Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 11, 2004 3:26:58 GMT -5
Thurso 1 Balintore 1 – by Iain Grant 
After two high-scoring MSIS North Caley League wins on the road, Thurso
were unable to extend the sequence at Sir Georges Park on Saturday.
They came up against resilient opponents who dug in after taking a 25th
minute lead, which they protected until Luke Cassidy's equaliser 20
minutes from the end.
Balintore were indebted to a top-notch display from keeper Eddie
Shearer who continued his habit of reserving his best for his side's jousts with
Thurso.
The last of a string of inspired saves came in injury-time when he rose
To somehow palm over what looked like a certain scoring header from Alan Murray.
After a tentative start by both sides, the visitors were first to show
A goal threat when Ewan Dance neatly turned and sent a fifth minute shot
Just over from the corner of the box.
A nasty incident two minutes later saw Balintore's Graeme MacGregor
Booked for a retaliatory elbow on Gavin Bremner.
Brian Gray's resultant free-kick was spilled in the air by Shearer but
managed to clutch on the ground before Thurso could cash in.
It was to be a rare mistake and Shearer soon demonstrated agility in
Getting down to block Lee MacDougall's free-kick.
The keeper then did well to collect a MacDougall cross at full stretch.
Thurso were the more attack-minded but a lapse in concentration at the
back cost them dear when the visitors went ahead.
A miscued clearance gave Balintore possession and an early cross gave
Tony Farquhar the time and space to beat Michael Gray with a driven finish.
Thurso responded with Murray seeing his half-hit volley cleared and
then the striker dallied too long after an opening was created for him by MacDougall.
Good play from Balintore on the half-hour mark required sharp reactions
From Michael Gray to prevent Farquhar grabbing his second.
A minute later, Murray shrugged off his marker to find himself in the
clear again but his shot was held by Shearer.
It was the start of a hectic spell for the keeper who went on to pull
off an instinctive block to deny Jamie MacKenzie and then hold a Nichol shot.
First half injury-time saw Nichol blaze a free-kick well over and
Shearer make a brave, point-blank save to foil Murray after the striker had been played in by Brian Gray.
Thurso had to re-organise after the break when an injury to Martin
Baker saw Ross Sutherland take his place in the back three; Murray drop into midfield
And Cassidy come on to partner Nichol up front. Cassidy made a quick impression, being just off-target with a volley and having a netbound shot blocked.
After 53 minutes, perseverance down the left flank by MacDougall ended
With his cross being marginally too strong for the inrushing Cassidy.
Three minutes later, Nichol did the spadework for Murray whose
shot-cum-cross landed on top of the net.
A rare Balintore foray after 60 minutes ended with Dance's snap cross
Being headed wide of the target by Farquhar.
It was momentary respite for them and they again had Shearer to thank
For keeping out another effort from Murray.
The visitors did live dangerously when they survived two penalty
appeals a strong one when Brian Gray tumbled after crossing and a lesser one
when Jamie Mackenzie was clipped on the ankles.
The pressure finally told when Murray and Nichol combined to set up
Cassidy who out-manoeuvred a defender before stroking the ball past Shearer.
Five minutes later, a venomous strike from MacDougall came back off the
keeper's chest, with no Thurso players on hand for the rebound.
A furious finale saw Cassidy set up Murray eight minutes from time with
The striker squeezing the ball past Shearer only to see a defender get back
To hack clear.
The pressure was kept up with Thurso coming desperately close to
winning the game in injury time.
A long throw from Brian Gray was head-flicked-on by Mackenzie to Murray
whose firm header was bound for the top-right-hand corner until Shearer
launched himself skyward to turn the ball over the bar.
The resultant corner found Nichol unmarked on the six yard line but the
chance came on him too quickly and he sent his header over.
Thurso tomorrow entertain Invergordon in a league match, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
Baker's thigh injury makes him a doubt with Niall Murray a contender to join the squad.
Thurso v Balintore: M. Gray, B. Gray, Moar, Baker (Cassidy 45), Bremner, Adamson, Sutherland, Mackenzie, Murray, Nichol, MacDougall. Subs (unused) -- Bain and Cook.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
THURSO 3 2 1 0 14 3 7
ALNESS UNITED 3 2 0 1 8 3 6
HALKIRK UNITED 3 2 0 1 7 6 6
BALINTORE 3 1 1 1 5 4 4
GOLSPIE 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 2 1 0 1 3 4 3
BONAR BRIDGE 2 1 0 1 4 8 3
INVERGORDON 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
DORNOCH 2 0 0 2 3 7 0
TAIN 2 0 0 2 0 9 0
After two high-scoring MSIS North Caley League wins on the road, Thurso
were unable to extend the sequence at Sir Georges Park on Saturday.
