Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 27, 2010 8:07:14 GMT -5
Dingwall Thistle 2 Thurso 0 - report from Iain Grant
Thurso’s third away defeat on Saturday would appear to have killed off any realistic chance they have of retaining the PSG North Caley title.
A demanding start to their defence, involving successive trips to play all four other title contenders, was never going to be easy.
The sequence has yielded a solitary point and leaves the Vikings looking to the cups as their most likely route to landing silverware.
They again made a sluggish start on Saturday, allowing Dingwall to seize the initiative and only finding their form when they were fighting a losing cause.
Thurso had keeper Michael Gray and the goal-frame to thank for withstanding an early blitzrieg from the Jags.
Within the first minute, he got a vital touch to divert David Murray’s raking shot on to and over the bar.
Alan Dorrian then scudded a volley against the face of the bar as the visitors struggled to win any kind of possession.
The pressure was unrelenting and Gray was required to pull off a wonderful double save on six minutes.
After getting fingertips to turn Thurso exile John McLeod’s bullet free-kick on to the bar, the keeper recovered to keep out Dorrian’s follow-up header.
Thurso proceeded to almost score with their first attack when Lee MacDougall put Sandy Sutherland through on goal.
With a backtracking defender in attendance, Sutherland failed to make the best of contacts but his effort still required a full-stretch, diving save from keeper Neil Mackay.
The keeper was also tested by Nichol before the Jags drew ahead on 21 minutes.
Thurso defender John Smith blocked Gary Urquhart’s first attempt on goal but the Thistle man was allowed the time to recover and plant the rebound firmly underneath Gray.
The home side continued to push and were again thwarted by Gray who first pawed away Urquhart’s netbound header before turning Stuart Mackay’s shot behind.
The Vikings’ camp were incensed not to be awarded a penalty on 41 minutes when James Murray raced through and rounded Neil Mackay before ending up on the floor after a tangle with the keeper.
Ref John Bicknell saw nothing amiss with the challenge and opted to book Murray for simulation.
Two minutes from the interval, the visitors were caught out by Urquhart’s long-range feed to Stuart Mackay who ran on before slotting the ball past the advancing Gray.
Thurso almost got one back on the stroke of half-time when Nichol’s spanking long-ranger pinged back off the base of a post.
Thurso enjoyed much the better of the second half without being able to cut out that many clear openings.
Nichol had the best chances when he was unable to beat Mackay with an unopposed header and then saw his angled connection from
MacDougall’s cross produce another fine stop from the keeper.
The Vikings had another penalty appeal turned down for hand-ball in the box as a late surge failed to provide any tangible reward.
Manager Stevie Reid is at a loss to explain his side’s sudden goal drought and dip in performance. He said: “We again started really poorly. “Dingwall were at us from the off and we could easily have been a couple down in the opening minutes but for some great saves from Michael. “We then missed a couple of chances and I felt we had two stone-wall penalties. “We looked much better in the second half when they never bothered us but it’s just not happening for us in front of goal.”
Dingwall Thistle – N. Mackay, D. Mackay, Dorrian, Munro, MacLean, MacAllister, Urquhart, Murray, Manson, McLeod, S. Mackay. Subs (used) – MacCallum, Miller and McKie. Unused – Hyslop and Fitzpatrick.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland (Stewart 75), Steven, Smith (Bremner 60), Ross, MacGregor, Wann (Harrold 80), Nichol, S. Sutherland, Murray, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell
Thurso’s third away defeat on Saturday would appear to have killed off any realistic chance they have of retaining the PSG North Caley title.
A demanding start to their defence, involving successive trips to play all four other title contenders, was never going to be easy.
The sequence has yielded a solitary point and leaves the Vikings looking to the cups as their most likely route to landing silverware.
They again made a sluggish start on Saturday, allowing Dingwall to seize the initiative and only finding their form when they were fighting a losing cause.
Thurso had keeper Michael Gray and the goal-frame to thank for withstanding an early blitzrieg from the Jags.
Within the first minute, he got a vital touch to divert David Murray’s raking shot on to and over the bar.
Alan Dorrian then scudded a volley against the face of the bar as the visitors struggled to win any kind of possession.
The pressure was unrelenting and Gray was required to pull off a wonderful double save on six minutes.
After getting fingertips to turn Thurso exile John McLeod’s bullet free-kick on to the bar, the keeper recovered to keep out Dorrian’s follow-up header.
Thurso proceeded to almost score with their first attack when Lee MacDougall put Sandy Sutherland through on goal.
With a backtracking defender in attendance, Sutherland failed to make the best of contacts but his effort still required a full-stretch, diving save from keeper Neil Mackay.
The keeper was also tested by Nichol before the Jags drew ahead on 21 minutes.
Thurso defender John Smith blocked Gary Urquhart’s first attempt on goal but the Thistle man was allowed the time to recover and plant the rebound firmly underneath Gray.
The home side continued to push and were again thwarted by Gray who first pawed away Urquhart’s netbound header before turning Stuart Mackay’s shot behind.
The Vikings’ camp were incensed not to be awarded a penalty on 41 minutes when James Murray raced through and rounded Neil Mackay before ending up on the floor after a tangle with the keeper.
Ref John Bicknell saw nothing amiss with the challenge and opted to book Murray for simulation.
Two minutes from the interval, the visitors were caught out by Urquhart’s long-range feed to Stuart Mackay who ran on before slotting the ball past the advancing Gray.
Thurso almost got one back on the stroke of half-time when Nichol’s spanking long-ranger pinged back off the base of a post.
Thurso enjoyed much the better of the second half without being able to cut out that many clear openings.
Nichol had the best chances when he was unable to beat Mackay with an unopposed header and then saw his angled connection from
MacDougall’s cross produce another fine stop from the keeper.
The Vikings had another penalty appeal turned down for hand-ball in the box as a late surge failed to provide any tangible reward.
Manager Stevie Reid is at a loss to explain his side’s sudden goal drought and dip in performance. He said: “We again started really poorly. “Dingwall were at us from the off and we could easily have been a couple down in the opening minutes but for some great saves from Michael. “We then missed a couple of chances and I felt we had two stone-wall penalties. “We looked much better in the second half when they never bothered us but it’s just not happening for us in front of goal.”
Dingwall Thistle – N. Mackay, D. Mackay, Dorrian, Munro, MacLean, MacAllister, Urquhart, Murray, Manson, McLeod, S. Mackay. Subs (used) – MacCallum, Miller and McKie. Unused – Hyslop and Fitzpatrick.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland (Stewart 75), Steven, Smith (Bremner 60), Ross, MacGregor, Wann (Harrold 80), Nichol, S. Sutherland, Murray, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell