Post by Brian Mackay on Nov 10, 2010 9:24:25 GMT -5
Invergordon 1 v Thurso 4 - report from Iain Grant
A souped-up first half display by the Vikings proved crucial in getting their hands on the first North Caley silverware of the season.
After Grant Steven added to a well-taken brace by man-of-the-match Sandy Sutherland, the NCC Cup final in Golspie looked in danger of turning into an ugly mismatch.
But Invergordon’s fiesty riposte after the interval caught their opponents off-guard.
Had they managed to add to Robbie MacCormack’s penalty near the hour-mark, they would have been a good bet to go on to claim victory.
Ross Allan’s stunning stoppage-time strike put a gloss on the final scoreline.
After their recent sticky patch in which they went three matches without scoring, Thurso marked the first period with some vibrant, adventurous play which fully merited their three goal advantage.
They had an early scare when MacCormack’s inswinging corner bounced off the top of the bar and behind.
Soon, play was concentrated at the other end with Mark Nichol fully extending keeper Stephen Campbell with two lusty strikes from just outside the penalty area.
On 13 minutes, Chris Wann launched an attack down the right wing which was sustained by a clever inter-change between Nichol and James Murray.
The latter’s lay-off gave Wann an inviting opening but he fired wastefully wide.
With Thurso’s new-look back three still settling in, Paul Austin darted through the middle and had his shot blocked by keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso drew in front on 19 minutes when Kyle Ross’s probe put Murray in acres of space out right.
He drove infield and eluded Campbell’s desperate dive before his centre was swept in by Sandy Sutherland.
Seven minutes later, the lead doubled with Murray again the provider after useful contributions from Wann and Nichol.
Sandy Sutherland again shown his predatory instincts as he converted from close range.
Invergordon were struggling to live with the pace and movement of their opponents for whom Jamie MacKenzie and Ross were calling the shots in midfield.
On 29 minutes, Nichol was unable to get the necessary contact on the edge of the six yard box from a teasing, driven free-kick from Lee MacDougall.
Nichol and Murray then provided MacKenzie with an inviting opening close in but he delayed a fraction too long and the ball was hacked clear.
On the half-hour mark, Thurso bagged a third when Campbell’s failure to pouch MacDougall’s looping corner was punished by Steven‘s headed finish from point-blank range.
Invergordon finished the half with a bit of a flurry with Gray spreading himself well to deny Stevie Murray before Jamie MacLeod headed a corner inches wide.
Two minutes after the interval, the contest could have been sealed had veteran Robbie MacDougall not got back to clear Nichol’s back-header off his goal-line.
The Vikings had a let-off on 50 minutes when Stevie Murray’s cross clearly struck defender Andrew Bremner on the arm in his penalty box.
Robbie MacDougall then got away with a fly tug on Steven’s shirt at the other end to give Harry Rae an unobstructed run-in.
Gray saved the day for his side with a full-length block.
Bremner had used up all his lives when on 59 minutes he was penalised for taking down Stevie Murray as he drove in on goal.
Gray guessed the correct way but MacCormack’s spot-kick was expertly dispatched into the keeper’s left side-net.
The goal injected fresh belief into the Easter Ross men and Steven did well to get his body in the way of a new-bound shot from MacLeod.
Invergordon’s Billy Horne joined Stevie Murray in ref Gavin Dearie’s book for a crude take-out of Sandy Sutherland,
Thurso went close on 67 minutes when a searching pass from Ross found Sandy Sutherland.
He fed strike partner Nichol whose shot looked a winner all the way before striking the left upright and going past.
Invergordon then threatened to punish a Lee MacDougall slip when Horne set up Robbie MacDougall, who by now had been moved from central defence to centre forward.
As the latter shaped to shoot, Steven made another telling intervention to sweep the ball out for a corner.
The Vikings finished the game on top with sub Martin Sutherland’s sparky run and cross ending with Nichol foiled again by Campbell.
In the final action, Nichol invited Allan to forge up the inside-left channel before smashing a shot which beat Campbell all ends up.
After the final whistle, Thurso skipper MacDougall stepped up to
accept the cup from North Caley League president David Cowie..
Invergordon – Campbell, Kennedy, Horne, Stone, MacDougall, Omand (MacAskill 84), MacCormack, Rae, Murray, Austin (Colquhon 54), Macleod. Subs (unused) – Wilson, Morrison and Mitchell.
Thurso – Gray, Wann (M. Sutherland 76), Steven, Forbes, Bremner, Ross, S. Sutherland, MacKenzie, Nichol, Murray (Allan 59), MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Stewart and Mackintosh.
