Post by Brian Mackay on Feb 21, 2006 22:58:45 GMT
Thurso 5 Bunillidh Thistle 1 - report by Iain Grant
Bunillidh’s second successive visit over the Ord on Saturday on MSIS North Caley business proved less traumatic, if as unproductive.
They travelled to Thurso determined to avoid a repeat of the previous week’s 13-0 mauling at the hands of Halkirk.
While that albeit somewhat limited ambition was achieved, the Helmsdale men were once again heavily outgunned in just about every department.
Had the Vikings’ finishing been as ruthless as their village neighbours, they could easily have doubled their tally.
That said, there could be no complaints about Phil Makhouli whose four goal haul doubled his total for the season and established him as his side’s top scorer.
Thurso’s other strike came late on from young sub Michael Steven.
Bunillidh had shocked their hosts by taking a 28th minute lead which came after a spate of close things at the other end.
Martin Bain and Gary Coghill featured in early Thurso raids with a marginal offside flag preventing Phil Makhouli capitalising after being put clear by Scott MacKay Steven after 11 minutes.
Mark Makhouli shortly afterwards had a decent opening but he dallied too long and allowed keeper James Mackay to make up the ground to rob him.
Mackay and his defenders were hard-pressed as Thurso launched a stream of attacks down both flanks and through the centre.
After 13 minutes, Bain released Mackay Steven who outpaced Craig Milton but saw all his good work undone when there were no takers for his cross.
Mackay then saved at the second attempt from Mackay Steven before Mark Makhouli passed up a great chance when he failed to connect with a cross on the edge of the six yard box.
Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair’s first contribution came after 16 minutes when he took a goal-kick after Bunillidh’s first attack ended in a corner, which was miscued.
Mackay Steven, a lively presence throughout, threatened with an incisive run before being crowded out when he looked a good bet to score.
After 18 minutes, Mackay fell foul of ref Colin MacLeod after taking too long to release the ball.
The keeper atoned when he turned Ross Sutherland’s resultant free-kick over the bar.
Kevin Miller was then guilty of failing to hit the target when given a free header from the corner.
Mark Makhouli should then have seized on an error from Milton but again he took too long and allowed the defence time to recover.
After almost total domination, the Vikings were dealt a sucker punch when Robert MacDonald spearheaded a breakaway and shot before Sinclair had a chance to react to drill a shot into the left-hand corner of the net.
The home side were level within three minutes with the Makhoulis combining for Phil to head Mark’s cross into the top-right hand corner.
Martin Cook was inches away from connecting with Coghill’s cross on the half-hour mark.
Bunillidh then had a more than decent chance to restore their lead after 35 minutes.
A counter straight from an abortive Thurso free-kick ended with Ross Newton racing in on goal only to shot straight at Sinclair.
Thurso continued to frustrate as time and again the final through-ball or cross failed to find its mark.
A minute from the interval, a Miller shot at goal triggered an attack of siege-like proportions with 20 players in the Bunillidh penalty box during a pin-ball sequence which ended with Mackay turning the ball behind for a corner.
The pressure paid off five minutes after the turnaround when Phil Makhouli kept his cool in a crowded penalty box with a lob over Mackay into the roof of the net.
Mackay continued to feature in the action, first touching a Forbes’ drive over the bar and then diving to his right to foil Bain.
A boob by Mackay after 54 minutes went unpunished when Cook was unable to take advantage of a botched clearance from the young keeper.
Mackay then needed treatment along with team-mate Scott Clark when the pair collided as the keeper punched clear after another sustained onslaught.
Thurso drew 3-1 ahead on 58 minutes when the aftermath to a corner saw MacDougall’s delivery being swept in from close range by Phil Makhouli.
Bunillidh struggled to get out of their own half with Mackay doing well to turn over a raking drive from Phil Makhouli before punching a corner clear to deny the inrushing Miller.
Mackay Steven set up Bremner with a decent chance after 64 minutes but he was unable to find the target.
Another sequence of Thurso corners was the prelude to Makhouli and Thurso’s fourth goal 16 minutes from time.
After the last setpiece was cleared, Thurso regained possession and sub Alan Murray threaded a pass through to Phil Makhouli who ran in to slot past Mackay.
MacDougall whizzed an effort just wide of the goals before Miller was denied when his close-in effort was blocked by Milton.
In between, Murray shot wide from good position before unleashing by far the sweetest strike of the match with a 25 yarder which flashed inches wide of the left upright.
Murray and Phil Makhouli combined on 87 minutes to fashion a chance for Mackay Steven.
His attempt came back off the post but in the ensuing play Steven was handily placed to side-foot into the net.
Bunillidh were spared more damage deep in injury-time when MacDougall was thwarted by a smother save from Mackay and Murray’s follow-up came back off the face of the crossbar.
Thurso: Sinclair, Forbes, Coghill, Miller, Sutherland, Bremner, Bain (MacDougall 56), Mackay Steven, P. Makhouli, M. Makhouli (Steven 71), Cook (Murray 56).
Bunillidh: J. Mackay, S. Clark, Bonner, Urquhart, Milton, J. Clark, Grant, L. Mackay (Cameron 67), MacDonald, Newton, Flett.
