Thurso FC Season 2001/02
Thurso won their first Cup
trophy when they won the PCT North Caledonian Cup 2-1 V Alness United at King
George V Park, Golspie on 6th April 2002
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
18th of August 2001
Golspie Sutherland............3..............V Thurso
F.C.......................1...............
Goalscorer - Alan Murray
King George V Park, Golspie
Report by Iain Grant
Golspie
rode their luck before taking charge of Saturday's MSIS North Caledonian League
encounter.
Thurso made a promising start to their first outing of the
campaign and with Alan Murray and Gavin Bremner both hitting the post and
Thurso coming close on three other occasions before the home side went ahead.
The Vikings were aggrieved at Golspie's 21st minute opener when Darren Pullen
appeared to be yards offside when he netted from a header.
Within 10 minutes, Golspie had tripled their advantage with Gary Morrison first
heading home and then chipping Gray after a defensive lapse.
After the break, the visitors came close several times before finally breaking
through 11 minutes from time with a glorious strike from Alan Murray.
The striker capped a jinking run with a 20 yard strike which flew into the top
left-hand corner.
Manager Alistair Budge was happy with how his new-look side gelled on their
first outing of the season.
"Given that it was the first time they have played together, I thought
there was a lot of positives.
"We kept the ball well given that we were up against a side who just about all have Highland League experience."
The manager has a few headaches for Saturday's home clash with Balintore, which
kicks off at 3 p.m.
Jonathon Makhouli has joined Graham Reid and Kevin Warner on the injury list
though Bobby Thorburn is expected to recover from a knock.
Mr Budge is keen to blood several youngsters, including Lee Mackay who has been
shaping up well in training.
Team v Golspie : Gray, Baker, Thorburn, Moar,
MacBeath, Inrig, Steven, Bremner, M. Murray, Makhouli, A. Murray.
Subs --
MacGregor, Coghill, Cassidy
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
25th of August 2001
Thurso F.C...................2...................V
Balintore..................1............
Goalscorers P.Makhouli and Martin Baker(pen)
At The Dammies, Thurso
Report by Iain Grant
Thurso
scored their first MSIS North Caley League success with this win in which they
had the chances to prevail by a much more comfortable margin.
Gavin Bremner and stand-in striker Graham Reid had both hit woodwork before the
Vikings took the lead after 33 minutes.
Reid's header had put Balintore defender Sean Carrison under pressure from
Makhouli.
Carrison only succeeded in steering the ball towards goal with Makhouli
claiming the final touch on the goal-line.
The visiting goal continued to come under threat before the break with Thorburn
and Inrig both going close before Reid came out second in a 1-on-1 with keeper
David Matheson.
Reid had the ball in the net after 66 minutes but it was chalked off offside.
Balintore had a decent spell midway through the second half with Ross Powell
finishing off a driving run after 70 minutes with a shot which Michael Gray was
happy to see flash wide of his goal.
The visitors' goal came under siege in the final 15 minutes with Luke Cassidy
unlucky with a shot and Martin Murray missing a snip before Martin Baker
converted an 88th minute penalty.
Two minutes into injury time, Balintore got one back when Powell banged home a
25 yard free-kick.
Manager Alistair Budge was delighted with the side's first win and with how the
new players have settled in.
"What I'm particularly pleased about is the number of chances we're
creating. The boys put in a good shift and look to be enjoying their
football."
Mr Budge is resigned to losing keeper Gray to Brora Rangers and is currently
reviewing his options for a replacement.
There is no North Caley programme on Saturday and the manager is hoping injured
duo Alan Murray and Kevin Warner will be fit for their next match away to
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 8th of September 2001
Bunillidh
Thistle............1..............V Thurso F.C.......................0...............
Played at
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 15th of September 2001
Thurso F.C...................4................V
Dornoch................2..........
Goalscorers -
George Groat and Alan Murray (3)
At The Dammies, Thurso
Match report from Iain Grant
Thurso
recovered from their previous week's reverse to Bunillidh to extend their 100%
record against a side still seeking their first point in the MSIS North
Caledonian League. An off-the-field shake-up has seen Dornoch revert to an
all-local policy which appears to have given them fresh impetus.
The Vikings, who themselves have had to undergo a makeover, found the visitors
lacking in neither spirit nor stamina. That said, the victory should have been
more decisive but for a series of gilt-edged chances which went abegging.
Dornoch sought to deploy their back line well up the park which regularly left
them exposed to quick counters which released lively front-runners, Alan Murray
and newcomer George Groat.
Thurso had already missed a couple of snips before Groat gave them an 11th
minute lead with as debut goal. After 18 minutes, Dornoch's defence was again
breached with
Dornoch threatened fitfully with Ian Moffat and John Mackay unable to hit the
target after working openings on the edge of ther box. A minute into the second
half , the home camp got a wake-up call when defensive hesistancy let in Roddy
Mackay who scored with a fine strike from 12 yards. The goal gave heart to the
visitors but their defence was once again breached after 55 minutes when
John Mackay was just off-target for Dornoch just before the home side made the
points safe after 75 minutes. Good play by Martin MacGregor cut out a clear
opening for fellow substitute Luke Cassidy. Cassidy's shot was well saved by
Clark only for
Seven minutes from time,
Shepherd popped up to get Dornoch's after 87 minutes with a fine strike into
the top left-hand corner.
Vikings manager Alistair Budge was happy with the general play but less so with
the strike-rate.
"We must have missed half-a-dozen clearcut chances.
"They tried to defend too high up the park and were caught out.
"That said. Dornoch competed a lot better than they have against us in the
past. They gave us a good game and at 2-1 it was a bit too close for comfort.
"We are strill knitting together and it a bonus to have George Groat in
the side -- he put in a really good shift, as did Willie Inrig."
Bobby Thorburn is a doubt for tomorrow's Chic Allan Cup second round tie in
Team v Dornoch -- I.Begg, Thorburn (S. Reid 77), Moar, G.
Reid, Robertson
(Macgregor 63), Inrig, Steven, Bremner, Groat, J.Begg (Cassidy 70),
Other NCL Scores
Invergordon 4 V Bonar Bridge 2
Balintore 3 V Bunillidh Thistle 0
Alness United 5 V Halkirk United 0
Chic Allan Cup Second Round
Saturday 22nd of September 2001
Goalscorers - Alan Murray, Martin MacGregor and Luke Cassidy
At Migdale Park,
Match report from Iain Grant
Thurso
pulled off a comfortable win on Saturday to progress to the semi-finals of the
Chic Allan Cup.
The home side were fortunate not to be on the end of a rout with their woodwork
peppered throughout the afternoon as the Vikings launched wave after wave of
attacks. Within a minute, the visitors were ahead when Alan Murray headed home
Gavin Bremner's corner kick.
Bonar were still reeling from that setback when they almost went two behind
following a quick counter which saw
Inrig, twice, and Cassidy, had both been denied by the woodwork before the
Thurso pressure eventually produced the elusive third goal. Bremner's deep
corner was met by a powerful header from
That put the visitors on easy street with central defender Shaun Moar allowed
the luxury of an upfield foray in which he exchanged passes with Murray before
unleashing a 30 yarder which found the inside of the post.
Groat was then denied by the same post in the aftermath to a fiercely struck
free-kick from Reid.
Thurso almost restored their three goal lead when MacGrgeor set up Groat whose
effort was half-cleared into the path of substitute Graham Potter who was
unlucky to see his shot rebound to safety off the outside of a post
After match comment
Manager Alistair Budge singled out youngster Martin MacGregor and the
experienced Gavin Bremner for special praise in what he rated as a good
all-round display.
"We're playing quite well and are continuing to creat no shortage of
chances. On another day, we could have hit double figures. "I was happy
how we dealt with Bonar who are a pretty physical side."
Bobby Thorburn is expected to be fit for tomorrow's MSIS North Caledonian
League match in Alness. Fellow defender Martin Baker is also back from holiday
but Cassidy is unavailable. Manager Budge knows it will be a tough test against
a side who have cracked in 19 goals in their last
three outings. "Alness are obviously going well
but our boys will be up for it are they are looking forward to the challenge.