Ref – Mr G. Dearie.
A souped-up first half display by the Vikings proved crucial in getting their hands on the first North Caley silverware of the season.
After Grant Steven added to a well-taken brace by man-of-the-match Sandy Sutherland, the NCC Cup final in Golspie looked in danger of turning into an ugly mismatch.
But Invergordon’s fiesty riposte after the interval caught their opponents off-guard.
Had they managed to add to Robbie MacCormack’s penalty near the hour-mark, they would have been a good bet to go on to claim victory.
Ross Allan’s stunning stoppage-time strike put a gloss on the final scoreline.
After their recent sticky patch in which they went three matches without scoring, Thurso marked the first period with some vibrant, adventurous play which fully merited their three goal advantage.
They had an early scare when MacCormack’s inswinging corner bounced off the top of the bar and behind.
Soon, play was concentrated at the other end with Mark Nichol fully extending keeper Stephen Campbell with two lusty strikes from just outside the penalty area.
On 13 minutes, Chris Wann launched an attack down the right wing which was sustained by a clever inter-change between Nichol and James Murray.
The latter’s lay-off gave Wann an inviting opening but he fired wastefully wide.
With Thurso’s new-look back three still settling in, Paul Austin darted through the middle and had his shot blocked by keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso drew in front on 19 minutes when Kyle Ross’s probe put Murray in acres of space out right.
He drove infield and eluded Campbell’s desperate dive before his centre was swept in by Sandy Sutherland.
Seven minutes later, the lead doubled with Murray again the provider after useful contributions from Wann and Nichol.
Sandy Sutherland again shown his predatory instincts as he converted from close range.
Invergordon were struggling to live with the pace and movement of their opponents for whom Jamie MacKenzie and Ross were calling the shots in midfield.
On 29 minutes, Nichol was unable to get the necessary contact on the edge of the six yard box from a teasing, driven free-kick from Lee MacDougall.
Nichol and Murray then provided MacKenzie with an inviting opening close in but he delayed a fraction too long and the ball was hacked clear.
On the half-hour mark, Thurso bagged a third when Campbell’s failure to pouch MacDougall’s looping corner was punished by Steven‘s headed finish from point-blank range.
Invergordon finished the half with a bit of a flurry with Gray spreading himself well to deny Stevie Murray before Jamie MacLeod headed a corner inches wide.
Two minutes after the interval, the contest could have been sealed had veteran Robbie MacDougall not got back to clear Nichol’s back-header off his goal-line.
The Vikings had a let-off on 50 minutes when Stevie Murray’s cross clearly struck defender Andrew Bremner on the arm in his penalty box.
Robbie MacDougall then got away with a fly tug on Steven’s shirt at the other end to give Harry Rae an unobstructed run-in.
Gray saved the day for his side with a full-length block.
Bremner had used up all his lives when on 59 minutes he was penalised for taking down Stevie Murray as he drove in on goal.
Gray guessed the correct way but MacCormack’s spot-kick was expertly dispatched into the keeper’s left side-net.
The goal injected fresh belief into the Easter Ross men and Steven did well to get his body in the way of a new-bound shot from MacLeod.
Invergordon’s Billy Horne joined Stevie Murray in ref Gavin Dearie’s book for a crude take-out of Sandy Sutherland,
Thurso went close on 67 minutes when a searching pass from Ross found Sandy Sutherland.
He fed strike partner Nichol whose shot looked a winner all the way before striking the left upright and going past.
Invergordon then threatened to punish a Lee MacDougall slip when Horne set up Robbie MacDougall, who by now had been moved from central defence to centre forward.
As the latter shaped to shoot, Steven made another telling intervention to sweep the ball out for a corner.
The Vikings finished the game on top with sub Martin Sutherland’s sparky run and cross ending with Nichol foiled again by Campbell.
In the final action, Nichol invited Allan to forge up the inside-left channel before smashing a shot which beat Campbell all ends up.
After the final whistle, Thurso skipper MacDougall stepped up to
accept the cup from North Caley League president David Cowie..
Invergordon – Campbell, Kennedy, Horne, Stone, MacDougall, Omand (MacAskill 84), MacCormack, Rae, Murray, Austin (Colquhon 54), Macleod. Subs (unused) – Wilson, Morrison and Mitchell.
Thurso – Gray, Wann (M. Sutherland 76), Steven, Forbes, Bremner, Ross, S. Sutherland, MacKenzie, Nichol, Murray (Allan 59), MacDougall. Subs (unused) – Stewart and Mackintosh.
Ref – Mr G. Dearie.