Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 6, 2004 7:15:10 GMT -5
Bonar Bridge 2 Thurso 7 - by Iain Grant
Thurso made light of their trip to Bonar on Saturday after coasting to a runaway win
in the MSIS North Caledonian League.
Mark Nichol weighed in with a hat-trick with Alan Murray grabbing a brace and Brian
Gray and Lee MacDougall one apiece as the Vikings got their campaign off to a
perfect start with two wins on the road.
The home camp had cause to fear a double-digit reverse after Nichol third put them
seven behind with just over an hour played.
But Bonar saved some face by bagging two before the end.
Duncan Gray's men made their first attack count when a deep cross from Gavin
Bremner had keeper Nimmons scrambling to touch the ball on to the bar.
Nichol was first to react and Thurso were one up with a minute on the clock.
The striker was inches away from a second shortly afterwards after the first of a series
of telling passes from Jamie MacKenzie.
Mackenzie, who picked up a ninth minute booking, should have added to the lead
minute later but headed over from close range after good work by Bremner and Nichol.
Bonar's first attack of any substance after 12 minutes saw S. Allan's shot comfortably
held by Michael Gray.
Murray went close after 15 minutes before grabbing his first a minute later when an
inch-perfect pass from Mackenzie saw the striker outstrip the defence and strike the
ball past Nimmons.
MacDougall and Murray had further efforts on goal before the visitors forged further
ahead.
Ross Sutherland, who did a superb marking job on Bonar danger man Billy Ferries,
was the instigator as he broke up an attack before setting Nichol free after 29 minutes.
Nichol found Murray who ran on to beat Nimmons with ease.
Bonar continued to be under the cosh and lived dangerously on several occasions
before falling further behind seven minutes from the interval.
Another penetrating run from MacDougall was crudely ended as he was scythed
down in the box. Brian Gray thumped home the spot-kick to make it 4-0.
Five minutes later, it got worse for Bonar when MacDougall turned and beat two
defenders before netting with a well-struck shot which took a slight deflection as it
flashed past Nimmons.
Early action after the turnaround featured Nichol denied what appeared a cast-iron
penalty and a rare foray by Bonar ending with Morrison volleying wide from good
position.
An awkward challenge on 50 minutes signalled an early exit for Bonar's Ryan
Maclean.
After he was carried from the pitch with a knee injury, a tetchy spell ended with
Bonar's Ross booked.
Thurso pulled further ahead on 59 minutes when Bremner's free-kick from the right
put the Bonar defence in a spin and Nichol was left with the time and space to pick his
spot.
Two minutes later came the goal of the game when Bremner's cross produced a
cracking volleyed finish from Nichol.
Two minutes later, Michael Gray was forced to pull off his first real save of the
afternoon after Ferries cut in from the right and fired in a shot.
Three minutes later, the former Ross County and Brora Ranger favourite did the
spadework for Allan to grab Bonar's first.
Ferries also created the second two minutes later when his free-kick was met by
MacDougall whose attempted right-foot clearance was sliced high over Michael Gray
for a spectacular own goal.
Thurso quickly re-re-established control with good interplay involving Ian Adamson and
Luke Cassidy almost setting up Martyn Cook who was unable to get in his shot before
a defender made a despairing block.
Nichol then forced a good save from Nimmons before a promising break at the
other end saw Michael Gray doing well to block Gunn's shot.
The last five minutes saw Bonar denied by two last-ditch tackles from Brian Gray
in between Nichol powering a header straight at Nimmons.
The victory was particularly satisfying as dropped points at Bonar have cost Thurso
dear in recent seasons.
Thurso have a tough test tomorrow when they bid to extend their winning sequence
at home to Balintore.
The Vikings should be along the same lines for the match at Sir Georges Park, which
kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso - M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker, Moar, Bremner, Sutherland, Adamson (Bain 72), J.MacKenzie, (Cassidy 65), MacDougall, Nichol, Murray (Cook 65).
Balintore on Saturday scored a 4-1 home win versus Dornoch while Bunillidh Thistle
got their campaign off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory at Tain.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
---------------------------------------------------
Pl W D L F A Pts
THURSO 2 2 0 0 13 2 6
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 1 1 0 0 3 0 3
ALNESS UNITED 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
BALINTORE 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
GOLSPIE 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
HALKIRK UNITED 2 1 0 1 4 4 3
BONAR BRIDGE 2 1 0 1 4 8 3
INVERGORDON 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
DORNOCH 1 0 0 1 1 4 0
TAIN 2 0 0 2 0 9 0
Thurso made light of their trip to Bonar on Saturday after coasting to a runaway win
in the MSIS North Caledonian League.