Team v Bonar -- I. Begg, Reid, Gray, Moar, Inrig, Bremner,
MacGrgeor, Cassidy, Groat. Substitutes -- Robertson,
Cassidy, Potter.
Other NCL matches
Invergordon 12 V Dornoch 0
Other Chic Allan Cup games
Tain 0 V Halkirk United 4
Bunillidh 0 V Alness United 9
Balintore 1 V Golspie 5
Chic Allan Cup Semi-finals - Thurso
F.C V Golspie Sutherland and Alness United V Halkirk United
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 29th of September 2001
Alness United.............5...........V Thurso
F.C.....................0.................
Goalscorers
Alness United - Keith Sutherland (1), Ross Jack (1), Colin MacLean (1), Steven
Graham (1) and Steven MacLean (1).
Jocky Begg and Alness keeper Andrew Ridgers - sent off
At Alness
Match report from Iain Grant
The Vikings
suffered one of their biggest ever defeats on Saturday as they became the
latest to suffer at the hands of a side which is firing on all cylinders. Even
the red-carding of home goalkeeper Andrew Rodgers in first half injury time
failed to quell Tommy Regan's men who went on to add three goals after the
break.
While Alness were good value for a win, the margin
certainly flattered them in a game soured by several unsavoury incidents.
Thurso's main goal threat came from Alan Murray who created the first chance
after six minutes when he was impeded as his pace threatened to take him clear.
After 12 minutes, Alness were ahead when their first
attack saw a far post cross expertly volleyed home by Keith Sutherland. A
minute later, tempers boiled over after Rodgers was caught by
The half ended with Rodgers being red-carded for a dreadful challenge on Jocky
Begg just outside the box.
The visitors made a bright start after the turnaround and went close several
times before the home side struck the killer third goal after 58 minutes.
Dave Smith put Colin Maclean clear down the inside left channel and he was
allowed to continue unchallenged before firing past Iain Begg.
Steven Graham. and Steven MacLean added further
counters with Thurso's misery complete with Jocky Begg's 80th minute sending-
off for a second booking.
Vikings manager Alistair Budge believed there was little to choose between the
teams apart from in the chance-taking department. "I have to give Alness
their due their finishing was ruthless. They had six attacks all game and
scored from five of them. "We had more chances but didn't take them."
On Saturday, Thurso entertain Halkirk at Sir Georges Park. Kick-off is at 3
p.m.
Thurso v Alness: I. Begg, Reid, Moar, Gray, Baker, MacGregor (Sinclair 83) ,
Bremner, Inrig, Groat,
Other NCL Scores
Invergordon 3 V Tain 1
Balintore 3 V Dornoch 1
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
6th of October 2001
Thurso F.C..................2.................V Halkirk
United...............1...........
Goalscorers - Willie Steven and Philip Makhouli
At The Dammies, Thurso
Match report from Iain Grant
These teams
have produced some memorable clashes since the fixture started with Thurso's
emergence on the scene three seasons ago. Saturday's MSIS North Caley League
game was not one. Dour, hard-fought and doughty are among the derby game
cliches which immediately spring to mind.
United made a sparky start in their quest for their first victory over their
county rivals. But they soon ran out of ideas as the Vikings started to
dominate the midfield and they just about deserved their late winner from
substitute Phil Makhouli.
The main talking point was in frst half injury time when home manager Alistair
Budge was sent off for his vocal protest at a penalty award which led to
Halkirk's equaliser. John Martin hit the inside of the post and Colin Banks had
a low, raking drive well saved by Michael Gray as Halkirk enjoyed the early
whip hand. Allan Murray had several efforts on goal before the game went into
stalemate mode before exploding into life at the end of the half. A dangerous
looping cross from Steven Reid was well held by Michael Gray either
A minute into injury time, Thurso went ahead when Jonathon Makhouli picked out
Steven's run into the box. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, the
midfielder span round and thrashed an angled shot past Swanson into the top
right-hand corner of the net.
Thurso were relishing the prospect of an interval lead when they were caught
napping at the restart.
As Banks ran on to a long through ball on the edge of the box, he went down
under Shaun Moar's crunching challenge. Referee Danny McWilliam's penalty award
drew an apoplectic response from Mr Budge who forcefully insisted that his
defender had fairly won the ball. Moar's booking was followed by the manager's
dismissal with Gordie Reid waiting for the red mist to clear before steering
the ball high into the net for the equaliser.
Free-kicks looked the most likely route to goal for both sides as defences took
the honours for most of the second period. Gavin Bremner and Martin Gunn went
close with strikes from the edge of the box Halkirk defended ever more deeper in the closing stages as Thurso mounted a wave
of attacks.
Disappointed United boss Richard Hughes reckoned his troops did enough to
deserve at least a draw. "It was a typical derby
game with both sides cancelling themselves out for long spells
," he said. "We had chances in the first half and they came
back and enjoyed the best of the second hald. "I
thought a draw would have been fair in the end."
Mr Budge said his side recovered well from a low-key start. "They had a
good start. They seemed more up for it than we were and looked sharper.
"We gradually got back and I was pleased with how we played in the second
half."
Thurso -- M. Gray, Baker, Moar, B. Gray, Reid, Steven (P.
Makhouli 69), MacGregor
(McBeath 86), Inrig, Murray, Bremner, J. Makhouli (Cassidy 83).
Halkirk -- Swanson, Sutherland, G. Gunn (Weir 56), Blair, Martin, Coghill, S.
Reid
(Shearer 62), G. Reid, Banks, M. Gunn, M. Coghill ( Munro
80). Ref -- Mr D. McWilliams.
Other NCL Scores
Balintore 0 V Invergordon 4
Bunillidh Thistle 0 V Golspie Sutherland 3
Alness United 2 V Tain 1
Chic Allan Cup Semi-final
Saturday 20th of October 2001
Thurso F.C..................1.................V Golspie
Sutherland................2..........
Goalscorer - Willie Inrig
At The Dammies, Thurso
Match report from Iain Grant
Thurso
missed out on a place in the Chic Allan Cup final after losing out to a very
strong Golspie side at Sir Georges Park on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Brian Mackay, from Bettyhill, had a baptism of fire as the visitors
threatened to kill off the contest almost before it had begun. Less than a
minute had gone when Mackay's first job was to pick the ball out of the back of
his net.
A slack pass was seized on by Golspie stalwart Darren Pullen who sent Stuart
Pearce romping down the right flank. His teasing cross saw Robbie MacDougall
arrive just ahead of Brian Gray to sent a shot which
went in off the top of Mackay's flailing right arm.
Thurso were still at sixes and sevens when they went perilously close to going
two down after three minutes. A needlessly conceded free-kick gave Pullen the
chance to try his hand from 30 yards. His sweetly struck effort cannoned off
the underneath side of the bar before striking Mackay on the back. It looked a
certain goal but the keeper somehow managed to prevent the ball going over the
line.
Golspie continued to mercilessly expose the home side's error-ridden start with
Thurso indebted to George Groat for a clearing header at full stretch after
seven minutes with Pearce ready to pounce. The pattern was broken with a Gavin
Bremner free-kick which Shaun Moar headed on for Alan Murray to send a dipping
shot past the post.
Golspie keeper Billy Neilson then had to look sharp to save at the feet of
The Vikings were then to enjoy a decent spell with Willie Inrig and Bremner
helping them settle with some intelligent probes and through balls. They however stuggled throughout the afternoon to get in the back
of the Golspie defence with the final ball into the box regularly coming to
naught. The visitors doubled their lead after 32 minutes when an
incisive counter-attack saw Andrew Laing pick up MacDougall's run into the box.
As MacKay came out to narrow the angle, the striker fired in a crisp, low
strike just inside the far post.
Having established a comfortable lead, Golspie failed to sustain their
attacking threat after the resumption but they retained a
solidity in defence which seldom looked in danger of being breached.
Early half-chances at either end saw efforts by MacDougall and Groat comfortably
saved.
Thurso had a let-off after 70 minutes when a free-kick glanced off Reid with
the ball striking the outside of the right post and going out for a corner.
