Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 19, 2011 14:36:29 GMT -5
Bonar Bridge 0 v Thurso 5 - report by Iain Grant
To describe the Vikings’ league double over Bonar as a back-to-backer is somewhat misleading.
The first victory was on their last outing in the PSG North Caley championship but that was back on November 13.
The foul weather, which has caused a long run of postponements, looked set to strike again after the Bonar pitch was adjudged unplayable after a Thursday inspection.
Melting snow left pools of water lying on the park, whose drainage properties are notoriously poor.
Balintore, in the form of long-time club and North Caley stalwart Jean MacKenzie, kindly offered to step in as hosts.
Bonar have good reason to view Mark Nichol’s name on the Thurso team-sheet with trepidation.
Nichol added to his free-scoring antics against the Sutherland men by claiming all five goals scored on Saturday.
Bonar are inured to the punishment inflicted in them by the 30-year-old joiner, who bagged a first half hat-trick in the earlier 5-0 win in Thurso.
In the three clashes last season, he scored a total of 10 while several years ago he posted seven in one match.
The toll taken by the long break from action was evident in a scrappy, largely forgettable first half.
A troublesome wind added to the problems both sides had in getting back into the swing of things.
The few decent chances of the half fell to the visitors. James Murray, one of Thurso’s three-strong strikeforce, was put clear and looked set to net after rounding stand-in keeper Ryan MacLean.
But Murray found the angle too tight with his shot coming off the face of the bar.
Fellow striker Ross Allan also went close when his full-blooded 25 yarder thudded back off the bar.
Bonar were aggrieved at having a penalty claim turned down when striker Sean Henstridge was baulked as he rose to meet a corner.
The opener came five minutes from half-time when Allan was downed in the box and Nichol stepped up to tuck away the resultant spot-kick.
Bonar’s resistance started to crumble after they fell two behind five minutes after the turnaround.
The Vikings by now were starting to recapture the form they showed in racking up three straight victories before the shutdown.
Lee MacDougall’s piercing assist had Nichol racing through and he steered a firm shot outwith the reach of keeper MacLean.
Jamie MacKenzie and Murray played the principal roles in the third goal nine minutes later with Nichol perfectly placed to apply the finish.
The Vikings forged further in front on 63 minutes when young sub Ryan Begg’s deflected shot from a corner sat up nicely for Nichol to volley home.
Nichol struck woodwork before finishing off his one-man scoring act seven minutes from time.
Sub’s Chris Wann nicely weighted pass set up the striker for a run-in and he duly threaded the ball past the onrushing MacLean.
Bonar had a decent chance to get on the score-sheet near the end when Jamie Morrison broke clear but his attempt on goal was blocked by keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid had few complaints about how his side reacted to their long lay-off
He said: “We struggled a bit and never really got to grips with the game until late in the first half.
“The second goal took the wind out of Bonar and we went on to play really well.”
The manager singled out Allan and MacKenzie, who ended up in the middle of the back four after John Smith exited with a back strain.
Reid said: “Mark will get the plaudits with the goals but Jamie was rightly given the man-of-the-match.”
Thurso – Gray, Ross (Wann 55), Petrie (Sutherland 75), Steven, Bremner, Smith, (Begg 65), MacKenzie, Murray, Allan, Nichol, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr M. Dalton.
To describe the Vikings’ league double over Bonar as a back-to-backer is somewhat misleading.
The first victory was on their last outing in the PSG North Caley championship but that was back on November 13.
The foul weather, which has caused a long run of postponements, looked set to strike again after the Bonar pitch was adjudged unplayable after a Thursday inspection.
Melting snow left pools of water lying on the park, whose drainage properties are notoriously poor.
Balintore, in the form of long-time club and North Caley stalwart Jean MacKenzie, kindly offered to step in as hosts.
Bonar have good reason to view Mark Nichol’s name on the Thurso team-sheet with trepidation.
Nichol added to his free-scoring antics against the Sutherland men by claiming all five goals scored on Saturday.
Bonar are inured to the punishment inflicted in them by the 30-year-old joiner, who bagged a first half hat-trick in the earlier 5-0 win in Thurso.
In the three clashes last season, he scored a total of 10 while several years ago he posted seven in one match.
The toll taken by the long break from action was evident in a scrappy, largely forgettable first half.
A troublesome wind added to the problems both sides had in getting back into the swing of things.
The few decent chances of the half fell to the visitors. James Murray, one of Thurso’s three-strong strikeforce, was put clear and looked set to net after rounding stand-in keeper Ryan MacLean.
But Murray found the angle too tight with his shot coming off the face of the bar.
Fellow striker Ross Allan also went close when his full-blooded 25 yarder thudded back off the bar.
Bonar were aggrieved at having a penalty claim turned down when striker Sean Henstridge was baulked as he rose to meet a corner.
The opener came five minutes from half-time when Allan was downed in the box and Nichol stepped up to tuck away the resultant spot-kick.
Bonar’s resistance started to crumble after they fell two behind five minutes after the turnaround.
The Vikings by now were starting to recapture the form they showed in racking up three straight victories before the shutdown.
Lee MacDougall’s piercing assist had Nichol racing through and he steered a firm shot outwith the reach of keeper MacLean.
Jamie MacKenzie and Murray played the principal roles in the third goal nine minutes later with Nichol perfectly placed to apply the finish.
The Vikings forged further in front on 63 minutes when young sub Ryan Begg’s deflected shot from a corner sat up nicely for Nichol to volley home.
Nichol struck woodwork before finishing off his one-man scoring act seven minutes from time.
Sub’s Chris Wann nicely weighted pass set up the striker for a run-in and he duly threaded the ball past the onrushing MacLean.
Bonar had a decent chance to get on the score-sheet near the end when Jamie Morrison broke clear but his attempt on goal was blocked by keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid had few complaints about how his side reacted to their long lay-off
He said: “We struggled a bit and never really got to grips with the game until late in the first half.
“The second goal took the wind out of Bonar and we went on to play really well.”
The manager singled out Allan and MacKenzie, who ended up in the middle of the back four after John Smith exited with a back strain.
Reid said: “Mark will get the plaudits with the goals but Jamie was rightly given the man-of-the-match.”
Thurso – Gray, Ross (Wann 55), Petrie (Sutherland 75), Steven, Bremner, Smith, (Begg 65), MacKenzie, Murray, Allan, Nichol, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr M. Dalton.