Post by Brian Mackay on Feb 2, 2005 22:20:31 GMT
Golspie 0 Thurso 5 - report by Iain Grant
Thurso kept alive their faint MSIS North Caley title hopes with this thumping victory over the defending champions on Saturday.
While Alness are now long odds-on favourites to land the championship, the Vikings are determined not to hand it to them on a plate.
The platform for Saturday's win was laid in the opening five minutes when they raced to a two goal lead through goals from Mark Nichol and Alan Murray.
The strike duo each doubled their tally before the end with the other goal falling to Shaun Forbes, who has taken full advantage after earning a starting berth in the last two matches.
The first action was at the Thurso end with Michael Gray making a comfortable stop from Darren Pullen's second minute free-kick.
A minute later, the Sutherland side were caught cold by a Lee MacDougall corner, with Nichol left unmarked to net with a powerful header from six yards.
Still reeling from that setback, Golspie proceeded to leak a second goal from the same source.
This time, MacDougall's setpiece found Alan Sutherland whose far-post header was sent across goal and Murray was able to scoop the ball home while falling backwards.
Golspie responded after 15 minutes with a fierce header from Robbie MacDougall which was too straight to seriously trouble Gray.
Though the home side saw plenty of the ball, Thurso's rearguard had a secure feel about it and ensured efforts on goal were from long-range.
MacDougall had a couple of decent efforts before his side almost fell further behind on 27 minutes.
A slide-rule pass from Gavin Bremner carved out an inviting opening for Nichol but Golspie keeper Ian Young showed alertness and bravery to make a vital block.
It was 3-0 on the half-hour mark when Murray released Forbes whose inch-perfect 30 yard cross eluded the last defender to reach.
Nichol chested the ball down before lashing it past Young for his 35th goal of the current campaign.
Thurso finished the half well on top with Nichol threatening with a free-kick and then Murray being denied by Young and Forbes's follow-up header being cleared off the line.
Early in the second period, Nichol sent a header just over while MacDougall went close with a close-in effort from Gary Reid's feed.
The home side looked set to get one back after 60 minutes when Walter Mackay was poised to net when Sutherland got back to nick the ball off him.
Two minutes later, it was curtains for Golspie when Young spilled a hanging cross from Phil Makhouli and Murray was on hand to steer the ball into the empty net.
Young was spared further blushes when his rushed clearance found MacDougall and his first-time chip-shot just cleared the bar.
A goal-line clearance denied Nichol his hat-trick after 71 minutes.
Golspie's misery was complete 10 minutes from time when Forbes finished off a driving run with a low shot from outside the box which eluded Young and slashed just inside his left post.
Thurso assistant manager Richard Hughes said afterwards: "It was an excellent team performance, especially considering we had three regulars missing and had changed our formation to a 4-4-2.
"They worked very hard and deserved what they got out of the game." Mr Hughes said that while the destination of the title is outwith their hands, all they can do is to close the gap on leaders Alness and increase the pressure on the Easter Ross side having to win their last match at home to Bonar.
Thurso tomorrow have another difficult fixture when they travel to play county rivals Halkirk.
The village outfit will be going all out to score their first victory over Thurso in any competition since the Vikings joined the league in 1998.
Defender Brian Gray, unavailable last Saturday, returns to the squad while it is hoped Jamie MacKenzie and Ross Sutherland will have recovered from neck and hamstring injuries respectively.
Thurso: Gray, Baker, Moar, Warner, Sutherland, Bremner, Forbes, Makhouli (Steven 70), MacDougall (Bain 78), Nichol (Cook 78), Murray.
Invergordon required extra-time before defeating Bonar Bridge 2-0 to reach the final of the North Caledonian Cup final.
Their opponents, Balintore were on league duty on Saturday, scoring a comfortable 3-0 home win versus Bunillidh Thistle.
Thurso kept alive their faint MSIS North Caley title hopes with this thumping victory over the defending champions on Saturday.
While Alness are now long odds-on favourites to land the championship, the Vikings are determined not to hand it to them on a plate.
The platform for Saturday's win was laid in the opening five minutes when they raced to a two goal lead through goals from Mark Nichol and Alan Murray.
The strike duo each doubled their tally before the end with the other goal falling to Shaun Forbes, who has taken full advantage after earning a starting berth in the last two matches.
The first action was at the Thurso end with Michael Gray making a comfortable stop from Darren Pullen's second minute free-kick.
A minute later, the Sutherland side were caught cold by a Lee MacDougall corner, with Nichol left unmarked to net with a powerful header from six yards.
Still reeling from that setback, Golspie proceeded to leak a second goal from the same source.
This time, MacDougall's setpiece found Alan Sutherland whose far-post header was sent across goal and Murray was able to scoop the ball home while falling backwards.
Golspie responded after 15 minutes with a fierce header from Robbie MacDougall which was too straight to seriously trouble Gray.
Though the home side saw plenty of the ball, Thurso's rearguard had a secure feel about it and ensured efforts on goal were from long-range.
MacDougall had a couple of decent efforts before his side almost fell further behind on 27 minutes.
A slide-rule pass from Gavin Bremner carved out an inviting opening for Nichol but Golspie keeper Ian Young showed alertness and bravery to make a vital block.
It was 3-0 on the half-hour mark when Murray released Forbes whose inch-perfect 30 yard cross eluded the last defender to reach.
Nichol chested the ball down before lashing it past Young for his 35th goal of the current campaign.
Thurso finished the half well on top with Nichol threatening with a free-kick and then Murray being denied by Young and Forbes's follow-up header being cleared off the line.
Early in the second period, Nichol sent a header just over while MacDougall went close with a close-in effort from Gary Reid's feed.
The home side looked set to get one back after 60 minutes when Walter Mackay was poised to net when Sutherland got back to nick the ball off him.
Two minutes later, it was curtains for Golspie when Young spilled a hanging cross from Phil Makhouli and Murray was on hand to steer the ball into the empty net.
Young was spared further blushes when his rushed clearance found MacDougall and his first-time chip-shot just cleared the bar.
A goal-line clearance denied Nichol his hat-trick after 71 minutes.
Golspie's misery was complete 10 minutes from time when Forbes finished off a driving run with a low shot from outside the box which eluded Young and slashed just inside his left post.
Thurso assistant manager Richard Hughes said afterwards: "It was an excellent team performance, especially considering we had three regulars missing and had changed our formation to a 4-4-2.
"They worked very hard and deserved what they got out of the game." Mr Hughes said that while the destination of the title is outwith their hands, all they can do is to close the gap on leaders Alness and increase the pressure on the Easter Ross side having to win their last match at home to Bonar.
Thurso tomorrow have another difficult fixture when they travel to play county rivals Halkirk.
The village outfit will be going all out to score their first victory over Thurso in any competition since the Vikings joined the league in 1998.
Defender Brian Gray, unavailable last Saturday, returns to the squad while it is hoped Jamie MacKenzie and Ross Sutherland will have recovered from neck and hamstring injuries respectively.
Thurso: Gray, Baker, Moar, Warner, Sutherland, Bremner, Forbes, Makhouli (Steven 70), MacDougall (Bain 78), Nichol (Cook 78), Murray.
Invergordon required extra-time before defeating Bonar Bridge 2-0 to reach the final of the North Caledonian Cup final.
Their opponents, Balintore were on league duty on Saturday, scoring a comfortable 3-0 home win versus Bunillidh Thistle.