Eight minutes from time, Thurso were thrown a lifeline when a Bremner effort
from the edge of the box deflected off
Thurso manager Alistair Budge plans changes for Saturday's scheduled home clash
with MSIS League leaders Invergordon.
Reflecting on the Golspie game, he said: "They caught us cold early on
with the goal and could easily have got two up. "We
came back well but too often we lacked a good, final ball to trouble their
defence. "They are a strong, well-organised side and we're still experimenting a bit to find our best line-up."
Stuart Campbell is in the squad for Saturday's game, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
Thurso v Golspie: Mackay, Gray, Moar, Baker, Reid, Inrig, Bremner, Steven
(MacGregor 60),
J. Makhouli (Cassidy 77), Groat (P. Makhouli 77),
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 27th of October 2001
Thurso F.C..................1.................V
Invergordon...............1...........
Goalscorer - Shaun Moar
At The Dammies, Thurso
Match report from Iain Grant
The rival
camps were agreed that a point each was a fair reflection of the way this MSIS
North Caley tussle had gone. League leaders Invergordon took a first half lead
through a smartly taken goal from John Colquhon with defender Shaun Moar
responding for the Vikings midway through the second period. There was precious
other serious goal-mouth action as the respective defences regularly defused
dangerous looking forays that fizzled out in the strike zones. The visitors
made the more sprightly start but they lacked a cutting edge and it was Thurso
who looked the more likely to open the scoring.
Iain Elder twice went close before the visitors went in front after 25 minutes
when Colquhon collected the ball just outside the box and unleashed a cracking
shot which beat home keeper Brian Mackay all ends up.
Mackay commanded his box well and was alert enough to make a good block from a
tasty effort from Fraser Munro after 38 minutes.
After 56 minutes, Thurso drew level from the unlikely source of Moar. The
creator was Gavin Bremner whose driven cross against the wind was met by the
inrushing defender whose header flashed past Stewart.
The last decent chance fell to substitute Stuart Blumfield after 65 minutes. A
surging run by Bremner down the left side ended with Phil Makhouli setting
Blumfield in on an obstructed run on goal. The experienced Stewart got his
angles spot on and he spread himself to block the youngster's shot with his
feet. Invergordon enjoyed the better of the closing period but though they
enjoyed the bulk of possession, they failed to cause problems for a defence,
which was well marshalled by Moar.
Thurso manager Alistair Budge agreed that a draw was a fair result. He said:
"It was a pretty hard game for both sides with the pitch cutting up and
there really wasn't much between the two sides. "They
started the better and finished stronger than we did but overall we probably
had more chances than they did." Mr Budge signled out
keeper Brian Mackay, defender Moar and midfielder Inrig as his best performers.
Weather permitting, Thurso make the trek to play
Brian Gray, who missed out on the Invergordon game because of an injury sustained
in training, and Martin MacGregor, who was unavailable, are
set to rejoin the squad.
Thurso v Invergordon Line-up: Mackay, Warner, Moar, Baker (McBeath 60), Reid,
Inrig,
Bremner, Cassidy (P. Makhouli 60), Groat, J. Makhouli, Elder (Blumfield 60).
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
3rd of November 2001
Goalscorers - Ian Elder and Geordie Groat
At Migdale Park,
Match report by Iain Grant
The
visitors were relieved to escape with a victory which takes them into fourth
place in the MSIS North Caledonian League. Vikings' manager Alistair Budge
later acknowledged that his side rode their luck against a side which has
strengthened significantly since Thurso's last trip to Bonar in the cup six
weeks ago.
The lively home side had the opportunities to have established a commanding
lead by half-time. But they were frustrated by some profligate finishing and
several top-drawer reaction stops from keeper Brian Mackay.
Thurso rubbed salt in the wounds after Iain Elder capitalised on a quickfire
break to put his side in front after 25 minutes. The breakthrough stemmed from
a jinking run down the left wing by Martin MacGregor. His feed to Jonathon
Makkhouli saw the latter's cross being met by Elder who got in front of his
marker to net with a measured finish.
Shortly afterwards, Thurso had the chance to double their advantage when Graeme
Reid got brought down in the box. A penalty was awarded but Reid was unable to
convert.
In the course of the half, Thurso had a couple of other half-chances and Gavin
Bremner was unlucky with a rasping 25 yarder on the half-hour mark which the
Bonar keeper did well to tip over.
But the bulk of the serious action was at the other end with the visitors
indebted to Mackay for his lightning responses as well as grateful for some
quite dreadful misses. Bonar were also unlucky to have what looked like a
perfectly legitimate goal chalked off for a dubious offside flag.
Thurso improved after the turnaround and deservedly went two up midway through the
second period. Willie Inrig picked out the forward run of Shaun Moar who set
George Groat free with a well-judged pass. With Bonar's defence unsuccessfully
appealing for offside, Groat strode through to net.
That should have made the game secure but the visitors had to endure a rather
fraught closing 20 minutes. Their cause was not made easier when Groat's volley
of abuse to an assistant referee saw him red-carded.
Bonar pressed hard but the visiting defence, again superbly anchored by Moar,
held firm until the last minute when Brian Fraser forced the ball home from
close range.
Manager Budge said Bonar have improved a lot since the last clash between the
sides. "They were a completely different team and it's going to be
difficult for teams to come here and win," he said. Mr Budge added:
"We certainly rode our luck in the first half and we could easily have
been 4-1 or 5-1 down at the break. We were chasing shadows for long spells
"We played a lot better int he second half and the boys dug in well at the
end, especially when we were down to 10 men."
Mr Budge singled out keeper Mackay and Moar as his best performers. The manager
is still experimenting with different formations and is planning more changes
for tomorrow's scheduled cup clash away to Halkirk.
Striker Alan Murray is still sidelined and Groat is suspended for the PCT first
Round clash. Elder is back offshore but Willie Steven, Brian Gray and Martin
Baker are all set to return.
Thurso v Bonar: Mackay, Warner, Moar, Reid, MacGregor (Potter 80), Inrig,
Bremner,
J. Makhouli, Groat, P. Makhouli (Blumfield 60), Elder (Cassidy 60).
Other NCL Scores
Halkirk United V Dornoch - called off due to waterlogged pitch
Bunnillidh Thistle 3 V Balintore 3
Tain 0 V Invergordon 1
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 17th of November 2001
Invergordon...............2............V Thurso
F.C....................1...............
Goalscorer - Jonathan Makhouli
At Invergordon - 2 p.m kick-off
Match report by Iain Grant
This win
allowed Invergordon to go nine points clear at the top of the MSIS North
Caledonian League.
The visitors were mightily relieved to return with a victory from Saturday's
match in which they had for the first time to come from behind to extend their
unbeaten run in the championship. Thurso led through a Jonathon Makhouli goal
with Martyn Cooper restoring equality near half-time and then cracking home
what proved the winner midway through the second half.
The home side never gave up and were denied the chance to draw level when they
were denied what looked like a stone-wall penalty claim in the dying throes of
the game. Invergordon went into the game on the back on their impressive 4-0
victory over Golspie the previous week. But any hopes of a similarly easy
passage on Saturday were soon dispelled.
An even contest saw Thurso defender Graham Reid rob Norman MacMillan as the
latter sought to profit from the first opening of the afternoon. Luke Cassidy
then had a snap shot palmed to safety by visiting keeper Graham Stewart.
After 20 minutes, a sweeping Thurso move started by Kevin Warner ended with
Willie Inrig unleasing a terrific 35 yarder which cannonned off the outside of
a post. Another attack saw Brian Gray feed Willie Steven whose interchange with
Phil Makhouli provided Cassidy with the space to drive in a fierce shot which
was deflected for a corner.
The breakthrough was only delayed with the immedaite aftermath of the corner
seeing Jonathon Makhouli volley home from 18 yards. Invergordon pressed hard
without working a clear opportunity until two minutes from the interval when
they scored from a free-kick. Phil Makhouli slipped as he tried to clear with
the ball landing kindly for Cooper to net.
A minute later, Thurso keeper Brian Mackay pulled off a brave, point-blank stop
to deny MacMillan. The visitors thenm went ahead on 65
minutes with a free-kick again doing the damage with Cooper this time netting
with a header.