Ref: Mr C. MacLeod, Castletown.
Bunillidh’s second successive visit over the Ord on Saturday on MSIS North Caley business proved less traumatic, if as unproductive.
They travelled to Thurso determined to avoid a repeat of the previous week’s 13-0 mauling at the hands of Halkirk.
While that albeit somewhat limited ambition was achieved, the Helmsdale men were once again heavily outgunned in just about every department.
Had the Vikings’ finishing been as ruthless as their village neighbours, they could easily have doubled their tally.
That said, there could be no complaints about Phil Makhouli whose four goal haul doubled his total for the season and established him as his side’s top scorer.
Thurso’s other strike came late on from young sub Michael Steven.
Bunillidh had shocked their hosts by taking a 28th minute lead which came after a spate of close things at the other end.
Martin Bain and Gary Coghill featured in early Thurso raids with a marginal offside flag preventing Phil Makhouli capitalising after being put clear by Scott MacKay Steven after 11 minutes.
Mark Makhouli shortly afterwards had a decent opening but he dallied too long and allowed keeper James Mackay to make up the ground to rob him.
Mackay and his defenders were hard-pressed as Thurso launched a stream of attacks down both flanks and through the centre.
After 13 minutes, Bain released Mackay Steven who outpaced Craig Milton but saw all his good work undone when there were no takers for his cross.
Mackay then saved at the second attempt from Mackay Steven before Mark Makhouli passed up a great chance when he failed to connect with a cross on the edge of the six yard box.
Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair’s first contribution came after 16 minutes when he took a goal-kick after Bunillidh’s first attack ended in a corner, which was miscued.
Mackay Steven, a lively presence throughout, threatened with an incisive run before being crowded out when he looked a good bet to score.
After 18 minutes, Mackay fell foul of ref Colin MacLeod after taking too long to release the ball.
The keeper atoned when he turned Ross Sutherland’s resultant free-kick over the bar.
Kevin Miller was then guilty of failing to hit the target when given a free header from the corner.
Mark Makhouli should then have seized on an error from Milton but again he took too long and allowed the defence time to recover.
After almost total domination, the Vikings were dealt a sucker punch when Robert MacDonald spearheaded a breakaway and shot before Sinclair had a chance to react to drill a shot into the left-hand corner of the net.
The home side were level within three minutes with the Makhoulis combining for Phil to head Mark’s cross into the top-right hand corner.
Martin Cook was inches away from connecting with Coghill’s cross on the half-hour mark.
Bunillidh then had a more than decent chance to restore their lead after 35 minutes.
A counter straight from an abortive Thurso free-kick ended with Ross Newton racing in on goal only to shot straight at Sinclair.
Thurso continued to frustrate as time and again the final through-ball or cross failed to find its mark.
A minute from the interval, a Miller shot at goal triggered an attack of siege-like proportions with 20 players in the Bunillidh penalty box during a pin-ball sequence which ended with Mackay turning the ball behind for a corner.
The pressure paid off five minutes after the turnaround when Phil Makhouli kept his cool in a crowded penalty box with a lob over Mackay into the roof of the net.
Mackay continued to feature in the action, first touching a Forbes’ drive over the bar and then diving to his right to foil Bain.
A boob by Mackay after 54 minutes went unpunished when Cook was unable to take advantage of a botched clearance from the young keeper.
Mackay then needed treatment along with team-mate Scott Clark when the pair collided as the keeper punched clear after another sustained onslaught.
Thurso drew 3-1 ahead on 58 minutes when the aftermath to a corner saw MacDougall’s delivery being swept in from close range by Phil Makhouli.
Bunillidh struggled to get out of their own half with Mackay doing well to turn over a raking drive from Phil Makhouli before punching a corner clear to deny the inrushing Miller.
Mackay Steven set up Bremner with a decent chance after 64 minutes but he was unable to find the target.
Another sequence of Thurso corners was the prelude to Makhouli and Thurso’s fourth goal 16 minutes from time.
After the last setpiece was cleared, Thurso regained possession and sub Alan Murray threaded a pass through to Phil Makhouli who ran in to slot past Mackay.
MacDougall whizzed an effort just wide of the goals before Miller was denied when his close-in effort was blocked by Milton.
In between, Murray shot wide from good position before unleashing by far the sweetest strike of the match with a 25 yarder which flashed inches wide of the left upright.
Murray and Phil Makhouli combined on 87 minutes to fashion a chance for Mackay Steven.
His attempt came back off the post but in the ensuing play Steven was handily placed to side-foot into the net.
Bunillidh were spared more damage deep in injury-time when MacDougall was thwarted by a smother save from Mackay and Murray’s follow-up came back off the face of the crossbar.
Thurso: Sinclair, Forbes, Coghill, Miller, Sutherland, Bremner, Bain (MacDougall 56), Mackay Steven, P. Makhouli, M. Makhouli (Steven 71), Cook (Murray 56).
Bunillidh: J. Mackay, S. Clark, Bonner, Urquhart, Milton, J. Clark, Grant, L. Mackay (Cameron 67), MacDonald, Newton, Flett.
Ref: Mr C. MacLeod, Castletown.