Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 31, 2011 7:53:33 GMT -5
Thurso 3 Muir of Ord Rovers 3 - by Iain Grant
An injury-time equaliser broke Thurso’s 11 game winning streak on Saturday.
Gary Calvert’s strike gave Muir a deserved share of the spoils in a six goal thriller at Sir Georges Park.
The Vikings twice came from behind to draw in front just after the interval and they withstood lengthy spells of pressure before conceding the last-gasp leveller.
This was the latest in a series of closely matched affairs between sides vying to finish third in the PSG North Caley League.
After a nondescript opening, the visitors took a 10th minute lead when arch poacher Ewan Dance was left unmarked for a tap-in at the far post.
Within five minutes, Thurso drew level after Lee MacDougall’s corner was met with a power header from Jamie MacKenzie which beat keeper Robert Rose at his right post.
Both teams were keen to keep the ball on the deck and play down the flanks.
Muir reclaimed the lead in controversial circumstances in 24 minutes.
An indirect free-kick just inside the penalty box bulleted past the defensive cordon.
Keeper Michael Gray insists he touched the ball only after it had crossed the line but ref Graham John gave a goal after a confab with assistant Stevie Tait.
Thurso went close a couple of times before getting back on terms 10 minutes before the turnaround.
Michael Petrie’s 25 yarder took a deflection off a defender on its way past Rose.
Ross Allan then missed a snip to put his side ahead on 41 minutes after MacDougall did the donkey-work.
But presented with an open goal from inside the six yard box, the youngster’s miscued attempt came back off a defender.
Several of the Thurso committee members were still completing the
club’s half-time monthly draw when their side drew ahead.
Allan found space down the right wing before cutting inside where he was upended in the penalty box.
Mr John pointed immediately to the spot and Mark Nichol stepped up to send Rose the wrong way and extend his scoring sequence to nine matches.
Rovers reacted to the setback by going on to dominate much of the half.
On 55 minutes, Gray pulled off an unlikely save to keep out a Dance header from point-blank range.
The keeper went on to thwart Muir a number of times, including denying Dance when he was sent in the clear.
Having managed to negotiate these spells of intense pressure, the home side should have sealed victory with five minutes left.
A sharp counter ended with Nichol centring to the inrushing Murray Mackintosh who had merely to pick his spot from just in the six yard box.
The young sub’s fresh-air shot left him with a red face and kept Muir’s chances alive.
Thurso looked to have held out for another win, when the visitors mounted one last assault four minutes into stoppage time.
Keeper Rose added to the packed goalmouth as the cross somehow found Jason Calvert on his own at the far post.
After cushioning the ball, he blasted it past Gray to secure a draw which maintains his side’s three point advantage over their hosts.
Reflecting on the roller-coaster nature of the tussle, Thurso manager Stevie Reid said: “I think the two teams are very evenly matched.
“We had the better of the first half and they enjoyed the better of the second.
“I was disappointed about the way we conceded the third goal but over the run of play, I’d say a draw was about right.”
The manager agreed his side rode their luck at times in the second half.
“We weren’t clearing our lines very well and were giving away too many fouls in the latter stages of the game and eventually they got the equaliser.
“Saying that we missed two sitters at crucial times of the game.”
Thurso – Gray, Wann (Stewart 81), Forbes, Smith, Allan (Mackintosh 80), MacGregor, Petrie, MacKenzie, Nichol, Ross, MacDougall.
Subs (unused) – Harold, Sutherland and Begg.
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Geegan, J. Calvert, MacMillan, Houston, Brindle, Callum, Gair, Dance, Morrison, G. Calvert. Subs – Gow, Fraser, MacGruer and Hercher.
Ref – Mr G. John.
An injury-time equaliser broke Thurso’s 11 game winning streak on Saturday.
Gary Calvert’s strike gave Muir a deserved share of the spoils in a six goal thriller at Sir Georges Park.
The Vikings twice came from behind to draw in front just after the interval and they withstood lengthy spells of pressure before conceding the last-gasp leveller.
This was the latest in a series of closely matched affairs between sides vying to finish third in the PSG North Caley League.
After a nondescript opening, the visitors took a 10th minute lead when arch poacher Ewan Dance was left unmarked for a tap-in at the far post.
Within five minutes, Thurso drew level after Lee MacDougall’s corner was met with a power header from Jamie MacKenzie which beat keeper Robert Rose at his right post.
Both teams were keen to keep the ball on the deck and play down the flanks.
Muir reclaimed the lead in controversial circumstances in 24 minutes.
An indirect free-kick just inside the penalty box bulleted past the defensive cordon.
Keeper Michael Gray insists he touched the ball only after it had crossed the line but ref Graham John gave a goal after a confab with assistant Stevie Tait.
Thurso went close a couple of times before getting back on terms 10 minutes before the turnaround.
Michael Petrie’s 25 yarder took a deflection off a defender on its way past Rose.
Ross Allan then missed a snip to put his side ahead on 41 minutes after MacDougall did the donkey-work.
But presented with an open goal from inside the six yard box, the youngster’s miscued attempt came back off a defender.
Several of the Thurso committee members were still completing the
club’s half-time monthly draw when their side drew ahead.
Allan found space down the right wing before cutting inside where he was upended in the penalty box.
Mr John pointed immediately to the spot and Mark Nichol stepped up to send Rose the wrong way and extend his scoring sequence to nine matches.
Rovers reacted to the setback by going on to dominate much of the half.
On 55 minutes, Gray pulled off an unlikely save to keep out a Dance header from point-blank range.
The keeper went on to thwart Muir a number of times, including denying Dance when he was sent in the clear.
Having managed to negotiate these spells of intense pressure, the home side should have sealed victory with five minutes left.
A sharp counter ended with Nichol centring to the inrushing Murray Mackintosh who had merely to pick his spot from just in the six yard box.
The young sub’s fresh-air shot left him with a red face and kept Muir’s chances alive.
Thurso looked to have held out for another win, when the visitors mounted one last assault four minutes into stoppage time.
Keeper Rose added to the packed goalmouth as the cross somehow found Jason Calvert on his own at the far post.
After cushioning the ball, he blasted it past Gray to secure a draw which maintains his side’s three point advantage over their hosts.
Reflecting on the roller-coaster nature of the tussle, Thurso manager Stevie Reid said: “I think the two teams are very evenly matched.
“We had the better of the first half and they enjoyed the better of the second.
“I was disappointed about the way we conceded the third goal but over the run of play, I’d say a draw was about right.”
The manager agreed his side rode their luck at times in the second half.
“We weren’t clearing our lines very well and were giving away too many fouls in the latter stages of the game and eventually they got the equaliser.
“Saying that we missed two sitters at crucial times of the game.”
Thurso – Gray, Wann (Stewart 81), Forbes, Smith, Allan (Mackintosh 80), MacGregor, Petrie, MacKenzie, Nichol, Ross, MacDougall.
Subs (unused) – Harold, Sutherland and Begg.
Muir of Ord Rovers – Rose, Geegan, J. Calvert, MacMillan, Houston, Brindle, Callum, Gair, Dance, Morrison, G. Calvert. Subs – Gow, Fraser, MacGruer and Hercher.
Ref – Mr G. John.