The respective defences were little troubled thereafter though Thurso were
denied what looked a clearcut peanlty in the last minute when substitute Stuart
Blumfield's netbound shot from 18 yards struck a defender's outstretched arm.
Manager Alistar Budge had no complaints about the workrate and application of
his troops whom he believed were worthy of at least a draw. He said: "I
think we gave a good account and made it very difficult for Invergordon. "Most of the boys did well and I thought Shaun Moar
stood out and Brian Mackay again did well in goals."
Thurso have a few problems going into tomorrow's PCT Cup first round clash with
Halkirk. Cassidy is unavailable while Jonathon Makhouli (ankle) and Martin
Baker (groin) are both doubtful. Gavin Bremner is however set to return from
injury while George Groat is now free from suspension.
Mr Budge is preparing for a typically tense derby affair. He said:
"Halkirk have been playing well and scoring a few goals.
"We've been defending well and creating chances but have been
struggling to score goals. It's gpt all the makings of
another close game."
Thurso v Invergordon: Mackay, Gray, Moar, Reid, Warner, Baker, Inrig,
P. Makhouli (Blumfield), Cassidy (Jarvie), Steven, J. Makhouli (Potter).
PCT Cup First Round
Saturday 24th of November 2001
Halkirk United..............3.............V Thurso
F.C....................5...............
Goalscorers - Graeme Reid, Martin Baker(pen),
Martin MacGregor, Willie Steven and Philip Makhouli
At Recreation Park, Halkirk
Match report by Iain Grant
United on Saturday had the misfortune to be at the receiving end of one of the
biggest turnarounds in recent North Caledonian history. Going in for their
half-time cuppa three goals to the good, they could be forgiven for
anticipating how they were going to celebrate what would have been their first
ever success over their neighbours.
A spirited first half, in which buzz-bomb winger Mark Munro threatened to tear
the visiting defence apart single-handed, looked to have booked United's ticket
into the quarter-finals of the PCT Cup. But there was a major sting in the tail
as the Vikings regrouped and kept their self-belief to battle their way back
from what at one point looked to be a quest for respectability.
After getting two goals back, Halkirk had little time to draw breath before the
scores were level, with two late goals from converted striker Willie Steven and
Phil Makhouli sealing their fate.
Mark Munro was a constant threat down the right flank and as early as the third
minute was clean through only to be denied after his effort was deflected to
safety off the flailing feet of keeper Brian Mackay. A minute later, the home
men were ahead when Colin Banks found space just outside the box to rifle in a
shot which went in off the underside of the bar. Thurso's defence was being
pulled every which way and they could easily have gone further behind within
two minutes. Keith Blair set Stevie Reid away into yet another unguarded sector
with his neat pull-back ending with Banks firing narrowly past the post. Apart
from a couple of useful darts,Thurso looked bereft of
ideas in possession and continued to look jittery at the back. Mark Munro was
again foiled by Mackay after 13 minutes when he drifted past three defenders as
if they were not there and sent in a fierce, angled drive.
Mackay embellished his fine reaction save by getting up to keep out Banks'
improvised back-heeled follow-up. Mark Munro created and scored Halkirk's
second after 20 minutes. Enjoying the freedom of the right-hand side of the
park, he looked to have set up his brother Derek in front of goal with a
swerving, low cross.
Makhouli drilled a shot over the top on the hour-mark as Thurso at last started
to show some attacking threat. Five minutes later, Steven almost got one back
when his first shot was blocked and his second struck the inside of the
left-hand post.
Halkirk took full advantage of the let-off in the ensuing action which saw
Derek Munro let fly from the edge of the box. The ball bobbled off a defender
with Stevie Reid nipping in to flick the ball over Mackay and into the net from
eight yards.
Three minutes from time, Makhouli and George Groat were both unable to
capitalise when given clear opportunities. Willie Steven then volleyed a Martin
Baker assist narrowly wide as the visitors continued to show signs of life.
Mr Gray however need to deploy all his motivational
skills at the interval to convince his temporary charges that they were not
chasing a lost cause. A half-time shake-up saw Stuart Campbell introduced wide
on the right; Groat redeployed to police dangerman Mark Munro and Steven pushed
further forward. The effects were soon apparent with Mark Munro's threat
nullified to th extent that he was soon replaced and
Marc Swanson, seldom involved before the interval, was now overworked and he
was relieved to see defenders twice coming to his aid to block shots by Steven
and Groat in the 53rd minute. Two minutes later, Campbell's foray down the
right saw his low cross met by a thunderous 20-yarder from Graeme Reid which he
buried in the bottom, left-hand corner.
Halkirk's only chance after 62 minutes could have stopped the visitors' revival
in its tracks but Derek Munro could not find the target with a header from a
well-flighted chip from Banks.
After 64 minutes, Sutherland was foxed by Martin MacGregor's footwork on the
bye-line with the big defender resorting to strong-arm tactics to down the
youngster after he wriggled free. The clumsy challenge gave Thurso a penalty
with Martin Baker wasting no time in banging the spot-kick high into the net.
Halkirk were in freefall and two minutes later, Thurso had drawn level when the
hard-working Makhouli set up Graeme Reid. The defender's raking shot from a
tight angle was parried by Swanson with MacGregor left with the simple task of
guiding the loose ball into the unguarded net.
Less than a minute later, Steven was sent clear with his flick beating Swanson
but rolling just past the right-hand post.
Halkirk player/manager Richard Hughes introduced himself into the action to
help steady the ship. Operating in midfield, he almost made a sensational early
impact when, with seemingly nothing on, he let fly with a siege-gun effort from
45 yards which Mackay was mightily relieve to see clear his bar by a matter of
inches.
The constant pressure at the other end again paid dividends seven minutes from
time when MacGregor opened up the Halkirk defence for Steven to run in and
shimmy past Swanson before netting.
Halkirk's misery was complete injury time when MacGregor again did the
spadework with substitute Jocky Begg unselfishly laying off for Makhouli to
rifle home.
Thurso on Saturday are away to Tain.
Halkirk: Swanson, Sutherland, Gunn, Blair, Martin, C. Munro, Reid, Coghill
(Henderson 55), Banks, D. Munro (Hughes 77), M. Munro (Bain 64).
Thurso: Mackay, Gray, Moar, Reid, Warner(MacGregor
20), Baker, Inrig,
Steven (Begg 85), Bremner (
Other scores
Bunillidh Thistle 5 V Dornoch 0 (1st round)
Invergordon 2 V Bonar Bridge 1 (2nd round)
Balintore 0 V Alness United 5 (2nd Round)
Tain 3 V Golspie Sutherland 1 (NCL)
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
1st of December 2001
Tain St. Duffus.............2..............V Thurso
F.C....................2.............
Goalscorers - Phil Makhouli and Brian Gray
At Grant Park, Tain
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso came
within a minute of returning home with what would have been a highly satisfying
victory in this MSIS North Caley clash on Saturday. The Vikings were 2-0 ahead
only to concede two late goals which earned a point for the home outfit. The
first half ended in a goal-less stalemate
Phil Makhouli shot the visitors in front after 70 minutes when he netted from
close range. Within five minutes, defender Brian Gray got on the end of Martin
MacGregor's cross to make it 2-0.
Thurso looked odds-on to win but they were rocked when a Derek Fraser corner
was nodded home by Ally Mackenzie with seven minutes remaining. The coup de
grace was delivered in the final minute from the same source with Martin Rooney
rising to power home a corner from Kenny Fraser.
Thurso tomorrow entertain
The only other game played last Saturday saw Alness close the gap on leaders
Invergordon after they cruised to a 7-1 home win over
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 8th of December 2001
Thurso F.C.................1................V
Goalscorer - Phil Makhouli
At The Dammies
PCT Cup 1st Round
Saturday 15th of December 2001
Thurso F.C....................3...............V Tain St.
Duffus.................0...............
Goalscorers - Willie Steven (2) and Willie Inrig
At The Dammies
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso
extended their unbeaten run to four with this PCT Cup victory which sees them
through to a semi-final away to Golspie. After a cagey first half-hour in which
neither side threatened to take control, the first goal was always going to be
crucial.
