Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 24, 2005 21:31:32 GMT
Dornoch 2 Thurso 5 - report by Iain Grant
Thurso were made to work hard on Saturday to progress to the semi-final of the Football Times Cup.
The tie was scheduled to go ahead at the Dammies but with the pitch being in no fit state, the Vikings agreed to give up home advantage to ease their late season fixture pile-up.
A warm, almost balmy day at the Sutherland seaside resort came as a welcome shock to the system after a run of games played in freezing conditions.
Within a minute of the action getting underway, Dornoch produced a shock of their own when they cashed in on sloppiness at the heart of the Vikings' rearguard.
Mike Turner nipped in to nick the ball off Kevin Warner and run on to beat Michael Gray from 15 yards.
Further defensive gremlins followed soon afterwards to fuel the home side's belief that they could spring an upset.
A moment of danger caused by a miscued clearance from Martin Baker was defused when Brian Gray coolly headed back to his brother Michael, in goals.
More slackness let Turner in for another sniff of goal though this time his left-foot volley sailed wide of the target.
Thurso's first threat came with Jamie MacKenzie's seventh minute run down the right which resulted in the first of a series of inswinging corners from Gordie Steven.
The last led to the visitors equalising with MacKenzie lashing home from six yards.
They went on to enjoy a good spell with Alan Murray and MacKenzie going close before they forged in front after 25 minutes.
Steven instigated the move after he won possession and threaded an incisive pass through to Mackenzie.
The midfielder survived an offside appeal before rounding keeper Richard Munro and netting.
Two minutes later, a monster long throw-in from Brian Gray ended with Phil Makhouli teeing up Murray for a shot which soared high over the bar.
Thurso had their tails up and would have added to their lead on the half-hour mark but for Munro bravely getting down to smother the ball at the feet of MacKenzie after he had been played in by Murray.
The home side had a chance to restore parity in the last action of the half when good lead-up play by David Grant freed Alan Geeghan whose teasing cross produced a fine clearance from Brian Gray.
Both sides had a couple of half-chances before the cup-tie sparked to life when Dornoch equalised after 50 minutes.
Dangerman Turner broke clear and squared to Kevin Mappleback who scooped the ball
into the net from close range.
There was again a suspicion of offside about the counter and Baker's dissent cost him a booking.
Two minutes later, the Vikings should have restored their lead when Murray was brought down in the box only for the usually reliable Brian Gray to have his trademark
spot-kick thumped down the middle saved by Munro's trailing leg.
Dornoch were now firmly on the back foot, with their goal having an amazing double escape after 56 minutes.
Munro threw himself athletically to get to Brian Gray's powerful header from a corner
and then could only look on as MacKenzie's rebound came back off a post.
Thurso hit the jackpot after 59 minutes with the route one to goal, popularised by the
unfashionable Wimbledon team of the late 1980s.
Michael Gray's hoofed clearance landed kindly for Murray whose well-flighted lob from 20 yards eluded Munro.
It was the striker 37th goal of the campaign and minutes later he had the chance of adding to his tally.
Set up by Mackenzie, he narrowly shot over from 12 yards and in the process tweaked a hamstring, which ended his involvement in the match.
Dornoch threatened only occasionally, being confined largely to long-range efforts.
One such effort after 63 minutes saw Shaun Gorham's shot lacking the angle required to trouble Michael Gray.
MacKenzie was denied his hat-trick twice more.
No penalty was awarded when he was bundled over in the box as he looked certain to score and then Turner saved one-handedly as MacKenzie tried to round him.
Ten minutes from time, Thurso went 4-2 in front when MacKenzie set up Makhouli who steered the ball past Turner from just inside the box.
The visitors finished the match well in front with sub Martin Bain, Brian Gray and Makhouli all going close before they added to their tally in the final minute.
Makhouli was upended by Turner as he ran through on goal.
Allan Sutherland converted and nervelessly repeated the feat when the ref ordered a retake.
Thurso assistant manager Richard Hughes said it was no easy ride for the Vikings.
"It was quite a hard-fought game and we had to battle in midfield.
"We started to take charge after the third goal and we went on to dominate the latter stages."
Thurso now entertain either Golspie or Bunillidh Thistle in the semi-final.
Thurso v Dornoch: M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner, Baker, Bremner (R Sutherland 85), Forbes, Makhouli, A. Sutherland, Steven (Cook 70), Mackenzie, Murray (Bain 64).
