Post by Brian Mackay on Apr 27, 2011 2:09:08 GMT -5
Dingwall Thistle 3 Thurso 3 (aet) - report from Iain Grant
(Thistle won 5-4 on pens)
The Vikings lost their unbeaten run in this year’s North Caley cups on Saturday but only after a titanic struggle in Dingwall.
The see-saw Football Times Cup quarter-final contest ended up being settled by a penalty shoot-out.
A combination of injuries and other commitments robbed the Vikings of regulars Jamie MacKenzie, Mark Nichol, Sean Stewart, Kyle and Stuart Ross and Chris Wann. Stuart Sinclair, Marc Begg, James McLean, Paul Wares and Logan Munro came in as Thurso sought to add to their hail of three cups.
They looked on track to progress to the semi when McLean headed them in front soon after the interval.
But a quick double riposte from John MacLeod and Andrew Miller ahd the Jags in front before Marc Begg struck a last-minute equaliser.
The visitors again took the initiative in extra-time when Martin Sutherland put them in front only for Stephen MacLean to restore parity before the second turnaround.
The first half proved a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to cope with the unyielding, bumpy surface of Jubilee Park.
Neither keeper was over-worked with both sides finding it difficult to produce the final killer pass or cross.
Within 10 minutes of the second half, Thurso took the lead when McLean ran in untracked to head Lee MacDougall’s free-kick past keeper Neil Mackay.
Thistle had good spells of pressure but had not seriously threatened
to score before drawing level with 13 minutes of normal play remaining.
MacLeod seized on a short pass-back to run through and net his first goal against his home-town club.
A couple of minutes later, the Vikings were stunned to concede again when Cameron McHardy broke clear and centred for Miller to turn the ball past Gray.
The looked like being the clincher until Thurso conjured up a dramatic late leveller.
An intricate move ended with Michael Petrie’s lay-off prompting a half-volley from Marc Begg that flew past keeper Mackay.
Thurso’s livelier start to extra-time was rewarded with Sutherland’s 96 minute goal.
The defender capped one of his best games for the club after he profited from a sparky Ross Allan raid down the right flank.
The ball broke off a Thistle player to Sutherland whose raking, low shot from just outside the area beat Mackay at his near post.
Again, Thurso were not able to relish their advantage for any time.
A minute before the extra-time interval, a quick counter caught the Vikings napping and MacLean was left unmarked to net.
Both teams were feeling the pace on a humid day and there was a stretched look to the remainder of the game.
The last chance in the final minute fell to Thurso when they won a free-kick just outside Thistle’s area.
MacDougall’s bending effort was well enough struck but it caught the top of a defender’s head and went past for a corner.
MacDougall’s played a captain’s part in the shoot-out in burying the first penalty in some style.
Petrie and Harrold followed suit, as did the first three Thistle penalty-takers.
The weak link proved to be Allan whose unconvincing attempt was comfortably gathered by Mackay.
The veteran keeper rubbed slat in the wounds when he converted his side’s fourth to give them, in tennis parlance, two match points.
Marc Begg saved the first with a nerveless finish but MacLean ended Thurso’s hopes when he converted his.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid was afterwards full of praise for the fight put up by his makeshift squad.
“Considering the number of boys we had to bring in, I thought we did really well,” he said.
“After we scored the first goal, I thought were looking pretty comfortable.
“We were knocking it about well at the back and not really giving them many chances.
“It was disappointing the way we conceded the equaliser but after going behind, we worked hard to get back in the game and deserved the equaliser.
“After going ahead again, it was disappointing we could not hold on to the lead but I certainly can’t fault them for the effort they put in.”
Thurso complete their season tomorrow with an away PSG League match versus Invergordon.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland, Harrold, Sinclair, Smith, MacGregor (Wares 90), Petrie, R. Begg (Munro 80), McLean (M. Begg 75), Allan, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell.
(Thistle won 5-4 on pens)
The Vikings lost their unbeaten run in this year’s North Caley cups on Saturday but only after a titanic struggle in Dingwall.
The see-saw Football Times Cup quarter-final contest ended up being settled by a penalty shoot-out.
A combination of injuries and other commitments robbed the Vikings of regulars Jamie MacKenzie, Mark Nichol, Sean Stewart, Kyle and Stuart Ross and Chris Wann. Stuart Sinclair, Marc Begg, James McLean, Paul Wares and Logan Munro came in as Thurso sought to add to their hail of three cups.
They looked on track to progress to the semi when McLean headed them in front soon after the interval.
But a quick double riposte from John MacLeod and Andrew Miller ahd the Jags in front before Marc Begg struck a last-minute equaliser.
The visitors again took the initiative in extra-time when Martin Sutherland put them in front only for Stephen MacLean to restore parity before the second turnaround.
The first half proved a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to cope with the unyielding, bumpy surface of Jubilee Park.
Neither keeper was over-worked with both sides finding it difficult to produce the final killer pass or cross.
Within 10 minutes of the second half, Thurso took the lead when McLean ran in untracked to head Lee MacDougall’s free-kick past keeper Neil Mackay.
Thistle had good spells of pressure but had not seriously threatened
to score before drawing level with 13 minutes of normal play remaining.
MacLeod seized on a short pass-back to run through and net his first goal against his home-town club.
A couple of minutes later, the Vikings were stunned to concede again when Cameron McHardy broke clear and centred for Miller to turn the ball past Gray.
The looked like being the clincher until Thurso conjured up a dramatic late leveller.
An intricate move ended with Michael Petrie’s lay-off prompting a half-volley from Marc Begg that flew past keeper Mackay.
Thurso’s livelier start to extra-time was rewarded with Sutherland’s 96 minute goal.
The defender capped one of his best games for the club after he profited from a sparky Ross Allan raid down the right flank.
The ball broke off a Thistle player to Sutherland whose raking, low shot from just outside the area beat Mackay at his near post.
Again, Thurso were not able to relish their advantage for any time.
A minute before the extra-time interval, a quick counter caught the Vikings napping and MacLean was left unmarked to net.
Both teams were feeling the pace on a humid day and there was a stretched look to the remainder of the game.
The last chance in the final minute fell to Thurso when they won a free-kick just outside Thistle’s area.
MacDougall’s bending effort was well enough struck but it caught the top of a defender’s head and went past for a corner.
MacDougall’s played a captain’s part in the shoot-out in burying the first penalty in some style.
Petrie and Harrold followed suit, as did the first three Thistle penalty-takers.
The weak link proved to be Allan whose unconvincing attempt was comfortably gathered by Mackay.
The veteran keeper rubbed slat in the wounds when he converted his side’s fourth to give them, in tennis parlance, two match points.
Marc Begg saved the first with a nerveless finish but MacLean ended Thurso’s hopes when he converted his.
Thurso manager Stevie Reid was afterwards full of praise for the fight put up by his makeshift squad.
“Considering the number of boys we had to bring in, I thought we did really well,” he said.
“After we scored the first goal, I thought were looking pretty comfortable.
“We were knocking it about well at the back and not really giving them many chances.
“It was disappointing the way we conceded the equaliser but after going behind, we worked hard to get back in the game and deserved the equaliser.
“After going ahead again, it was disappointing we could not hold on to the lead but I certainly can’t fault them for the effort they put in.”
Thurso complete their season tomorrow with an away PSG League match versus Invergordon.
Thurso – Gray, Sutherland, Harrold, Sinclair, Smith, MacGregor (Wares 90), Petrie, R. Begg (Munro 80), McLean (M. Begg 75), Allan, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr J. Bicknell.