Willie Steven's cracking headed finish broke the deadlock and when Willie Inrig
chipped in with a second in the dying throes of the first half, the contest was
effectively over. Tain, who travelled with a weakened squad, were on the back
foot thereafter and were thankful to have their defence breached just once
more, late on, when Steven weighed in with second of the game.
The early sparring saw Willie Inrig's free-kick too straight to trouble Tain
keeper Ian Young and David Calderwood going close at the other end with a snap
shot just inside the box. After 20 minutes, Alastair Mackenzie missed a snip to
put the visitors ahead when his attempt to connect from close in ended in an
embarrassing fresh air swipe with his right boot.
Thurso's Kevin Warner was the first casualty of the day when he required
treatment for a head knock after a clash with Paul Skinner. Uncertainty at the
heart of the Thurso defence almost proved costly when Thurso keeper Brian
Mackay'a half-clearance ended with Mackenzie drilling wide from a promising
position. Thurso responded with a decent effort from Phil Makhouli which ended
going just wide.
The home side's sustained pressure was rewarded after 32 minutes when Brian
Gray's sortie down the right saw his early cross picking out the forward run of
Steven whose firm downward header flashed past Gray. A messy flair-up in the
Tain penalty-box after 40 minutes after Makhouli was impeded led to referee Willie
Sinclair turning down appeals for a penalty. Instead, he gave an indirect
free-kick which, as is so often the case with such awards inside the box, came
to nothing.
The last action of the half saw Thurso forge further ahead when Tain failed to
properly deal with a corner and Willie Inrig was on hand to lash an 18 yarder
into the net. Mackenzie completed what for him was a fraught half by finding
his way into Mr Sinclair's book for dissent.
It would be wrong to say Tain thereafter gave up the ghost as they enjoyed
decent spells of possession but their attacks after the break were few and far
between and packed little punch. Mackay was glad to see a Calderwood effort
from 30 yards land on the top of the net as he furiously back-pedalled after 49
minutes. A full-stretch saving tackle was also needed from Shaun Moar to cut
out a cute, back-post cross from Calderwood after 62 minutes with several
unmarked attackers ready to pounce.
In between, Steven came close to heading home a Martin MacGregor centre and
Inrig was denied a run-in after George Groat was caught offside. Tain's
rearguard appeared to over-commit men to deal with breaks down its flanks so
that it struggled to cope with direct breaks though the centre. From one such
counter in 65 minutes, MacGregor sent Steven through on goal with the
midfielder's attempted chip finish clearing Young but also the bar. Moar and
Makhouli then set up Inrig for a decent chance which he spurned.
The third arrived after 85 minutes when Inrig's through ball ended with
Steven's shot from eight yards deflecting off Young high into the net.
A minute later, Calderwood got his marching orders for what was a crude, late
challenge on substitute Luke Cassidy.
Duncan Gray, standing in for suspended manager Alistair Budge, was happy with a
workmanlike performance. He said: "Tain had chances to go ahead and they
were a bit better than us early on. "The game
changed after we got the two goals and though Tain had a fair bit of the ball
in the second half, they never looked particularly threatening. Brian Mackay
was never really tested."
Thurso: Mackay, Gray (Bremner 50), Moar, Baker, Warner (
Inrig, Reid, Groat, Makhouli, Steven, MacGregor (Cassidy 80).
Ref: Mr W. Sinclair.
Thurso on Saturday play Halkirk in a MSIS League match, kicking off at 1.30 p.m.
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
5th of January 2002
Thurso F.C................1............V Bunillidh
Thistle....................1............
Goalscorer - Willie Steven
At The Dammies, Thurso
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso's
first-foots followed up their early season victory in Helmsdale by wresting a
hard-earned point from Saturday's match at Sir Georges Park. The Vikings were
left to reflect on a hatful of wasted opportunities to capitalise on a decent
start which had seen Willie Steven fire them into a 15th minute lead.
Bunillidh lived up to their reputation as thrawn and feisty opponents and their
efforts were rewarded by Gordon McAllister's equaliser 17 minutes from time.
The visitors could have even more reason to celebrate had the same player not
spurned a clear opening late on. The game went ahead after a thaw removed any
problem with frost or ice but left a soft, spongy surface which in the worst
parts turned 'pass and go' into 'stop and stick'.
A combination of excess over the festive period and a lengthy absence from both
competition and training showed throughout a largely shapeless game in which
too many players looked out of sorts. Groat's run down the right ended with a
driven cross which Makhouli deftly knocked past a defender to allow Steven to
sidefoot the ball wide of Bokas. There were two chances in quick succession to
double the advantage but neither Makhouli nor Steven were
able to take advantage.
Home keeper Brian Mackay was rarely in action though he did well after 20
minutes to hold an adventurous lob executed by youngster David Cowie. The
lively Cowie was again a threat after 38 minutes when he beat Groat on the
right before seeing his powerful shot well held by Mackay.
A minute later, there was another let-off at the other end when Makhouli
latched on to a precision pass from Stuart Campbell. As he beat defender Jamie
Russell, the ball broke invitingly into the path of Groat who should have taken
the keeper out of the equation and not given him the chance to turn his shot
away for a corner. Two minutes from the break, Inrig sent Makhouli in on goal
but Bokas again came out on top, this time beating the shot away with his body.
On the stroke of half-time, Bunillidh manufactured a decent chance with David
Cowie setting up substitute Fraser Hutchinson only for the latter to wastefully
shoot past. The second half brought little respite to the fans with not much to
excite and more of the same stodgy build-up play and off-key finishing.
Substitute Martin MacGregor was only fitfully involved but he had a great
chance to secure the points for his side after 70 minutes. He found himself in
the clear and passed the ball past Bokas as the keeper came out to meet him
just outside the box. Unfortunately for MacGregor, his effort lacked power and
a defender was able to get back and clear the danger.
Thurso were rudely roused from their collective time-out when they lost the
lead after 73 minutes. A route-one ball over the top ended with substitute
Callum Swanson manufacturing a cross tight on the bye-line 10 yards from goal.
With the home defence not at the races, the Watten man squeezed the ball across
for McAllister to poke home from close range.
After 83 minutes, McAllister passed up a glorious chance to secure victory when
he fluffed a chip after finding hemself 1-1 with Mackay. The only real scare
came with two minutes left when a MacGregor strike from just inside the box
produced a fine reaction stop from Bokas.
Afterwards, Thurso manager Alistair Budge -- still subject to a technical area
ban -- reflected on more points lost to lowly Bunillidh who have proved
something of a bogey side for the
"They never really got going at all -- the boys do not seem hungry
enough," he said. "We can blame the pitch and the fact that we had
not played for a while but the fact is that they were up for it and we were
not."
Thurso have major problems as they prepare for tomorrow's PCT Cup semi-final
away to Golspie. Keeper Mackay is unavailable through work commitments while
there are major doubts over defenders Shaun Moar and Brian Gray. Midfielder
Inrig also picked up a knock in training.
Thurso v Bunillidh: Mackay, Gray (MacGregor 29), Warner, Moar, Baker, Inrig
(Bremner 62), Reid,
Ref: Mr G. Bain.
PCT Cup Semi-Final
Saturday 12th of January 2002
Golspie Sutherland................0...............V Thurso
F.C.................1...........
Goalscorer - Graeme Reid
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso put
their indifferent
The Vikings had to withstand a bombardment late on as Golspie laid siege in a
bid to force the game into extra-time. The final chance fell to Gary Reid whose
stinging shot from the edge of the box looked a winner only to fly wide of the
post by a matter of inches.
Earlier in the half Thurso had stand-in keeper Alex Thomson to thank for racing
out to make a brave block after Stuart Pearce bore in on goal. It was one of
the few clearcut openings manufactured by Golspie despite them having the
lion's share of pressure and possession in the second half.
What proved the winner had come on the stroke of half-time after a superb cross
from Gavin Bremner invited a powerful header from Graham Reid which bulleted
high into the net.
In a game where clearcut chances were at a premium, Makhouli came close to
notching a second for the visitors a minute after the break. Released by Willie
Inrig, the striker ran on to fire in a shot which cannoned back of a post.
For most of the second half, it was one-way traffic towards's Thompson goal.
After denying Pearce after 58 minutes, the keeper was happy to see both Gary
Reid and Robert MacDougall miss the target from close range. Substitute Scott
Mackay was foiled by another good block from Thomson after 70 minutes.
Mackay then chipped on to the roof of the net after being set up by substitute
Kevin Miller, the erstwhile
Post match reaction
Vikings manager Alistair Budge, still subject to a technical area ban, gave
credit to his stand-in Duncan Gray for both devising the right game-plan and
lifting the side following the previous week's disappointing 1-1 draw at home
to Bunillidh.
"We were very poor against Bunillidh," said Mr Budge. "But the
boys did very well on Saturday. They battled hard right through the game and
especially in the closing 10 minutes when it was a bit of a backs-to-the-wall
job. They all put in a hard shift."
Mr Budge praised Thompson for his display between the sticks. He said:
"Alec had two really good saves but it's fair to say that for most of the
match, the defence shielded him really well. "The
midfield also stuck to their task very well while Willie (Steven) and Phil
(Makhouli) were always trying to create something up front."
A downside to the win was Inrig's latest booking which means he is suspended
for tomorrow's league match in Dornoch and which could also rule him out on the
final versus Alness. Brian Gray and Jonathon Makhouli are still out injured
while Shaun Moar will face another late fitness test before knowing if he can
make it against Dornoch. With regular keeper Brian Mackay working and Thompson
unavailable, the Vikings are again on the look-out for a keeper though striker
Luke Cassidy is set to return to the squad.
Thurso v Golspie: Thompson, Reid, Moar, Baker, Warner, Inrig (Farmer 70),
Bremner,
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 19th of January 2002
Dornoch................1...............V Thurso F.C................4............
Goalscorers - Geordie Groat, Martin Baker (pen), Des MacLeod and Willie
Steven
Match report by Iain Grant
Dornoch would have been forgiven had they hauled up the white flag 10 minutes
before the interval of Saturday's MSIS North Caledonian clash. By then, they
were two goals down and had seen two of their players red-carded for
footballing equivalents of hari kiri. Credit, then, to the bottom-of-the-table
side for not collapsing in the face of hopeless odds.
They showed enough collective grit to limit Thurso to two further goals and
even had the temerity to record a late strike of their own. Given the
circumstances, it proved something of a hollow victory for the visitors whose
poor conversion of chances in front of goal encouraged Dornoch's resilience.
The day had started promisingly for the home men who manufactured two excellent
openings within the first 10 minutes. Young stand-in Thurso keeper Iain Begg
produced a superb reaction save to keep out a snappy 12 yard shot from Gordon
Sinclair. Then, one of several incisive runs by the lively Jamie MacLeod saw
him skip by several defenders and end up on the edge of the box with just Begg
between him and the goal. MacLeod, as was to happen on several occasions,
forced his shot wide.
Thurso's first serious attack after 11 minutes produced the opening goal when
Phil Makhouli's pin-point cross was headed home by George Groat at the near
post.
Shortly after the restart, the lead would have been doubled had Makhouli's
attempted finish matched the quality of the defence-splitting pass from Gavin
Bremner. Willie Inrig and Phil Makhouli then combined well after 17 minutes to
set up Willie Steven who clipped a shot just wide of the target. The second
goal duly arived after 24 minutes when Steven was clumsily brought down in the
box as he ran on to Kevin Warner's through ball. The offender John Cowie was
sent off before Martin Baker buried the spot-kick.
The second half inevitably saw the home side entrenched for long spells in
their own half as they engaged in a damage-limiting operation. Substitute Luke
Cassidy and Phil Makhouli both passed up decent chances and then Des Macleod
and Steven got in each other's way as they sought to net an inviting cross from
Cassidy.
A powerful 20 yarder from Cassidy produced a good save before MacLeod made it
3-0 after 66 minutes with a composed finish. Twelve minutes later, good
battling by Cassidy was the prelude to an opening for Steven who fired in a
shot which went in off the underside of the bar.
Mackenzie did well to get to a Steven free-kick and then deny Cassidy as the
visitors sought to further press home their advantage. It was however Dornoch
who had the final say five minutes from time when John Mackay hit the jackpot
with a dipping 30 yarder which beat Begg on his right-hand post.
Post match reaction
Vikings manager Alistair Budge said the game could have had a different
complexion had Dornoch got an early breakthrough. He said: "They had a
really good chance which Iaid did really well to save. Had that gone in, it
could have changed the game totally. "They had a
decent team which showed a lot changes from when we last played though the game
was dead after the two sendings-off." "It was a bit of a stop-start
affair after that. We lost our shape a bit and it turned into a pretty sloppy
game after that."
Pitch conditions-permitting, Thurso will play host to Tain on Saturday when a
win would allow them to leap-frog into third spot. Martin MacGregor is due to
return but Steven and Stuart Campbell are unavailable while Inrig is suspended
for the game which kicks off at 2p.m.
Thurso v Dornoch: Begg, Reid, Moar, Baker, Warner, Inrig ,
Bremner (J. Makhouli 53),
Farmer, Groat (Cassidy 53), P. Makhouli (Macleod 60), Steven.
Other NCL Scores
Halkirk United 1 V Alness United 3
Golspie Sutherland 5 V Balintore 1
Bunillidh Thistle 2 V Tain 0
North Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
9th of February 2002
Balintore...............0...............V Thurso
F.C................3...........
Goalscorers - Geordie Groat, Willie Steven and Des Macleod
At Balintore - kick-off - 2.30 p.m
Match report by Iain Grant
This win
takes the Vikings into third spot in the MSIS North Caledonian League and
extends their unbeaten streak to eight games. A George Groat breakthrough
midway through the first period was added to after the break by goals from
veteran Willie Steven and youngster Des Macleod to produce a comfortable
victory.
Thurso were quickly out the traps with an interception from Kevin Warner
embellished by a cleverly diguised pass to Phil Makhouli whose cross ended with
a flashing header from Steven coming off the outside of a post. With most of
the play in the Balintore half, it was no surprise when they fell behind after
20 minutes. Gavin Bremner's well-flighted 35 yard free-kick was knocked on
Graham Reid to Groat who hammered home from close range.
Balintore almost got on terms with their first decent attack of the game which
ended with Gordon Lowe's strike being kept out by a fine one-handed save from
Brian Mackay.
Thurso almost extended their lead two minutes from half-time when a Brian Gray
cross was headed across goal by Reid to Macleod whose shot was well saved.
Half-time - Balintore 0 V Thurso 1
Despite playing with the strong breeeze in their faces
after the interval, the visitors retained the whip hand. Next to threaten was
defender Shaun Moar who played a series of 1-2s before unleashing a thunderbolt
of a shot which cannonned back off the bar.
Thurso got their second on the hour-mark when Warner and Bremner combined well
to release Makhouli whose pace took him clear down the right. His neat cutback
found Steven who despatched the ball into the right -hand corner of the net.
Substitute Stuart Blumfield made a quick impact with a powerful surge downfield
ending with his attempt on goal being met with a fine save. Thurso's third with
less than quarter-of-an-hour left stemmed from Gray's clearance from a
Balintore free-kick.
Ryan Farmer gathered and set off on a loping, diagonal run before he picked out
Bremner. The latter sqaured to Warner whose chip fell into
the path of the inrushing Macleod who finished with aplomb.
Balintore's defence continued to come under sustained attack with the closing
minutes seeing Cassidy having a shot booted of the line and Blumfield hitting
the woodwork. The win continues the unbeaten stretch of Duncan Gray who has
been in temporary charge during manager Alistair Budge's suspension.
Mr Gray will be hoping to end his stint in the same way as he begun it with an
away win over county rivals Halkirk. Jonathon Makhouli is still out but Willie
Inrig returns after suspension for the second round Morris Newton Cup-tie,
which kicks off at
Thurso v Balintore: Mackay, Gray, Baker, Moar, Makhouli, Bremner, Warner, Reid,
Groat (Farmer 60), Steven (Blumfield 60), Macleod (Cassidy 75). Sub (unused) -- MacGregor.