Mark Nichol weighed in with a hat-trick with Alan Murray grabbing a brace and Brian
Gray and Lee MacDougall one apiece as the Vikings got their campaign off to a
perfect start with two wins on the road.
The home camp had cause to fear a double-digit reverse after Nichol third put them
seven behind with just over an hour played.
But Bonar saved some face by bagging two before the end.
Duncan Gray's men made their first attack count when a deep cross from Gavin
Bremner had keeper Nimmons scrambling to touch the ball on to the bar.
Nichol was first to react and Thurso were one up with a minute on the clock.
The striker was inches away from a second shortly afterwards after the first of a series
of telling passes from Jamie MacKenzie.
Mackenzie, who picked up a ninth minute booking, should have added to the lead
minute later but headed over from close range after good work by Bremner and Nichol.
Bonar's first attack of any substance after 12 minutes saw S. Allan's shot comfortably
held by Michael Gray.
Murray went close after 15 minutes before grabbing his first a minute later when an
inch-perfect pass from Mackenzie saw the striker outstrip the defence and strike the
ball past Nimmons.
MacDougall and Murray had further efforts on goal before the visitors forged further
ahead.
Ross Sutherland, who did a superb marking job on Bonar danger man Billy Ferries,
was the instigator as he broke up an attack before setting Nichol free after 29 minutes.
Nichol found Murray who ran on to beat Nimmons with ease.
Bonar continued to be under the cosh and lived dangerously on several occasions
before falling further behind seven minutes from the interval.
Another penetrating run from MacDougall was crudely ended as he was scythed
down in the box. Brian Gray thumped home the spot-kick to make it 4-0.
Five minutes later, it got worse for Bonar when MacDougall turned and beat two
defenders before netting with a well-struck shot which took a slight deflection as it
flashed past Nimmons.
Early action after the turnaround featured Nichol denied what appeared a cast-iron
penalty and a rare foray by Bonar ending with Morrison volleying wide from good
position.
An awkward challenge on 50 minutes signalled an early exit for Bonar's Ryan
Maclean.
After he was carried from the pitch with a knee injury, a tetchy spell ended with
Bonar's Ross booked.
Thurso pulled further ahead on 59 minutes when Bremner's free-kick from the right
put the Bonar defence in a spin and Nichol was left with the time and space to pick his
spot.
Two minutes later came the goal of the game when Bremner's cross produced a
cracking volleyed finish from Nichol.
Two minutes later, Michael Gray was forced to pull off his first real save of the
afternoon after Ferries cut in from the right and fired in a shot.
Three minutes later, the former Ross County and Brora Ranger favourite did the
spadework for Allan to grab Bonar's first.
Ferries also created the second two minutes later when his free-kick was met by
MacDougall whose attempted right-foot clearance was sliced high over Michael Gray
for a spectacular own goal.
Thurso quickly re-re-established control with good interplay involving Ian Adamson and
Luke Cassidy almost setting up Martyn Cook who was unable to get in his shot before
a defender made a despairing block.
Nichol then forced a good save from Nimmons before a promising break at the
other end saw Michael Gray doing well to block Gunn's shot.
The last five minutes saw Bonar denied by two last-ditch tackles from Brian Gray
in between Nichol powering a header straight at Nimmons.
The victory was particularly satisfying as dropped points at Bonar have cost Thurso
dear in recent seasons.
Thurso have a tough test tomorrow when they bid to extend their winning sequence
at home to Balintore.
The Vikings should be along the same lines for the match at Sir Georges Park, which
kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso - M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker, Moar, Bremner, Sutherland, Adamson (Bain 72), J.MacKenzie, (Cassidy 65), MacDougall, Nichol, Murray (Cook 65).
Balintore on Saturday scored a 4-1 home win versus Dornoch while Bunillidh Thistle
got their campaign off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory at Tain.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
---------------------------------------------------
Pl W D L F A Pts
THURSO 2 2 0 0 13 2 6
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 1 1 0 0 3 0 3
ALNESS UNITED 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
BALINTORE 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
GOLSPIE 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
HALKIRK UNITED 2 1 0 1 4 4 3
BONAR BRIDGE 2 1 0 1 4 8 3
INVERGORDON 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
DORNOCH 1 0 0 1 1 4 0
TAIN 2 0 0 2 0 9 0