Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 9, 2006 20:00:17 GMT
Saturday 19th August 2006
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MSIS North Caledonian League
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INVERGORDON 3 v THURSO 5 at Invergordon Academy, Invergordon[/u]
INVERGORDON GOALS BY ALAN STONE AND STEVIE MURRAY (2, 1 PEN)
THURSO GOALS BY SCOTT MACKAY STEVEN, MARK NICHOL (2), NIGEL MACKENZIE AND LUKE CASSIDY
Match report from The John O'Groat Journal website:-
League wide open as Thurso enjoys winning start
Invergordon 3, Thurso 5
Published: 25 August, 2006
THIS season’s MSIS North Caledonian League promises to be as unpredictable as any in recent years.
A clutch of sides, including Thurso and Halkirk United, start with realistic aspirations of being in with a shout of the title. Defending champions Balintore and perennial challengers Golspie are also likely to feature, as are newcomers Inverness City.
Far North fans have a chance to get a first look at the debutants when they make their first away trip to play Thurso in Castletown tomorrow.
On the evidence of the Vikings’ first outing last Saturday, Invergordon look to have improved from last season and could bother any side on their day. That said, the visitors contrived to pass up a hatful of gilt-edged scoring chances which could and should have made their winning margin far more comfortable.
New manager Ross Sutherland was happy with the number of opportunities created, if less so about his side’s vulnerability to counter-attacks, at which the home side excelled.
Heavy showers en route to the game relented to give dry if overcast conditions for the match, played on a firm surface. Invergordon were first to threaten, with Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair equal to Jamie McLeod’s early tester.
The Vikings proceeded to hit the jackpot with their first real attack after five minutes. Sinclair’s counterpart Steven Campbell could not hold Mark Makhouli’s rasping 25-yarder and Scott Mackay Steven pounced to net the rebound.
Campbell did rather better two minutes later when he got down well to block an angled shot from Makhouli after the chance was created by Nigel Mackenzie.
A free-flowing game involving two attack-minded sides was to see a regular flow of chances. After 13 minutes, Invergordon almost got on terms when Scott Wilde fed McLeod whose fierce shot was beaten away by Sinclair.
Mark Nichol then sent a stinging shot just wide of the far post before Jamie Mackenzie delivered a teasing pass to Lee MacDougall just outside the left corner of the penalty box. MacDougall arrived at the ball fractionally before Campbell and had a split second to watch his effort go fractionally wide before being flattened by the keeper.
No foul was given and Invergordon added insult to injury by racing upfield to net the equaliser. Alan Stone got on the end of a slick passing sequence to finish with a cracking strike from outside the box which went in off the underside of the bar.
The fast-moving game saw Thurso fashion a glorious chance from the restart for Mackay Steven but he could not find a way past Campbell. On the half-hour mark, MacDougall created another opening for the youngster but this time his first touch took him away from goal and the chance was lost.
The game was turned on its head by a Nichol double in the eight minutes before the interval.
Jamie Mackenzie was the architect of the first. His out-swinging cross was met by a dinked header from Nichol which found the gap between Campbell and his near post.
Sinclair again came to his side’s rescue on 41 minutes when Jordan Mitchell set up Keith Dinwoodie with a free shot from eight yards which produced a superb reaction stop from the keeper.
Thurso’s third goal stemmed from deep in their penalty box with a superbly-timed tackle by Michael Steven, who gave a polished display in the back three. Play quickly switched left to Nigel Mackenzie, who raced in unopposed to fire past Campbell only to see his shot come back off the inside of the left upright. Nichol was well placed to lash the follow-up high into the net.
Thurso’s best spell came in the 20 minutes after the turnaround when they linked well and threatened to overwhelm their hosts.
Nigel Mackenzie was denied by Campbell before Mackay Steven hit a post when it seemed easier to score. Mark Makhouli failed to convert a run-in on the keeper, then Nichol was unlucky to see a header from a Nigel Mackenzie free kick come back off the bar.
Invergordon’s sole response during this spell was a David Kennedy header from a free kick which was inches away. They had Stuart Thompson booked for dissent and Dinwoodie and Wilde cautioned for late tackles.
Invergordon almost got one back after 64 minutes when a collision between Wilde and Sinclair left the ball bobbling free near the goal-line, with Steven getting back to clear the danger.
Mackay Steven went close with a volley before Sinclair kept out a useful effort from Stone.
After 69 minutes, another golden chance was passed up by Thurso when Nichol was dispossessed as he tried to round Campbell.
The miss was magnified a minute later when a defensive mix-up exposed Sinclair, whose attempt to win the ball from Dinwoodie in his six-yard box was penalised. Steven Murray netted the spot-kick.
After having their hopes revived, Invergordon’s fortunes ebbed again on 73 minutes when Jamie Mackenzie sent his brother Nigel through to score with a neat finish.