Morris
Newton Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 16th of February 2002
Halkirk United.............1...........V Thurso F.C.....................6.............(A.E.T)
Goalscorers - Lee McDougall (3), Willie Steven (2) and Willie Inrig
At Recreation Park, Halkirk - 2.30 kick-off
Match report by Iain Grant
United on Saturday looked set to finally cast off the derby jinx which
has dogged them since Thurso's arrival on the
That triggered a mix of deja vu and self-doubt in the home ranks to allow the
Vikings to run riot in extra-time. Before Christmas, Halkirk blew a 3-0
interval lead to go down 5-3 in the league to their county neighbours. Whatever
metaphysical forces could be work in extending the Vikings' unbeaten sequence
to 11, Halkirk could have counted themselves more than a shade fortunate had
Derek Shearer's early tap-in separated the teams on Saturday.
They rode their luck on a clutch of occasions with the woodwork twice coming to
stand-in keeper Graham Gunn's assistance while George Groat made a solid claim
to the miss of the season. That said, Halkirk, while
pinned back for long spells after the interval, twice came perilously close to
grabbing what would well have been a killer second. The pitch passed a morning
inspection with the weather mercifully remaining dry and so not exarcerbating
an already sticky surface.
Within a minute, Phil Makhouli had a decent chance but Gunn came out well to
block the striker as he raced towards the box. Manager Richard Hughes included
himself in the starting line-up and he was soon in action with a neat
interchange with Shearer, only to be called back by referee Derek Marshall's
failure to play an obvious advantage.
The animated start continued when canny play by Stevie Reid on the left after
five minutes saw his cross break for Shearer whose crisp shot on the turn flew
just wide of the far post. After seeing a series of Thurso attacks wither at
the vine through offside calls, sweeper Shaun Moar took matters into his own
hands. He swept up field before launching a 35 yarder which surprised Gunn who
was beaten as he dived to his right. The ball pinged off the right post and
across the face of the goal to safety.
United went ahead after 13 minutes when Thurso keeper Brian Mackay was fooled
by a 40 yard free-kick from Gordie Reid. Torn between trying to make a catch or tipping it over, Mackay succeeded in palming the ball on
to the bar. With the keeper hors de combat, Shearer was left with a simple
tap-in.
Half-time - Halkirk 1 V Thurso 0
Groat had a decent chance to equalise soon after the restart but he was unable
to steer his shot on target. Both goalmouths continued to see plenty action
with Brian Gray just off-target with a chip and then Mackay doing well to
gather another well-struck free-kick from Gordie Reid. The swirling wind made
for an uncomfortable afternoon for both keepers and Gunn was relieved after 35
minutes that Groat was unable to exploit his failure to gather a high cross
from Graeme Reid.
If Halkirk enjoyed the better of the opening 25 minutes, the visitors gradually
turned the screw for the remainder of the half. Willie Steven was prominent in
a number of decent build-ups which saw Groat and Willie Inrig go close. The
half ended with a booking for Halkirk youngster Gary Coghill for persistent
fouling.
Thurso were quickly on the offensive after the resumption and within the first
minute Martin Baker struck a post from a corner. The ball rebounded across
goal, presenting Groat with what looked an unmissable opportunity. Instead of
shooting into the unguarded net, he chose to try and wrongfoot a defender and
the gilt-edged opening was lost. The home side defended increasingly deep as
the game wore on though they were to prove dangerous on the break as Thurso
took risks as they pressed forward in search of an equaliser.
A 56th minute free-kick from Steven almost did the trick for them. Gunn saved
well but had to rely on a mix of luck and some brave defending to prevent Gray,
amongst others, from netting in the ensuing frenetic melee in the six yard box.
Two minutes later, a Halkirk counter saw Shearer whip in a diagonal
through-ball which saw Gavin Bremner make the hard yards back to make a vital
interception, with the unmarked Coghill poised to collect on the edge of the
box. Thurso huffed and puffed without creating clear openings and were almost
two behind after 66 minutes when Mackay was nearly caught out by a long-range
attempt by Gordie Reid. The keeper misread the flight of the ball which he
spilled behind him only to regather right on the goal-line.
The last of series of wicked corners from Bremner saw Gray, unmarked six yards
out, unable to control a header as the ball flashed towards him from the right.
The Thurso goal then had two close things with Shearer just off target with
another searing shot and then Gavin Henderson just failing to make up the
ground to get the vital touch to Gordie Reid's far-post cross. Thereafter, it
was backs-to-the walls time for United as they sought to protect their lead.
The introduction of MacDougall and Stuart Campbell gave more width to Thurso's
play while Martin MacGregor was sent on to support Steven through the middle.
Six minutes from time, Gunn's gauche flap at a high cross, saw the ball
spinning back towards his goal with the keeper indebted to Colin Munro for
getting back to hoof the ball to safety.
Gunn partially redeemed himself a minute later when he did well to hold Moar's
header on goal from MacDougall's corner.
The equaliser came out of the blue with little apparent danger beckoning before
Baker crafted a long-hanging cross which invited MacDougall to race in and send
a header wide of Gunn and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Full-time - Halkirk 1 V Thurso 1
That setback, coming on top of what for Halkirk is the
depressing history of the fixture, holed them below the water line. Within four
minutes of extra-time, they had conceded another two goals and had effectively
unfurled the white flag.
MacDougall came close before Steven put the Vikings ahead with a spectacular
effort with his back to goal from near the penalty spot which flew high past
Gunn into the net. MacDougall then made it 3-1 after he ran on to Baker's
slide-rule pass to beat Gunn low to his right. Just before the second turnaround,
Steven grabbed his second after MacGregor had done the spadework.
With the home side in the doldrums, Thurso went to score twice more with
MacDougall completing his hat-trick with a superbly executed scissors-kick and
Inrig getting the last after being set up by Bremner.
The game completed a nine game unbeaten run for Duncan Gray, standing in for
Alistair Budge during his now-spent suspension. Mr Budge thought Halkirk's luck
in the derby fixtures had finally turned.
He said: "I really thought it was going to be their day. I had just about
given up hope as we had hit the post several times and had a string of
near-things but there didn't seem to be any way through. "We finally got
the break with the equaliser and after we went ahead in extra-time, their heads
went down. "They had given everything and our
fitness came through in the end."
United manager Hughes and his team were left bewildered at the turn of events.
"I felt really sorry for the boys as they put so much into it," said
Mr Hughes. "Everything seemed to be going in our favour and while they had
a number of close things, we had the chances late in the second half of normal
time to kill the game. "In extra-time, we lost
two bad goals and then we collapsed -- the energy just seemed to drain away
from us."
Halkirk: Gunn, Henderson, Blair, Bain, Martin, G. Coghill (Sutherland 82)
S. Reid, M. Coghill, G. Reid (Munro 76), Hughes (Banks 65), Shearer.
Thurso : Mackay, Gray, Reid, Moar, Baker, Bremner,
Inrig, Warner (
Groat (MacDougall 57), Steven, Makhouli (MacGregor 65).
Ref: Mr D. Marshall,
Thurso's semi-final opponents are Invergordon, whose 1-0 win over Balintore
owed largely to a show-stopping display from keeper Graham Stewart.
North
Caledonian League Championship
Saturday
16th of March 2002
Thurso F.C...........2...........V Alness
United.................0...............
Goalscorers - Willie Steven and Geordie Groat
At Sir George's Park, Thurso - 3.00 p.m kick-off
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso
extended their unbeaten run to ten with this MSIS North Caledonian League
victory which badly dents the Easter Ross outfit's hopes of defending their
title. A home win did not look on the cards after a first half dominated by the
youthful visitors who regularly appeared to have an extra man on the park.
Their slick movement and passing however broke down at the business end where
they only manufactured three decent scoring opportunities.
Thurso struggled to get much going before the break and only late on were able
to bring wide man Martin MacGregor into play in an attacking role. The home
side improved after the interval but were indebted to a defensive howler which
presented Willie Steven to fire them ahead after 68 minutes.
