Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 23, 2004 10:23:30 GMT
Alness United 0 Thurso 2 - Report by Iain Grant 
Goals from strikers Mark Nichol and Alan Murray powered Thurso to a more-than-useful 2-0 away win over Alness on Saturday.
While putting a spoke in the wheels of the MSIS North Caley League pace-setters, the result also re-invigorates the title challenge of the Caithness outfit.
The Vikings overcame the absence of a clutch of regulars to register their second win in Alness following their 4-0 cup success last month.
They survived an early scare when Keith Dingwall's netbound header was cleared off the goal-line.
But that was to prove one of the few genuine scoring opportunities the home side were to create throughout the afternoon.
Thurso had a decent chance after 15 minutes when Phil Makhouli created space for Nichol on the edge of the 18 yard box only for the in-form striker to fire just past the post.
The opener on the half-hour mark stemmed from a classic counter-attack after Alan Houston lost possession in the Thurso half.
Makhouli linked with Murray who exchanged passes with Nichol before bustling down the right flank.
His cutback from the bye-line was anticipated by Nichol who did not have to break stride before side-footing home his 13th goal of the season.
Thurso made the perfect start to the second half when Alness again paid the price for failing to look after the ball.
This time, the attack was from the left with Gordie Steven creating space for himself before delivering a peach of a cross.
Murray rose to net his ninth goal of the campaign.
Veteran Ross Jack came off the bench to try and provide a spark for the home outfit but their threat was confined to several long-range counters which were comfortably dealt with by keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso had decent chances to extend their lead in the closing 15 minutes.
On the first occasion, Nichol should have passed to his unmarked striking partner Murray but instead opted for a shot which flew high over the bar.
Murray then squandered a further clear opening in similar fashion.
A heartening win for the Vikings, who knitted together well despite three in the squad making their first appearances of the season.
An injury sustained by Steven looks like ruling him out for tomorrow's home league clash with Bunillidh Thistle.
Gavin Bremner and Lee MacDougall are both back for the match, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso: Gray, Forbes (Bain 85), Moar, Warner, Makhouli, R. Sutherland, A. Sutherland (Miller 70), Steven (Cook 55), MacKenzie, Murray, Nichol.
Balintore joined Thurso on joint third after they battled to a 1-0 win over Bonar Bridge thanks to a goal from Ewan Dance.
Dornoch recorded a 2-1 victory over Bunillidh Thistle while the scheduled Golspie
/Invergordon match was postponed following the deaths of two Golspie teenagers in a road accident.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
---------------------------------------------------
Pl W D L F A Pts
ALNESS 8 6 0 2 33 8 18
GOLSPIE 6 5 1 0 23 5 16
THURSO 6 4 2 0 23 5 14
BALINTORE 7 4 2 1 22 8 14
HALKIRK 5 4 0 1 20 7 12
DORNOCH 7 3 0 4 18 19 9
BONAR 7 2 0 5 10 28 6
BUNILLIDH 6 1 0 5 7 23 3
INVERGORDON 4 0 1 3 7 14 1
TAIN 8 0 0 8 8 52 0
Goals from strikers Mark Nichol and Alan Murray powered Thurso to a more-than-useful 2-0 away win over Alness on Saturday.
While putting a spoke in the wheels of the MSIS North Caley League pace-setters, the result also re-invigorates the title challenge of the Caithness outfit.
The Vikings overcame the absence of a clutch of regulars to register their second win in Alness following their 4-0 cup success last month.
They survived an early scare when Keith Dingwall's netbound header was cleared off the goal-line.
But that was to prove one of the few genuine scoring opportunities the home side were to create throughout the afternoon.
Thurso had a decent chance after 15 minutes when Phil Makhouli created space for Nichol on the edge of the 18 yard box only for the in-form striker to fire just past the post.
The opener on the half-hour mark stemmed from a classic counter-attack after Alan Houston lost possession in the Thurso half.
Makhouli linked with Murray who exchanged passes with Nichol before bustling down the right flank.
His cutback from the bye-line was anticipated by Nichol who did not have to break stride before side-footing home his 13th goal of the season.
Thurso made the perfect start to the second half when Alness again paid the price for failing to look after the ball.
This time, the attack was from the left with Gordie Steven creating space for himself before delivering a peach of a cross.
Murray rose to net his ninth goal of the campaign.
Veteran Ross Jack came off the bench to try and provide a spark for the home outfit but their threat was confined to several long-range counters which were comfortably dealt with by keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso had decent chances to extend their lead in the closing 15 minutes.
On the first occasion, Nichol should have passed to his unmarked striking partner Murray but instead opted for a shot which flew high over the bar.
Murray then squandered a further clear opening in similar fashion.
A heartening win for the Vikings, who knitted together well despite three in the squad making their first appearances of the season.
An injury sustained by Steven looks like ruling him out for tomorrow's home league clash with Bunillidh Thistle.
Gavin Bremner and Lee MacDougall are both back for the match, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso: Gray, Forbes (Bain 85), Moar, Warner, Makhouli, R. Sutherland, A. Sutherland (Miller 70), Steven (Cook 55), MacKenzie, Murray, Nichol.
Balintore joined Thurso on joint third after they battled to a 1-0 win over Bonar Bridge thanks to a goal from Ewan Dance.
Dornoch recorded a 2-1 victory over Bunillidh Thistle while the scheduled Golspie
/Invergordon match was postponed following the deaths of two Golspie teenagers in a road accident.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
---------------------------------------------------
Pl W D L F A Pts
ALNESS 8 6 0 2 33 8 18
GOLSPIE 6 5 1 0 23 5 16
THURSO 6 4 2 0 23 5 14
BALINTORE 7 4 2 1 22 8 14
HALKIRK 5 4 0 1 20 7 12
DORNOCH 7 3 0 4 18 19 9
BONAR 7 2 0 5 10 28 6
BUNILLIDH 6 1 0 5 7 23 3
INVERGORDON 4 0 1 3 7 14 1
TAIN 8 0 0 8 8 52 0