Thurso and he was
at the heart of the game’s best move on 25 minutes which should have seen his team halve the deficit.
Martin Sutherland’s inch-perfect, long-range delivery from deep in his own half picked out MacKenzie’s diagonal run down the right flank.
He centred to Murray who skied his shot from premium position.
The visiting camp were incensed when their strong start to the second half was not rewarded with a penalty.
Ref Jason Hasson however saw nothing amiss with Jason Calvert’s check on Sandy Sutherland a metre inside the box.
Thurso’s sense of injustice was heightened when Muir came up trumps with their next attack.
A high-tempo counter saw Finnis feed Brindle whose cross was swept in from six yards by Ewan Dance.
Brindle was then inches away from connecting with a looping header after lead-up work by Martin Callum and Dance.
Allan brought extra pace to Thurso’s left side and Rose survived another penalty appeal when he flattened the youngster as he chased a through-ball into the box.
A cantankerous phase ensued in which James Skinner, MacKenzie, Nichol and Allan were all booked.
The latter two cautions followed yet another strong penalty claim involving Nichol.
Kyle Ross was just off-target with two stinging efforts before Gray got down smartly to turn Callum’s netbound effort past.
Allan’s sledging of Mr Hassan as the players and officials made their way to the dressing rooms was marked by a second yellow.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid had no complaints about ther outcome.
“We didn’t really deserve to take anything out of the game,” he mused.
They were well organised and took the chances that came their way.
“We saw plenty of the ball but it just didn’t happen for us in the final third of the pitch.
“We also gift-wrapped their first two goals, which was very disappointing.”
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Pirie, J. Calvert, MacMillan (Tulloch 82), Brennan, Skinner, Callum, G. Calvert, Dance, Brindle (McGruer 70), Finnis (Fuller 86). Sub (unused) – Dowling.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland, Steven, Smith, Ross, MacGregor (Wann 75), MacKenzie, Nichol, S. Sutherland (Mackintosh 75), Murray (Allan 54), MacDougall. Sub (unused) – Petrie.
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell.