Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 1, 2006 19:01:46 GMT
Saturday 7th October 2006 - League Games
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HALKIRK UNITED 0 v THURSO 1 at Recreation Park, Halkirk - 2.00 p.m
Thurso goal by Paul MacCallum (70)
Halkirk United 0 Thurso 1 - report by Iain Grant
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Thurso took the honours in Saturday’s first North Caledonian League Caithness derby of the season.
A headed goal from Paul McCallum with 16 minutes left proved decisive.
The result leaves both Caithness teams sharing third spot with Golspie, a point behind Inverness, and a further point behind leaders Balintore.
Injuries and unavailabilities gave an unfamiliar look to both starting rearguards.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald opted to use the pace of regular frontman
Stevie Reid to join Colin Munro and Scott Manson in his back three and move regular sweeper Graham MacDonald further forward.
Phil Makhouli meanwhile slotted in alongside McCallum and Phil Green in Thurso’s defence with player/ manager Ross Sutherland deploying himself as cover in front of the trio.
Spells of heavy rain left parts of Recreation Park on the heavy side though the game kicked off in brilliant sunshine and it was to remain dry throughout.
MacDonald relished his new-found freedom to roam and featured with a couple of early long-range dribbles, one of which ended with a shot which produced a routine gather from visiting keeper Asa Sinclair.
A fourth minute inswinging corner from Michael Bremner caused problems for the Thurso defence and Sean Henstridge looked well-placed to finish only for the pressure to be relieved by a foul against one of his over-eager colleagues.
The visitors had their moments early on with a neat flick from Des MacLeod almost playing in Jamie Mackenzie.
Most of the first half was characterised by neat build-ups by both sides which either petered out or ended with, at best, half-chances or long-range efforts on goal.
Manson and Henstridge combined to set up Colin Davidson with a shot he screwed wide after eight minutes while Lee MacDougall and Nigel Mackenzie had efforts on goal which did not seriously discomfit Sean Henderson.
Henderson’s goal had a close call on 18 minutes when Makhouli released Mark Nichol down the right whose inviting cross was fractionally too strong for the inrushing MacLeod.
MacLeod got the break of the ball to have a second bite of the cherry but his stabbed shot lacked power and Reid was able to make a comfortable goal-line clearance.
The real fireworks in the first half were reserved for the closing 15 minutes when the crowd were stirred from their collective slumber by a lively spell of play.
On the half-hour mark, Thurso’s rearguard failed to deal with a long-range, high punt forward which left Henstridge with a run-in on Asa Sinclair.
The forward claimed he was checked from behind as he raced in to the edge of the box from where his attempted chip was under-hit to allow the keeper to make a grateful clutch.
Nichol was a regular outlet wide on the right and he was the source of just about all of his side’s meaningful attacks of the half.
After 36 minutes, his improvised cross from a distinctly unpromising position near the right corner-flag picked out MacLeod in the middle of the penalty box.
MacLeod, in turn, set up MacDougall whose stinging, angled shot produced a marvellous block from Henderson.
The action then returned to the other box four minutes later when a rapier thrust from Chris Sutherland saw his pinpoint cross find Henstridge unmarked at the far post.
That the primary school teacher failed to convert what should have been an elementary finish should not detract from Asa Sinclair’s masterly block at his near post.
The keeper then contrived to make stops to deny follow-up attempts by Alan Sinclair and Henstridge, again.
In what was developing into a something of a personal battle between the keepers to outdo each other, Henderson’s derring do kept his side on level terms two minutes from the interval.
This time, Jamie Mackenzie was the instigator with his foray down the right ending with him skipping past Manson before flighting the ball towards goal.
A partial clearance fell kindly to Nichol who swivelled on then penalty spot and shot powerfully wide of Henderson.
The keeper showed lightning reactions in diving to his left to pull off a fingertip save.
Henderson should have been tested again on the stroke of half-time but Nichol’s header from MacDougall’s cross was too straight when any deflection would probably have given his side the lead.
Going behind would have been ill-deserved for Halkirk but as the game wore on, they were to find themselves increasingly at the wrong end of both possession and chances.
A miscued snap-shot from MacDonald a minute after the interval was one of the few goal attempts the home side had until the latter stages.
The Vikings took a firm hold of the midfield battle and were to regularly pepper Henderson’s goal for much of the remainder of the game.
The keeper did well to keep out a headed effort by Gavin Bremner on 54 minutes. He then watched as Jamie Mackenzie first fired narrowly and then saw a netbound effort from his brother Nigel’s assist nodded off the line by Alan Sinclair.
Halkirk were given a rare opportunity a minute later when a misplaced backheader from MacDougall allowed Michael Bremner the space to home in on goal and see his well-struck shot well fielded by Asa Sinclair.
MacDougall was quickly in action at the other end with MacLeod inches away from connecting with the winger’s tantalising cross.
MacLeod passed up a decent chance on the hour-mark after Nichol and Jamie Mackenzie did the spadework.
The striker was unmarked in front of goal but the ball suddenly deflected into his path and his instinctive shot flew high over the bar.
MacDougall saw a decent effort flash wide of the post shortly before the first bookings of the match.
Ross Sutherland was fortunate to escape punishment for a late tackle on Manson on 68 minutes, with the latter’s petulant push of his opponent earning his a booking.
Five minutes later, Alan Sinclair’s name was added to ref Bob Gunn’s book for a foul on Nichol.
The resultant free-kick wide on the left produced the crucial goal, with Gavin Bremner’s well-flighted cross being half-cleared before McCallum headed powerfully past Henderson.
The setback was to produce a late flurry from the home men as Thurso settled into a dangerous strategy of seeking to hold what they had.
Lee Elder was the third booking for dissent after 77 minutes.
Asa Sinclair then did well to first deflect to safety a wicked, outswinging cross from Chris Sutherland before pouching a decent long-range dig from Michael Bremner.
As Halkirk continued to apply pressure, a full-length stretch by Green was required to deal with another dangerous cross from Chris Sutherland on 84 minutes.
Colin Sinclair showed up well in his brief cameo appearance after illness caused him to miss the first part of the season,
He was fielded in an emergency forward role and figured with a surging run which almost created the leveller after 87 minutes.
Ross Sutherland added to the crime count on 90 minutes when he was booked for a block on an opponent.
The Halkirk bench were on their feet to acclaim what looked like an injury-time equaliser only to watch sub Gary Coghill’s looping header brush over the junction of the bar and the left upright.
Manager MacDonald was happy with the work-rate of his side, who were short of a handful of regulars. “It was a well-contested game and we’re disappointed we did not get something out of it,” he said.
“Before they scored, I think both sides would have settled for a draw. ”Then, they stepped back a bit and we came close to getting the equaliser.”
Opposite number Sutherland was delighted to get the win which pushes his side up among the leaders. “Though we dominated for most of the second half, I actually thought we played better in the first half,” he said. “Halkirk had a couple of chances in the first half but then so did we. “It was a bit worrying when we sat back a bit after we scored and that was the only time when they really had a go at us.”
Sutherland was particularly happy with his side’s defence, which had their first clean sheet of the campaign.
Halkirk – Henderson, Davidson, Manson, MacDonald, Munro, A. Sinclair, Bremner, Sutherland (C. Sinclair 84), Reid , Henstridge (Coghill 78), Elder. Sub (unused) – Blair.
Thurso – Sinclair, Green, Makhouli, McCallum, Sutherland, Bremner, N. Mackenzie, J. Mackenzie, Nichol, MacLeod (Shearer 90), MacDougall (Mackay Steven 87). Sub (unused) – Inrig.
Ref – Mr R. Gunn.
Other fixtures
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BALINTORE 2 v ALNESS UNITED 1
Balintore goals by Lewis Ross (70) and Tony Farquhar (82)
Alness United goal by Kenny MacAskill (44)
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 0 v GOLSPIE SUTHERLAND 4
Scott Wilson (30), Robbie Duncanson (56), Kenneth Whyte (70) and Donald Sutherland (88)
INVERNESS CITY 1 v INVERGORDON 0
Inverness goal by Gavin Nicolson (23)
all 2.00 p.m kick-offs
NOTE - NCL League table - scottishjuniorfootball.co.uk/RG_Sports/do=showleague/div_id=70.html
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HALKIRK UNITED 0 v THURSO 1 at Recreation Park, Halkirk - 2.00 p.m
Thurso goal by Paul MacCallum (70)
Halkirk United 0 Thurso 1 - report by Iain Grant
################################
Thurso took the honours in Saturday’s first North Caledonian League Caithness derby of the season.
A headed goal from Paul McCallum with 16 minutes left proved decisive.
The result leaves both Caithness teams sharing third spot with Golspie, a point behind Inverness, and a further point behind leaders Balintore.
Injuries and unavailabilities gave an unfamiliar look to both starting rearguards.
Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald opted to use the pace of regular frontman
Stevie Reid to join Colin Munro and Scott Manson in his back three and move regular sweeper Graham MacDonald further forward.
Phil Makhouli meanwhile slotted in alongside McCallum and Phil Green in Thurso’s defence with player/ manager Ross Sutherland deploying himself as cover in front of the trio.
Spells of heavy rain left parts of Recreation Park on the heavy side though the game kicked off in brilliant sunshine and it was to remain dry throughout.
MacDonald relished his new-found freedom to roam and featured with a couple of early long-range dribbles, one of which ended with a shot which produced a routine gather from visiting keeper Asa Sinclair.
A fourth minute inswinging corner from Michael Bremner caused problems for the Thurso defence and Sean Henstridge looked well-placed to finish only for the pressure to be relieved by a foul against one of his over-eager colleagues.
The visitors had their moments early on with a neat flick from Des MacLeod almost playing in Jamie Mackenzie.
Most of the first half was characterised by neat build-ups by both sides which either petered out or ended with, at best, half-chances or long-range efforts on goal.
Manson and Henstridge combined to set up Colin Davidson with a shot he screwed wide after eight minutes while Lee MacDougall and Nigel Mackenzie had efforts on goal which did not seriously discomfit Sean Henderson.
Henderson’s goal had a close call on 18 minutes when Makhouli released Mark Nichol down the right whose inviting cross was fractionally too strong for the inrushing MacLeod.
MacLeod got the break of the ball to have a second bite of the cherry but his stabbed shot lacked power and Reid was able to make a comfortable goal-line clearance.
The real fireworks in the first half were reserved for the closing 15 minutes when the crowd were stirred from their collective slumber by a lively spell of play.
On the half-hour mark, Thurso’s rearguard failed to deal with a long-range, high punt forward which left Henstridge with a run-in on Asa Sinclair.
The forward claimed he was checked from behind as he raced in to the edge of the box from where his attempted chip was under-hit to allow the keeper to make a grateful clutch.
Nichol was a regular outlet wide on the right and he was the source of just about all of his side’s meaningful attacks of the half.
After 36 minutes, his improvised cross from a distinctly unpromising position near the right corner-flag picked out MacLeod in the middle of the penalty box.
MacLeod, in turn, set up MacDougall whose stinging, angled shot produced a marvellous block from Henderson.
The action then returned to the other box four minutes later when a rapier thrust from Chris Sutherland saw his pinpoint cross find Henstridge unmarked at the far post.
That the primary school teacher failed to convert what should have been an elementary finish should not detract from Asa Sinclair’s masterly block at his near post.
The keeper then contrived to make stops to deny follow-up attempts by Alan Sinclair and Henstridge, again.
In what was developing into a something of a personal battle between the keepers to outdo each other, Henderson’s derring do kept his side on level terms two minutes from the interval.
This time, Jamie Mackenzie was the instigator with his foray down the right ending with him skipping past Manson before flighting the ball towards goal.
A partial clearance fell kindly to Nichol who swivelled on then penalty spot and shot powerfully wide of Henderson.
The keeper showed lightning reactions in diving to his left to pull off a fingertip save.
Henderson should have been tested again on the stroke of half-time but Nichol’s header from MacDougall’s cross was too straight when any deflection would probably have given his side the lead.
Going behind would have been ill-deserved for Halkirk but as the game wore on, they were to find themselves increasingly at the wrong end of both possession and chances.
A miscued snap-shot from MacDonald a minute after the interval was one of the few goal attempts the home side had until the latter stages.
The Vikings took a firm hold of the midfield battle and were to regularly pepper Henderson’s goal for much of the remainder of the game.
The keeper did well to keep out a headed effort by Gavin Bremner on 54 minutes. He then watched as Jamie Mackenzie first fired narrowly and then saw a netbound effort from his brother Nigel’s assist nodded off the line by Alan Sinclair.
Halkirk were given a rare opportunity a minute later when a misplaced backheader from MacDougall allowed Michael Bremner the space to home in on goal and see his well-struck shot well fielded by Asa Sinclair.
MacDougall was quickly in action at the other end with MacLeod inches away from connecting with the winger’s tantalising cross.
MacLeod passed up a decent chance on the hour-mark after Nichol and Jamie Mackenzie did the spadework.
The striker was unmarked in front of goal but the ball suddenly deflected into his path and his instinctive shot flew high over the bar.
MacDougall saw a decent effort flash wide of the post shortly before the first bookings of the match.
Ross Sutherland was fortunate to escape punishment for a late tackle on Manson on 68 minutes, with the latter’s petulant push of his opponent earning his a booking.
Five minutes later, Alan Sinclair’s name was added to ref Bob Gunn’s book for a foul on Nichol.
The resultant free-kick wide on the left produced the crucial goal, with Gavin Bremner’s well-flighted cross being half-cleared before McCallum headed powerfully past Henderson.
The setback was to produce a late flurry from the home men as Thurso settled into a dangerous strategy of seeking to hold what they had.
Lee Elder was the third booking for dissent after 77 minutes.
Asa Sinclair then did well to first deflect to safety a wicked, outswinging cross from Chris Sutherland before pouching a decent long-range dig from Michael Bremner.
As Halkirk continued to apply pressure, a full-length stretch by Green was required to deal with another dangerous cross from Chris Sutherland on 84 minutes.
Colin Sinclair showed up well in his brief cameo appearance after illness caused him to miss the first part of the season,
He was fielded in an emergency forward role and figured with a surging run which almost created the leveller after 87 minutes.
Ross Sutherland added to the crime count on 90 minutes when he was booked for a block on an opponent.
The Halkirk bench were on their feet to acclaim what looked like an injury-time equaliser only to watch sub Gary Coghill’s looping header brush over the junction of the bar and the left upright.
Manager MacDonald was happy with the work-rate of his side, who were short of a handful of regulars. “It was a well-contested game and we’re disappointed we did not get something out of it,” he said.
“Before they scored, I think both sides would have settled for a draw. ”Then, they stepped back a bit and we came close to getting the equaliser.”
Opposite number Sutherland was delighted to get the win which pushes his side up among the leaders. “Though we dominated for most of the second half, I actually thought we played better in the first half,” he said. “Halkirk had a couple of chances in the first half but then so did we. “It was a bit worrying when we sat back a bit after we scored and that was the only time when they really had a go at us.”
Sutherland was particularly happy with his side’s defence, which had their first clean sheet of the campaign.
Halkirk – Henderson, Davidson, Manson, MacDonald, Munro, A. Sinclair, Bremner, Sutherland (C. Sinclair 84), Reid , Henstridge (Coghill 78), Elder. Sub (unused) – Blair.
Thurso – Sinclair, Green, Makhouli, McCallum, Sutherland, Bremner, N. Mackenzie, J. Mackenzie, Nichol, MacLeod (Shearer 90), MacDougall (Mackay Steven 87). Sub (unused) – Inrig.
Ref – Mr R. Gunn.
Other fixtures
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BALINTORE 2 v ALNESS UNITED 1
Balintore goals by Lewis Ross (70) and Tony Farquhar (82)
Alness United goal by Kenny MacAskill (44)
BUNILLIDH THISTLE 0 v GOLSPIE SUTHERLAND 4
Scott Wilson (30), Robbie Duncanson (56), Kenneth Whyte (70) and Donald Sutherland (88)
INVERNESS CITY 1 v INVERGORDON 0
Inverness goal by Gavin Nicolson (23)
all 2.00 p.m kick-offs
NOTE - NCL League table - scottishjuniorfootball.co.uk/RG_Sports/do=showleague/div_id=70.html