They came up against resilient opponents who dug in after taking a 25th
minute lead, which they protected until Luke Cassidy's equaliser 20
minutes from the end.
Balintore were indebted to a top-notch display from keeper Eddie
Shearer who continued his habit of reserving his best for his side's jousts with
Thurso.
The last of a string of inspired saves came in injury-time when he rose
To somehow palm over what looked like a certain scoring header from Alan Murray.
After a tentative start by both sides, the visitors were first to show
A goal threat when Ewan Dance neatly turned and sent a fifth minute shot
Just over from the corner of the box.
A nasty incident two minutes later saw Balintore's Graeme MacGregor
Booked for a retaliatory elbow on Gavin Bremner.
Brian Gray's resultant free-kick was spilled in the air by Shearer but
managed to clutch on the ground before Thurso could cash in.
It was to be a rare mistake and Shearer soon demonstrated agility in
Getting down to block Lee MacDougall's free-kick.
The keeper then did well to collect a MacDougall cross at full stretch.
Thurso were the more attack-minded but a lapse in concentration at the
back cost them dear when the visitors went ahead.
A miscued clearance gave Balintore possession and an early cross gave
Tony Farquhar the time and space to beat Michael Gray with a driven finish.
Thurso responded with Murray seeing his half-hit volley cleared and
then the striker dallied too long after an opening was created for him by MacDougall.
Good play from Balintore on the half-hour mark required sharp reactions
From Michael Gray to prevent Farquhar grabbing his second.
A minute later, Murray shrugged off his marker to find himself in the
clear again but his shot was held by Shearer.
It was the start of a hectic spell for the keeper who went on to pull
off an instinctive block to deny Jamie MacKenzie and then hold a Nichol shot.
First half injury-time saw Nichol blaze a free-kick well over and
Shearer make a brave, point-blank save to foil Murray after the striker had been played in by Brian Gray.
Thurso had to re-organise after the break when an injury to Martin
Baker saw Ross Sutherland take his place in the back three; Murray drop into midfield
And Cassidy come on to partner Nichol up front. Cassidy made a quick impression, being just off-target with a volley and having a netbound shot blocked.
After 53 minutes, perseverance down the left flank by MacDougall ended
With his cross being marginally too strong for the inrushing Cassidy.
Three minutes later, Nichol did the spadework for Murray whose
shot-cum-cross landed on top of the net.
A rare Balintore foray after 60 minutes ended with Dance's snap cross
Being headed wide of the target by Farquhar.
It was momentary respite for them and they again had Shearer to thank
For keeping out another effort from Murray.
The visitors did live dangerously when they survived two penalty
appeals a strong one when Brian Gray tumbled after crossing and a lesser one
when Jamie Mackenzie was clipped on the ankles.
The pressure finally told when Murray and Nichol combined to set up
Cassidy who out-manoeuvred a defender before stroking the ball past Shearer.
Five minutes later, a venomous strike from MacDougall came back off the
keeper's chest, with no Thurso players on hand for the rebound.
A furious finale saw Cassidy set up Murray eight minutes from time with
The striker squeezing the ball past Shearer only to see a defender get back
To hack clear.
The pressure was kept up with Thurso coming desperately close to
winning the game in injury time.
A long throw from Brian Gray was head-flicked-on by Mackenzie to Murray
whose firm header was bound for the top-right-hand corner until Shearer
launched himself skyward to turn the ball over the bar.
The resultant corner found Nichol unmarked on the six yard line but the
chance came on him too quickly and he sent his header over.
Thurso tomorrow entertain Invergordon in a league match, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
Baker's thigh injury makes him a doubt with Niall Murray a contender to join the squad.
Thurso v Balintore: M. Gray, B. Gray, Moar, Baker (Cassidy 45), Bremner, Adamson, Sutherland, Mackenzie, Murray, Nichol, MacDougall. Subs (unused) -- Bain and Cook.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
THURSO 3 2 1 0 14 3 7
ALNESS UNITED 3 2 0 1 8 3 6
HALKIRK UNITED 3 2 0 1 7 6 6
BALINTORE 3 1 1 1 5 4 4
GOLSPIE 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 2 1 0 1 3 4 3
BONAR BRIDGE 2 1 0 1 4 8 3
INVERGORDON 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
DORNOCH 2 0 0 2 3 7 0
TAIN 2 0 0 2 0 9 0