It was 5-2 after 82 minutes when Campbell failed to intercept Nichol’s hanging cross from the right, leaving substitute Luke Cassidy with an easy header into the empty net.
Murray reduced the leeway five minutes from time when his 25-yard free kick flashed past Sinclair.
Nichol was booked three minutes from time for dissent.
Manager Sutherland was happy with how his new-look side knitted together. He said: “They settled well and there were some really good spells of play. There were times we took our foot off the gas, but when they came back and scored we were able to lift it again.”
Tomorrow’s match against Inverness City is at Castletown (3pm) as Sir George’s Park is undergoing maintenance. Thurso will be without the unavailable trio Jamie Mackenzie, Paul McCallum and Mark Makhouli. Willie Inrig, Phil Green and Phil Makhouli are injured but Alan Murray and Shaun Forbes will join the squad.
Invergordon: Campbell, Hutchinson, Kennedy, C. Stone, Thompson, Dinwoodie, Mitchell (Rennick 52), A. Stone, Wilde (Mills 68), Murray, McLeod.
Thurso: Sinclair, Steven, Miller, McCallum, J. Mackenzie, Bremner, N. Mackenzie, Mackay Steven (Cassidy 67), Nichol, Makhouli (Macleod 60), MacDougall. Sub not used: Warner.
Referee: G. Dearie, Inverness.
Golspie recovered from conceding an early goal to register a 5-2 home win versus Alness on Saturday.
Newcomers Inverness City, who have recruited a clutch of players who turned out for Dornoch last year, looked to be set to score an opening-day home victory over Balintore. Two-nil up, they were in cruise control when the defending champions stunned them with two-injury time goals by Ewan Dance to make the final score 2-2.
Other scores / scorers
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GOLSPIE SUTHERLAND 5 v ALNESS UNITED 2 AT KING GEORGE V PARK, GOLSPIE[/u]
GOLSPIE GOALS BY DAVID GRAY, DONALD SUTHERLAND (2), DAN MACPAIL AND MARTYN COOPER
ALNESS UNITED GOALS BY ANDY KEVEREN (2)
INVERNESS CITY 2 v BALINTORE 2 AT NORTH KESSOCK, INVERNESS[/u]
INVERNESS GOALS BY MICHAEL TURNER AND GAVIN NICHOLSON
BALINTORE GOALS BY EWAN DANCE (2)
All 3.00 p.m kick-offs
Note -
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Bonar Bridge have pulled out the league before it has started so the original fixture between Bonar and Halkirk wont be played leaving only three fixtures on the opening day.
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MSIS North Caledonian League
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INVERGORDON 3 v THURSO 5 at Invergordon Academy, Invergordon[/u]
INVERGORDON GOALS BY ALAN STONE AND STEVIE MURRAY (2, 1 PEN)
THURSO GOALS BY SCOTT MACKAY STEVEN, MARK NICHOL (2), NIGEL MACKENZIE AND LUKE CASSIDY
Match report from The John O'Groat Journal website:-
League wide open as Thurso enjoys winning start
Invergordon 3, Thurso 5
Published: 25 August, 2006
THIS season’s MSIS North Caledonian League promises to be as unpredictable as any in recent years.
A clutch of sides, including Thurso and Halkirk United, start with realistic aspirations of being in with a shout of the title. Defending champions Balintore and perennial challengers Golspie are also likely to feature, as are newcomers Inverness City.
Far North fans have a chance to get a first look at the debutants when they make their first away trip to play Thurso in Castletown tomorrow.
On the evidence of the Vikings’ first outing last Saturday, Invergordon look to have improved from last season and could bother any side on their day. That said, the visitors contrived to pass up a hatful of gilt-edged scoring chances which could and should have made their winning margin far more comfortable.
New manager Ross Sutherland was happy with the number of opportunities created, if less so about his side’s vulnerability to counter-attacks, at which the home side excelled.
Heavy showers en route to the game relented to give dry if overcast conditions for the match, played on a firm surface. Invergordon were first to threaten, with Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair equal to Jamie McLeod’s early tester.
The Vikings proceeded to hit the jackpot with their first real attack after five minutes. Sinclair’s counterpart Steven Campbell could not hold Mark Makhouli’s rasping 25-yarder and Scott Mackay Steven pounced to net the rebound.
Campbell did rather better two minutes later when he got down well to block an angled shot from Makhouli after the chance was created by Nigel Mackenzie.
A free-flowing game involving two attack-minded sides was to see a regular flow of chances. After 13 minutes, Invergordon almost got on terms when Scott Wilde fed McLeod whose fierce shot was beaten away by Sinclair.
Mark Nichol then sent a stinging shot just wide of the far post before Jamie Mackenzie delivered a teasing pass to Lee MacDougall just outside the left corner of the penalty box. MacDougall arrived at the ball fractionally before Campbell and had a split second to watch his effort go fractionally wide before being flattened by the keeper.
