Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 30, 2004 9:16:58 GMT
Tain 0 Thurso 6 – by Iain Grant
A new-look Thurso racked up an emphatic victory in their first outing in the MSIS North Caledonian League on Saturday.
Goals by Gavin Bremner and Jamie MacKenzie had their tails up while a Mark Nichol double in the closing minutes of the first half ensured their would be no way back for the home side.
Tain were unlucky not to get at least one back before they were floored by late strikes from Luke Cassidy and Alan Murray.
The Vikings quickly imposed themselves after the game kicked off on a warm day with a light breeze blowing across the pitch.
The first raid after four minutes saw a cross from comeback man Martin Baker find
Nichol over-stretching and sending his header over the bar.
The pressure was maintained with decent shots from Murray and Lee MacDougall
blocked for corners and then Nichol hitting a post.
Tain's first response came on 10 minutes when Baker did well to get in ahead of
Kenny Fraser as the striker bore in on goal.
Two minutes later, Thurso forged ahead after MacDougall's cross was netted at the
back post by Gavin Bremner.
Thurso were pulling the strings in midfield, which included Thurso PE teacher Ian
Adamson who was making his debut, as was one of his pupils, Andrew Richardson.
Adamson carved out a 14th minute chance for Murray who was thwarted by a fine
save from David Matheson.
Matheson then showed good reactions in making a block from Nichol before action at the other end saw Robbie Gillanders' chip from an acute angle land on the top of the net.
Tain went further behind after 21 minutes when MacKenzie wriggled past a
defender on the edge of the penalty box and hot an unstoppable shot past
Matheson.
A minute later, Adamson had a clear view of goal but struck his shot straight at the
keeper. Nichol also passed up a decent opportunity on 24 minutes after a sparky move saw him played in Jamie MacKenzie.
Thurso's play noticeably deteriorated after the second goal with the early flow and
passing movement much less in evidence.
Fraser lived well on scraps though he should have done better on 30 minutes with a
shot which was too straight to trouble Michael Gray, back in Thurso's goals after
spending last season with Brora Rangers. Tain were sunk below the water-line with two goals in two minutes before the interval.
The first came after Shane Carling failed to score after being put clean through.
He was foiled at the second attempt by Gray who launched an attack which ended
with Nichol being given the time and space to round Matheson and score.
It was classic turning point, with Tain finding themselves trailing 3-0, instead of 2-1.
They were still reflecting on that cruel twist of fate when they suffered another
when Murray cut the ball back for Nichol to bang home his second.
Tain rode their luck six minutes after the turnaround when Bremner and Murray
both had shots in quick succession which came back off the woodwork.
Matheson distinguished himself after 54 minutes when he somehow got down to his
left to divert a rasping shot from MacDougall.
The home side kept plugging away with Gillanders unlucky to see a chip-shot
scrape over the bar after 59 minutes.
MacDougall curled a 75th minute free-kick round the defensive wall but Matheson
was able to make the save.
Five minutes later, the other debutant Martyn Cook released fellow sub Luke Cassidy whose powerful shot was parried by Matheson, with MacDougall sending the
rebound over.
Seven minutes from time, Gray did well to keep out a header from Gillanders after sub Ryan Morrison created the chance.
Thurso got their fifth after 85 minutes when Cassidy held off defender Kenny McNab and fired in a shot which was beaten out by the keeper.
The ball fell to Bremner who squared to Cassidy whose venomous strike went in
despite a despairing lunge by Matheson.
The final action of the game saw Bremner and Cassidy do the spadework for Murray
who was left with a simple tap-in for the sixth.
Despite the score-line, it was by no means a flaw-less display by the visitors.
Too many passes went astray in the midfield while their defence was exposed too
often for comfort.
It is however difficult to be over-critical after a six goal victory on the opening day and the personnel changes need time to settle in.
Tomorrow, Thurso hit the road again with a tricky fixture at Bonar Bridge
Their opponents, bolstered by ex-Ross County and Brora Rangers winger Billy
Ferries, go into the game on the back of an encouraging 2-1 win over Invergordon.
Thurso have a few problems with Shaun Forbes on holiday and Shaun Moar
(hamstring), Brian Gray (heel) and Adamson (back) nursing injuries.
Alan Sutherland and Phil Makhouli are also on the injury list and are unlikely to feature for several weeks.
Thurso: M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker (Richardson 75), Moar, Forbes, Bremner, Adamson (Cook 58), MacKenzie, MacDougall, Murray, Nichol (Cassidy 75).
