Post by Brian Mackay on Dec 10, 2004 21:33:55 GMT
Bunillidh Thistle 2 Thurso 7 - by Iain Grant
Thurso took advantage on Saturday of playing in the only MSIS North Caley League match of the day to close the gap on the top two.
The Vikings put behind them a shaky first half in which they trailed 2-1 before the first of a hat-trick from Alan Murray put them on terms.
Having rattled in 12 without reply versus Bunillidh six
weeks ago in Thurso, at least some of the Vikings may have turned up thinking this would be a similar no-contest.
These notions were nurtured by a blitzkrieg of a start in
which they cut out a regular diet of chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Within 30 seconds, top scorer Mark Nichol got his first
glimpse of goal and scooped a close-range shot against the crossbar.
After the early pressure came to naught, the pace of the game dropped and Bunillidh started to see their fair share of the ball.
They continued to impress even after falling behind after 19 minutes to a cracking 25 yard free-kick converted by Nichol.
The home side took just three minutes to equalise after a sharp counter when a Thurso attack broke down.
Andrew Maitland provided the finish after he cut in and
placed the ball past the reach of keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso were still reeling from that reverse when they fell behind after 25 minutes when Brian Gray's clearance fell to Kevin Munro who netted with an unstoppable drive.
Thurso continued to struggle to re-impose themselves in the game but were soon level.
The goal was created by Lee MacDougall's surge up the left which ended with him unselfishly laying off to Murray who had the simple task of firing into the unguarded net.
The game was turned irrevocably in the visitors' favour by two goals by interval substitute Jamie Mackenzie.
The first after 48 minutes came after a corner saw Nichol's half-hit effort fall to MacKenzie who fired home.
Four minutes on, Nichol made the running and MacKenzie finished with a tap-in.
Thurso were now well on top and it was no surprise when Nichol made it 5-2 after 55 minutes.
MacDougall was again the instigator with a fine run and shot which rebounded to allow Nichol to bag Number 31 of the campaign.
Murray grabbed his second on 64 minutes when he leapt high to power in a header from a Gavin Bremner corner.
Murray's hat-trick goal came right at the death when good work by MacKenzie and Bremner set him up.
While it came good in the end for the Vikings, they will
need to raise their game if they are to sustain their league challenge away to Balintore tomorrow.
With defender Shaun Moar still struggling to recover from back injury, the squad is likely to be unchanged.
Thurso v Bunillidh: M. Gray, B. Gray (Forbes 65), Warner,
Baker, Makhouli, R. Sutherland, Bremner, MacDougall, Cook (MacKenzie h/t), Murray, Nichol (Bain 75).
Ref -- Mr B. Baxter.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
ALNESS 12 10 0 2 47 13 30
GOLSPIE 10 9 1 0 46 8 28
THURSO 10 8 2 0 59 9 26
BALINTORE 11 4 4 3 27 16 16
HALKIRK 10 4 1 5 27 20 13
BONAR 12 4 1 7 23 49 13
INVERGORDON 9 3 2 4 22 29 11
DORNOCH 12 3 2 7 26 40 11
TAIN 13 2 1 10 20 71 7
BUNILLIDH 11 1 0 10 15 57 3
Thurso took advantage on Saturday of playing in the only MSIS North Caley League match of the day to close the gap on the top two.
The Vikings put behind them a shaky first half in which they trailed 2-1 before the first of a hat-trick from Alan Murray put them on terms.
Having rattled in 12 without reply versus Bunillidh six
weeks ago in Thurso, at least some of the Vikings may have turned up thinking this would be a similar no-contest.
These notions were nurtured by a blitzkrieg of a start in
which they cut out a regular diet of chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Within 30 seconds, top scorer Mark Nichol got his first
glimpse of goal and scooped a close-range shot against the crossbar.
After the early pressure came to naught, the pace of the game dropped and Bunillidh started to see their fair share of the ball.
They continued to impress even after falling behind after 19 minutes to a cracking 25 yard free-kick converted by Nichol.
The home side took just three minutes to equalise after a sharp counter when a Thurso attack broke down.
Andrew Maitland provided the finish after he cut in and
placed the ball past the reach of keeper Michael Gray.
Thurso were still reeling from that reverse when they fell behind after 25 minutes when Brian Gray's clearance fell to Kevin Munro who netted with an unstoppable drive.
Thurso continued to struggle to re-impose themselves in the game but were soon level.
The goal was created by Lee MacDougall's surge up the left which ended with him unselfishly laying off to Murray who had the simple task of firing into the unguarded net.
The game was turned irrevocably in the visitors' favour by two goals by interval substitute Jamie Mackenzie.
The first after 48 minutes came after a corner saw Nichol's half-hit effort fall to MacKenzie who fired home.
Four minutes on, Nichol made the running and MacKenzie finished with a tap-in.
Thurso were now well on top and it was no surprise when Nichol made it 5-2 after 55 minutes.
MacDougall was again the instigator with a fine run and shot which rebounded to allow Nichol to bag Number 31 of the campaign.
Murray grabbed his second on 64 minutes when he leapt high to power in a header from a Gavin Bremner corner.
Murray's hat-trick goal came right at the death when good work by MacKenzie and Bremner set him up.
While it came good in the end for the Vikings, they will
need to raise their game if they are to sustain their league challenge away to Balintore tomorrow.
With defender Shaun Moar still struggling to recover from back injury, the squad is likely to be unchanged.
Thurso v Bunillidh: M. Gray, B. Gray (Forbes 65), Warner,
Baker, Makhouli, R. Sutherland, Bremner, MacDougall, Cook (MacKenzie h/t), Murray, Nichol (Bain 75).
Ref -- Mr B. Baxter.
MSIS NORTH CALEDONIAN LEAGUE
Pl W D L F A Pts
ALNESS 12 10 0 2 47 13 30
GOLSPIE 10 9 1 0 46 8 28
THURSO 10 8 2 0 59 9 26
BALINTORE 11 4 4 3 27 16 16
HALKIRK 10 4 1 5 27 20 13
BONAR 12 4 1 7 23 49 13
INVERGORDON 9 3 2 4 22 29 11
DORNOCH 12 3 2 7 26 40 11
TAIN 13 2 1 10 20 71 7
BUNILLIDH 11 1 0 10 15 57 3