No foul was given and Invergordon added insult to injury by racing upfield to net the equaliser. Alan Stone got on the end of a slick passing sequence to finish with a cracking strike from outside the box which went in off the underside of the bar.
The fast-moving game saw Thurso fashion a glorious chance from the restart for Mackay Steven but he could not find a way past Campbell. On the half-hour mark, MacDougall created another opening for the youngster but this time his first touch took him away from goal and the chance was lost.
The game was turned on its head by a Nichol double in the eight minutes before the interval.
Jamie Mackenzie was the architect of the first. His out-swinging cross was met by a dinked header from Nichol which found the gap between Campbell and his near post.
Sinclair again came to his side’s rescue on 41 minutes when Jordan Mitchell set up Keith Dinwoodie with a free shot from eight yards which produced a superb reaction stop from the keeper.
Thurso’s third goal stemmed from deep in their penalty box with a superbly-timed tackle by Michael Steven, who gave a polished display in the back three. Play quickly switched left to Nigel Mackenzie, who raced in unopposed to fire past Campbell only to see his shot come back off the inside of the left upright. Nichol was well placed to lash the follow-up high into the net.
Thurso’s best spell came in the 20 minutes after the turnaround when they linked well and threatened to overwhelm their hosts.
Nigel Mackenzie was denied by Campbell before Mackay Steven hit a post when it seemed easier to score. Mark Makhouli failed to convert a run-in on the keeper, then Nichol was unlucky to see a header from a Nigel Mackenzie free kick come back off the bar.
Invergordon’s sole response during this spell was a David Kennedy header from a free kick which was inches away. They had Stuart Thompson booked for dissent and Dinwoodie and Wilde cautioned for late tackles.
Invergordon almost got one back after 64 minutes when a collision between Wilde and Sinclair left the ball bobbling free near the goal-line, with Steven getting back to clear the danger.
Mackay Steven went close with a volley before Sinclair kept out a useful effort from Stone.
After 69 minutes, another golden chance was passed up by Thurso when Nichol was dispossessed as he tried to round Campbell.
The miss was magnified a minute later when a defensive mix-up exposed Sinclair, whose attempt to win the ball from Dinwoodie in his six-yard box was penalised. Steven Murray netted the spot-kick.
After having their hopes revived, Invergordon’s fortunes ebbed again on 73 minutes when Jamie Mackenzie sent his brother Nigel through to score with a neat finish.
It was 5-2 after 82 minutes when Campbell failed to intercept Nichol’s hanging cross from the right, leaving substitute Luke Cassidy with an easy header into the empty net.
Murray reduced the leeway five minutes from time when his 25-yard free kick flashed past Sinclair.
Nichol was booked three minutes from time for dissent.
Manager Sutherland was happy with how his new-look side knitted together. He said: “They settled well and there were some really good spells of play. There were times we took our foot off the gas, but when they came back and scored we were able to lift it again.”
Tomorrow’s match against Inverness City is at Castletown (3pm) as Sir George’s Park is undergoing maintenance. Thurso will be without the unavailable trio Jamie Mackenzie, Paul McCallum and Mark Makhouli. Willie Inrig, Phil Green and Phil Makhouli are injured but Alan Murray and Shaun Forbes will join the squad.
Invergordon: Campbell, Hutchinson, Kennedy, C. Stone, Thompson, Dinwoodie, Mitchell (Rennick 52), A. Stone, Wilde (Mills 68), Murray, McLeod.
Thurso: Sinclair, Steven, Miller, McCallum, J. Mackenzie, Bremner, N. Mackenzie, Mackay Steven (Cassidy 67), Nichol, Makhouli (Macleod 60), MacDougall. Sub not used: Warner.
Referee: G. Dearie, Inverness.
Golspie recovered from conceding an early goal to register a 5-2 home win versus Alness on Saturday.
Newcomers Inverness City, who have recruited a clutch of players who turned out for Dornoch last year, looked to be set to score an opening-day home victory over Balintore. Two-nil up, they were in cruise control when the defending champions stunned them with two-injury time goals by Ewan Dance to make the final score 2-2.
Other scores / scorers
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GOLSPIE SUTHERLAND 5 v ALNESS UNITED 2 AT KING GEORGE V PARK, GOLSPIE[/u]
GOLSPIE GOALS BY DAVID GRAY, DONALD SUTHERLAND (2), DAN MACPAIL AND MARTYN COOPER
ALNESS UNITED GOALS BY ANDY KEVEREN (2)
INVERNESS CITY 2 v BALINTORE 2 AT NORTH KESSOCK, INVERNESS[/u]
INVERNESS GOALS BY MICHAEL TURNER AND GAVIN NICHOLSON
BALINTORE GOALS BY EWAN DANCE (2)
All 3.00 p.m kick-offs
Note -
######
Bonar Bridge have pulled out the league before it has started so the original fixture between Bonar and Halkirk wont be played leaving only three fixtures on the opening day.