Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 16, 2011 11:13:32 GMT -5
Fort William 1 V Thurso 10 - report from Iain Grant
The Vikings made a quick return to Balintore on Saturday for this
re-arranged PSG North Caley League double-header.
The scene of their SWL Cup final victory the previous week was chosen after the scheduled venue of Alness was again ruled out.
Seaboard Park was free from snow at the kick-off but there were frequent heavy wintry showers in the course of the game.
Thurso recovered from the shock of conceding early on to dominate a short-handed Fort side, who included a handful of their under-17 side.
But for the heroics of their Polish keeper Robert Lewandowski, the Lochaber outfit would have been on the receiving end of a much heavier hiding. He was mainly responsible for keeping his side level until five minutes from the interval.
But Fort were totally outgunned in a second half by the Vikings who have now narrowed the gap on third placed Muir of Rovers.
The fixture helped showcase the future talent in the Vikings’ camp with seventeen-year-old Murray Mackintosh taking full advantage of his first start for the club.
The equaliser was the Glengolly youngster’s first for the club and he went on to bag a hat-trick. Seventeen-year-old Ross Allan put Thurso ahead and sixteen-year-old Ryan Begg rounded off the scoring. Thurso also gave debuts from the bench to two teenage trialists in Scott Bell and Craig Trueman
Mark Nichol meanwhile extended his red-hot scoring streak with a second half foursome. That takes his tally to 19 in seven outings.
Fort shocked their opponents when they went in front on three minutes.
Thurso defender Grant Steven was caught in possession and a quick counter ended with Adam Watson slotting past keeper Michael Gray from close range.
Suitably stung, Thurso pressed hard for an equaliser with late call-up Lewandoswki saving his side’s bacon with a succession of blocks, parries and gathers.
He was finally beaten on 20 minutes when Nichol’s forage down the right ended with his centre being netted first-time by strike partner Mackintosh from the edge of the six yard box.
There were a number of close calls for Thurso before Allan put them in front five minutes from half-time.
An intricate sequence ended with Allan exchanging passes with Begg before the former ghosted through and finished with a clever dink over the onrushing Lewandowski.
The second goal appeared to sap Fort’s resistance and the goals came thick and fast in the second period.
MacKintosh completed his hat-trick while Nichol helped himself to four.
Michael Petrie also netted before Begg took the score into double figures with a header after a shot came back off the crossbar.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid was delighted with the quality of his team’s play in sections of the match.
“I thought we played some cracking football, especially in the 20 minutes or so before we went in front.
”It was pretty comfortable and I struggle to remember Fort getting into our box in the second half.”
Reid was delighted with the display of his young guns.
Singling out Mackintosh, he said: “I thought Murray did really well on his first start. He took his goals well and put in a very good display.
“I’d also like to thank the three guys who were on bench for responding to late call-ups and they all did well when they came on.”
Fort William – Lewandowski, Kenneth, MacRae, Brown, Ridpeath, MacLeod, MacCormack, Melrose, Watson, MacLellan, Neill. Sub (used) – Jamieson.
Thurso – Gray, Steven, Smith (Greig 75), MacKenzie (Bell 70), MacGregor, Begg, Petrie, Mackintosh, Nichol, Allan, MacDougall (Trueman 60). Ref – Mr J. Hasson.
The Vikings made a quick return to Balintore on Saturday for this
re-arranged PSG North Caley League double-header.
The scene of their SWL Cup final victory the previous week was chosen after the scheduled venue of Alness was again ruled out.
Seaboard Park was free from snow at the kick-off but there were frequent heavy wintry showers in the course of the game.
Thurso recovered from the shock of conceding early on to dominate a short-handed Fort side, who included a handful of their under-17 side.
But for the heroics of their Polish keeper Robert Lewandowski, the Lochaber outfit would have been on the receiving end of a much heavier hiding. He was mainly responsible for keeping his side level until five minutes from the interval.
But Fort were totally outgunned in a second half by the Vikings who have now narrowed the gap on third placed Muir of Rovers.
The fixture helped showcase the future talent in the Vikings’ camp with seventeen-year-old Murray Mackintosh taking full advantage of his first start for the club.
The equaliser was the Glengolly youngster’s first for the club and he went on to bag a hat-trick. Seventeen-year-old Ross Allan put Thurso ahead and sixteen-year-old Ryan Begg rounded off the scoring. Thurso also gave debuts from the bench to two teenage trialists in Scott Bell and Craig Trueman
Mark Nichol meanwhile extended his red-hot scoring streak with a second half foursome. That takes his tally to 19 in seven outings.
Fort shocked their opponents when they went in front on three minutes.
Thurso defender Grant Steven was caught in possession and a quick counter ended with Adam Watson slotting past keeper Michael Gray from close range.
Suitably stung, Thurso pressed hard for an equaliser with late call-up Lewandoswki saving his side’s bacon with a succession of blocks, parries and gathers.
He was finally beaten on 20 minutes when Nichol’s forage down the right ended with his centre being netted first-time by strike partner Mackintosh from the edge of the six yard box.
There were a number of close calls for Thurso before Allan put them in front five minutes from half-time.
An intricate sequence ended with Allan exchanging passes with Begg before the former ghosted through and finished with a clever dink over the onrushing Lewandowski.
The second goal appeared to sap Fort’s resistance and the goals came thick and fast in the second period.
MacKintosh completed his hat-trick while Nichol helped himself to four.
Michael Petrie also netted before Begg took the score into double figures with a header after a shot came back off the crossbar.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid was delighted with the quality of his team’s play in sections of the match.
“I thought we played some cracking football, especially in the 20 minutes or so before we went in front.
”It was pretty comfortable and I struggle to remember Fort getting into our box in the second half.”
Reid was delighted with the display of his young guns.
Singling out Mackintosh, he said: “I thought Murray did really well on his first start. He took his goals well and put in a very good display.
“I’d also like to thank the three guys who were on bench for responding to late call-ups and they all did well when they came on.”
Fort William – Lewandowski, Kenneth, MacRae, Brown, Ridpeath, MacLeod, MacCormack, Melrose, Watson, MacLellan, Neill. Sub (used) – Jamieson.
Thurso – Gray, Steven, Smith (Greig 75), MacKenzie (Bell 70), MacGregor, Begg, Petrie, Mackintosh, Nichol, Allan, MacDougall (Trueman 60). Ref – Mr J. Hasson.