A new-look Thurso racked up an emphatic victory in their first outing in the MSIS North Caledonian League on Saturday.
Goals by Gavin Bremner and Jamie MacKenzie had their tails up while a Mark Nichol double in the closing minutes of the first half ensured their would be no way back for the home side.
Tain were unlucky not to get at least one back before they were floored by late strikes from Luke Cassidy and Alan Murray.
The Vikings quickly imposed themselves after the game kicked off on a warm day with a light breeze blowing across the pitch.
The first raid after four minutes saw a cross from comeback man Martin Baker find
Nichol over-stretching and sending his header over the bar.
The pressure was maintained with decent shots from Murray and Lee MacDougall
blocked for corners and then Nichol hitting a post.
Tain's first response came on 10 minutes when Baker did well to get in ahead of
Kenny Fraser as the striker bore in on goal.
Two minutes later, Thurso forged ahead after MacDougall's cross was netted at the
back post by Gavin Bremner.
Thurso were pulling the strings in midfield, which included Thurso PE teacher Ian
Adamson who was making his debut, as was one of his pupils, Andrew Richardson.
Adamson carved out a 14th minute chance for Murray who was thwarted by a fine
save from David Matheson.
Matheson then showed good reactions in making a block from Nichol before action at the other end saw Robbie Gillanders' chip from an acute angle land on the top of the net.
Tain went further behind after 21 minutes when MacKenzie wriggled past a
defender on the edge of the penalty box and hot an unstoppable shot past
Matheson.
A minute later, Adamson had a clear view of goal but struck his shot straight at the
keeper. Nichol also passed up a decent opportunity on 24 minutes after a sparky move saw him played in Jamie MacKenzie.
Thurso's play noticeably deteriorated after the second goal with the early flow and
passing movement much less in evidence.
Fraser lived well on scraps though he should have done better on 30 minutes with a
shot which was too straight to trouble Michael Gray, back in Thurso's goals after
spending last season with Brora Rangers. Tain were sunk below the water-line with two goals in two minutes before the interval.
The first came after Shane Carling failed to score after being put clean through.
He was foiled at the second attempt by Gray who launched an attack which ended
with Nichol being given the time and space to round Matheson and score.
It was classic turning point, with Tain finding themselves trailing 3-0, instead of 2-1.
They were still reflecting on that cruel twist of fate when they suffered another
when Murray cut the ball back for Nichol to bang home his second.
Tain rode their luck six minutes after the turnaround when Bremner and Murray
both had shots in quick succession which came back off the woodwork.
Matheson distinguished himself after 54 minutes when he somehow got down to his
left to divert a rasping shot from MacDougall.
The home side kept plugging away with Gillanders unlucky to see a chip-shot
scrape over the bar after 59 minutes.
MacDougall curled a 75th minute free-kick round the defensive wall but Matheson
was able to make the save.
Five minutes later, the other debutant Martyn Cook released fellow sub Luke Cassidy whose powerful shot was parried by Matheson, with MacDougall sending the
rebound over.
Seven minutes from time, Gray did well to keep out a header from Gillanders after sub Ryan Morrison created the chance.
Thurso got their fifth after 85 minutes when Cassidy held off defender Kenny McNab and fired in a shot which was beaten out by the keeper.
The ball fell to Bremner who squared to Cassidy whose venomous strike went in
despite a despairing lunge by Matheson.
The final action of the game saw Bremner and Cassidy do the spadework for Murray
who was left with a simple tap-in for the sixth.
Despite the score-line, it was by no means a flaw-less display by the visitors.
Too many passes went astray in the midfield while their defence was exposed too
often for comfort.
It is however difficult to be over-critical after a six goal victory on the opening day and the personnel changes need time to settle in.
Tomorrow, Thurso hit the road again with a tricky fixture at Bonar Bridge
Their opponents, bolstered by ex-Ross County and Brora Rangers winger Billy
Ferries, go into the game on the back of an encouraging 2-1 win over Invergordon.
Thurso have a few problems with Shaun Forbes on holiday and Shaun Moar
(hamstring), Brian Gray (heel) and Adamson (back) nursing injuries.
Alan Sutherland and Phil Makhouli are also on the injury list and are unlikely to feature for several weeks.
Thurso: M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker (Richardson 75), Moar, Forbes, Bremner, Adamson (Cook 58), MacKenzie, MacDougall, Murray, Nichol (Cassidy 75).