Thurso were made to work hard on Saturday to progress to the semi-final of the Football Times Cup.
The tie was scheduled to go ahead at the Dammies but with the pitch being in no fit state, the Vikings agreed to give up home advantage to ease their late season fixture pile-up.
A warm, almost balmy day at the Sutherland seaside resort came as a welcome shock to the system after a run of games played in freezing conditions.
Within a minute of the action getting underway, Dornoch produced a shock of their own when they cashed in on sloppiness at the heart of the Vikings' rearguard.
Mike Turner nipped in to nick the ball off Kevin Warner and run on to beat Michael Gray from 15 yards.
Further defensive gremlins followed soon afterwards to fuel the home side's belief that they could spring an upset.
A moment of danger caused by a miscued clearance from Martin Baker was defused when Brian Gray coolly headed back to his brother Michael, in goals.
More slackness let Turner in for another sniff of goal though this time his left-foot volley sailed wide of the target.
Thurso's first threat came with Jamie MacKenzie's seventh minute run down the right which resulted in the first of a series of inswinging corners from Gordie Steven.
The last led to the visitors equalising with MacKenzie lashing home from six yards.
They went on to enjoy a good spell with Alan Murray and MacKenzie going close before they forged in front after 25 minutes.
Steven instigated the move after he won possession and threaded an incisive pass through to Mackenzie.
The midfielder survived an offside appeal before rounding keeper Richard Munro and netting.
Two minutes later, a monster long throw-in from Brian Gray ended with Phil Makhouli teeing up Murray for a shot which soared high over the bar.
Thurso had their tails up and would have added to their lead on the half-hour mark but for Munro bravely getting down to smother the ball at the feet of MacKenzie after he had been played in by Murray.
The home side had a chance to restore parity in the last action of the half when good lead-up play by David Grant freed Alan Geeghan whose teasing cross produced a fine clearance from Brian Gray.
Both sides had a couple of half-chances before the cup-tie sparked to life when Dornoch equalised after 50 minutes.
Dangerman Turner broke clear and squared to Kevin Mappleback who scooped the ball
into the net from close range.
There was again a suspicion of offside about the counter and Baker's dissent cost him a booking.
Two minutes later, the Vikings should have restored their lead when Murray was brought down in the box only for the usually reliable Brian Gray to have his trademark
spot-kick thumped down the middle saved by Munro's trailing leg.
Dornoch were now firmly on the back foot, with their goal having an amazing double escape after 56 minutes.
Munro threw himself athletically to get to Brian Gray's powerful header from a corner
and then could only look on as MacKenzie's rebound came back off a post.
Thurso hit the jackpot after 59 minutes with the route one to goal, popularised by the
unfashionable Wimbledon team of the late 1980s.
Michael Gray's hoofed clearance landed kindly for Murray whose well-flighted lob from 20 yards eluded Munro.
It was the striker 37th goal of the campaign and minutes later he had the chance of adding to his tally.
Set up by Mackenzie, he narrowly shot over from 12 yards and in the process tweaked a hamstring, which ended his involvement in the match.
Dornoch threatened only occasionally, being confined largely to long-range efforts.
One such effort after 63 minutes saw Shaun Gorham's shot lacking the angle required to trouble Michael Gray.
MacKenzie was denied his hat-trick twice more.
No penalty was awarded when he was bundled over in the box as he looked certain to score and then Turner saved one-handedly as MacKenzie tried to round him.
Ten minutes from time, Thurso went 4-2 in front when MacKenzie set up Makhouli who steered the ball past Turner from just inside the box.
The visitors finished the match well in front with sub Martin Bain, Brian Gray and Makhouli all going close before they added to their tally in the final minute.
Makhouli was upended by Turner as he ran through on goal.
Allan Sutherland converted and nervelessly repeated the feat when the ref ordered a retake.
Thurso assistant manager Richard Hughes said it was no easy ride for the Vikings.
"It was quite a hard-fought game and we had to battle in midfield.
"We started to take charge after the third goal and we went on to dominate the latter stages."
Thurso now entertain either Golspie or Bunillidh Thistle in the semi-final.
Thurso v Dornoch: M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner, Baker, Bremner (R Sutherland 85), Forbes, Makhouli, A. Sutherland, Steven (Cook 70), Mackenzie, Murray (Bain 64).