Post by Brian Mackay on May 3, 2011 10:31:28 GMT -5
Invergordon 2 v Thurso 7 - report by Iain Grant
The Vikings dramatically snatched third place in the PSG North Caley League on Saturday as they rounded off their campaign in style.
The pressure was racked up after they learned on the eve of the match that just the top three, along with SFA associate members Golspie Sutherland, would be invited to take part in next season’s North of Scotland Cup.
That left Thurso having to beat Invergordon four clear goals to move above Muir of Ord Rovers on goal difference.
They duly achieved their target with one goal to spare.
Leading 2-1 after a scrappy first half, they were 5-2 ahead with just 10 minutes remaining.
Mark Nichol’s hat-trick goal and James Murray’s second against a tiring home side ensured it was mission accomplished for Stevie Reid’s troops.
Shorts and shades were the order of the day for the Vikings’ last outing and unfortunately the laid-back dress code mirrored their approach to the opening 45 minutes.
Ross Allan’s urgency in seizing on a misplaced pass to burst through open the scoring contrasted with his side’s general lethargy.
Invergordon, who struggled to fill their bench, drew level when Thurso
sweeper Jamie MacKenzie and keeper Michael Gray got their wires crossed and Robert Wilde nipped in to score.
Allan missed two decent chances before Nichol restored his side’s advantage.
Nichol struck again and Allan grabbed his second before Wilde grabbed his second to reduce the leeway to 2-4.
Manager Reid rejigged his line-up, introducing Murray and changing from a 3-4-3- to a 4-4-2 in a bid to give more width to his side’s attacks.
Murray was quick to make an impact with the erstwhile Brora Rangers striker finishing off a slick move after his side had passed up several further inviting opportunities.
With nine minutes left, Thurso were celebrating going 6-2 up when Nichol grabbed his third of the game and his 36th of a season which has seen him win his fourth successive golden boot.
Murray’s second late on sealed Thurso’s biggest win in Invergordon for a number of years.
For manager Reid, the last quarter of the game was uncomfortable not just for the uncertainty over whether his side would score enough goals to clinch third spot.
Because of Chris Wann being ruled out after an ankle injury flared up in the warm-up, the 40-year-old was forced to get stripped for potential action as an emergency third sub.
He said: “I did get a bit worried with about 20 to go after I had put the two subs on and Jamie (MacKenzie) appeared to be struggling a bit.
“But he managed to play on and fortunately I was able to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines.”
The manager admits his side only got their act together after the interval.
“We were pretty poor in the first half – we played in fits and starts and our passing was, at times atrocious.
“Saying that, we still had a lot of chances and we could have been out of sight by half-time had we taken them.
“We picked up after the interval and I think we looked more comfortable in a 4-4-2 formation, which gave a bit more width to our play.”
Reid rues a poor start to the Vikings’ league campaign, which featured a horror spell in October when they suffered defeats on the bounce, at Muir of Ord, Dingwall and Halkirk.
They subsequently reeled off seven league wins and a draw, as well as lifting three of the four NCL cups.
Said Reid: “I think the guys can be proud of what they have achieved this season.
“After that rough spell, they knuckled down and managed to turn the season around.”
The manager is particularly pleased to see a clutch of youngsters emerge and force their way into the squad.
Thurso – Gray, Munro (Harrold 50), Steven, MacKenzie, Ross, Petrie, Sutherland, Begg (Murray 60), Nichol, Allan, MacDougall.
Sub (unused) -- Reid.
Ref – Mr G. Dearie.
The Vikings dramatically snatched third place in the PSG North Caley League on Saturday as they rounded off their campaign in style.
The pressure was racked up after they learned on the eve of the match that just the top three, along with SFA associate members Golspie Sutherland, would be invited to take part in next season’s North of Scotland Cup.
That left Thurso having to beat Invergordon four clear goals to move above Muir of Ord Rovers on goal difference.
They duly achieved their target with one goal to spare.
Leading 2-1 after a scrappy first half, they were 5-2 ahead with just 10 minutes remaining.
Mark Nichol’s hat-trick goal and James Murray’s second against a tiring home side ensured it was mission accomplished for Stevie Reid’s troops.
Shorts and shades were the order of the day for the Vikings’ last outing and unfortunately the laid-back dress code mirrored their approach to the opening 45 minutes.
Ross Allan’s urgency in seizing on a misplaced pass to burst through open the scoring contrasted with his side’s general lethargy.
Invergordon, who struggled to fill their bench, drew level when Thurso
sweeper Jamie MacKenzie and keeper Michael Gray got their wires crossed and Robert Wilde nipped in to score.
Allan missed two decent chances before Nichol restored his side’s advantage.
Nichol struck again and Allan grabbed his second before Wilde grabbed his second to reduce the leeway to 2-4.
Manager Reid rejigged his line-up, introducing Murray and changing from a 3-4-3- to a 4-4-2 in a bid to give more width to his side’s attacks.
Murray was quick to make an impact with the erstwhile Brora Rangers striker finishing off a slick move after his side had passed up several further inviting opportunities.
With nine minutes left, Thurso were celebrating going 6-2 up when Nichol grabbed his third of the game and his 36th of a season which has seen him win his fourth successive golden boot.
Murray’s second late on sealed Thurso’s biggest win in Invergordon for a number of years.
For manager Reid, the last quarter of the game was uncomfortable not just for the uncertainty over whether his side would score enough goals to clinch third spot.
Because of Chris Wann being ruled out after an ankle injury flared up in the warm-up, the 40-year-old was forced to get stripped for potential action as an emergency third sub.
He said: “I did get a bit worried with about 20 to go after I had put the two subs on and Jamie (MacKenzie) appeared to be struggling a bit.
“But he managed to play on and fortunately I was able to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines.”
The manager admits his side only got their act together after the interval.
“We were pretty poor in the first half – we played in fits and starts and our passing was, at times atrocious.
“Saying that, we still had a lot of chances and we could have been out of sight by half-time had we taken them.
“We picked up after the interval and I think we looked more comfortable in a 4-4-2 formation, which gave a bit more width to our play.”
Reid rues a poor start to the Vikings’ league campaign, which featured a horror spell in October when they suffered defeats on the bounce, at Muir of Ord, Dingwall and Halkirk.
They subsequently reeled off seven league wins and a draw, as well as lifting three of the four NCL cups.
Said Reid: “I think the guys can be proud of what they have achieved this season.
“After that rough spell, they knuckled down and managed to turn the season around.”
The manager is particularly pleased to see a clutch of youngsters emerge and force their way into the squad.
Thurso – Gray, Munro (Harrold 50), Steven, MacKenzie, Ross, Petrie, Sutherland, Begg (Murray 60), Nichol, Allan, MacDougall.
Sub (unused) -- Reid.
Ref – Mr G. Dearie.