The reverse unsettled Alness and it was no surprise when George Groat shortly
afterwards grabbed a second. There was a surprise recall for Michael Gray who
replaced regular Thurso keeper Brian Mackay, missing with a shoulder injury.
The erstwhile Brora Rangers keeper was soon involved in the action and he was
relieved his goal survived intact from the aftermath of a seventh minute corner
when Martin Kenny almost forced the ball home from close range.
Seven minutes later, Michael Gray had to be alive to the threat of Keith Sutherland
who surged into the box on the end of a return pass from Steven Graham. The
keeper came out to block the shot but had to rely on his brother Brian to deny
Donald Sutherland netting the rebound. After a busy start, the game went dead
for a long spell with Alness playing the better football but struggling to
break down a stubborn defence. Shaun Moar was outstanding in sniffing out
danger with many promising attacks being snuffed out by his well-timed tackles
and interventions. Apart from a snap shot by Kevin Keith which was comfortably
gathered by Michael Gray, there ws little of any conquence until the 37th
minute. A cracking move down the right flank ended with a cross swung over to
Sutherland, who had time and space on the edge of the box. He was undone by a
clumsy first touch which saw the golden chance snatched away as quickly as it
opened up.
The Vikings pepped up in the closing quarter with MacGregor finally getting
some ammunition to create some danger down the left side.
Half-time - Thurso 1 V Alness 0
The first chance after the break fell to Alness with
Sutherland desperately unlucky not to find the target. The striker's
shot-on-the-turn from 10 yards eluded Michael Gray but also crept inches past
the keeper's right-hand post. Thurso were finally managing to enjoy some decent
possession with Alness's pressing need for a victory making their play more
ragged and disjointed as their hunger turned to frustration.
Groat had an unobstructed sight of goal after 61 minutes thanks to a Steven head-flick
but he fatally hesitated, giving a defender time to get back to clear. Two
minutes later, Graham flashed a searing shot just wide of the target and then
MacLean set up Kenny who was foiled by a brave smother by Michael Gray. The
opener was a disaster for Alness with keeper Andrew Rogers sold short by a
pass-back. The keeper ran out from his box to be met by a solid challenge from
Steven with the striker helped by a favourable run of the ball which he steered
into the unguarded net. Steven was shifted into the midfield by a reshuffle
soon after the restart which saw Luke Cassidy come on
to partner Groat up front.
Alness were again out of luck after 70 minutes when a
sweetly struck, angled left-foot rocket from MacLean flashed past Michael
Gray's left-hand post. After a dearth of penalty box action in the first
period, the fans were spoiled after the break. The basketball-type sequence
continued with MacGregor profiting from Willie Inrig's through ball, with
Rogers doing well to parry his first shot and then get down to keep out his
follow-up.
After 74 minutes, Thurso scored the killer second. Cassidy was the instigator
as he skipped down the right and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Groat to
shake off his would-be marker and side-foot home from six yards.
Alness kept plugging away but it was to be one of those days when they did not
get the breaks in front of goal. Graham looked set to score after 80 minutes
but he was undone by a top-drawer save from Michael Gray.
Thurso shaped to extend their lead in the closing five minutes with Cassidy and
Des Macleod both closing close. What had been a generally well-tempered match
was spoiled in the latter stages by bookings for Cassidy and Graham for late
tackles.
Full-time - Thurso 2 V Alness 0
Thurso manager Alistair Budge was delighted with what was his first win versus
Alness. He said: "They looked the better team early on. We were really
solid in defence but were not really creating anytthing. "I thought we
were lucky to get to half-time at 0-0 but we started to get things going after
the break and the opening goal gave us a big lift in confidence. "They made two mistakes and we capitalised on them
while Michael Gray made two great saves to keep them out."
Tomorrow, the Vikings entertain Tain at Sir Georges's Park at 3 p.m.
Steven (eye) and MacLeod (groin) are doubtful but midfielders Jonathan Makhouli
and Gavin Bremner are set to return.
Thurso v Alness -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker, Moar, Reid,
Warner (Cassidy 69) Inrig,
Makhouli (Campbell 60), MacGregor, Steven, Groat (MacLeod 75).
Ref: Mr D. Anderson.
Mr Budge left immediately after the game to travel to a SFA course in
Match report by Davie Hobbs – No.1
Fan
yesterdays match was a very scrappy and untidy affair with both clubs
struggling to come to terms with the playing surface which although having
dried out considerably was still difficult for payers to keep their feet and
turn quickly.neither team really played anything of great note with several
players from both teams never getting into the game(maybe
both sides had the forthcoming cup final in the back of their minds).
The few hardy true football supporters whohad turned out to watch their local
team were glad of joans usual great service providing hot drinks,pies etc which
were greatfully devoured.
ON THIS POINT COME ON ALL YOU SO CALLED FANS OUT THERE PULL YOUR FINGERS OUT
YOUR BACK SIDE AND SUPPORT THURSO,YOU ALL SHOUTED FOR LONG ENOUGH ABOUT GETTING
A TEAM IN THIS LEAGUE AND A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS GONE ON BY THE PLAYERS MANAGER
AND BACKGROUND STAFFTO GET THURSO F. C. OUT THERE DOIN THE BUSINESS.
Anyway enough of my ramblings into the second half both teams started slowly
but after about fifteen mins alness started to get into the match and only
great defending by MR.RELIABLE "STRETCHY"AND GRAHAM REID plus some
lousy finishing denied alness going at least two up.
This seemed to give thurso the wakeup call they needed and they really started
to get a hold of the game and a mistake by an alness defender who under slight
pressure from willie"the head "steven made a mess of a pass back and
willie sniffing a chance of a goal was onto the ball like whippet after a
rabbit and calmly finished off by stroking the ball into the net.NICE ONE
WILLIE. 1-0 THURSO and thurso's tails were up and some inspired substitutions
by the manager alistair budge (on his return after his long self inflicted
absence ,learn to channel that agression alistair)led to a brilliant move up
the right hand side which saw Phillip "SMOOTHIE" MAKHOULI(hey how
about that i spelled his name right)put over a great cross for
GEORGE"JEKYL N HYDE"GROAT who cooly finished in style with a little
tap into the net under close attention from an alness defender,THURSO 2-ALNESS
0. George flashed his trade mark smile which he normally reserves for the women
and ran back to the half way line.
Alness give them their due never gave up and forced a few uncomfortable moments
in the thurso area and up the alness left hand side where an alness player was
allowed to wander freeely in to much space for comfort and should of been
picked up far sooner (dont repeat this slackness in th e final lads concentrate
for the full ninety mins). the game became a bit
scrappy again near the end with some late and rash tackling goin from both
sides but thurso finished the victors.
THURSO PLAY AT HOME AGAIN NEXT WEEK SEE YOU ALL THERE AND IF YOU LIKED MY FIRST
ATTEMPT AT A MATCH REPORT LET ME KNOW AND ILL SEE IF I CAN COME UP WITH ANOTHER
ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHEERS THE NUMBER ONE FAN
Full-time - Thurso 2 V Alness 0
Thurso v Alness -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker, Moar, Reid, Warner (Cassidy 69)
Inrig,
Makhouli (Campbell 60), MacGregor, Steven, Groat (MacLeod 75).
Ref: Mr D. Anderson.
North
Caledonian League Championship
Saturday 23rd of March 2002
Thurso F.C.................5.................V Tain
St.Duffus...........0...........
Goalscorers
Thurso F.C - Willie Steven (2), Lee MacDougall (2) and Martin MacGregor (1)
At Sir George's Park, Thurso - 3.00 kick-off
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso's
impressive run continued on Saturday when they cruised to their third
successive MSIS North Caley League victory against Easter Ross sides. As with
the previous wins over Balintore and Alness, the Vikings recovered from a
low-key start to end up on top thanks to a mix of inspiration and perspiration.
Willie Steven kept on course to be his side's leading scorer with the stand-in
striker adding two top-drawer finishes to push his total to 12. Lee MacDougall
also notched a double with the other falling to youngster Martin MacGregor.
Thurso had done little of note before MacGregor fired them into an ill-deserved
lead after 10 minutes. Gavin Bremner had announced his return with a raking 25
yarder after three minutes but it was Tain who looked the more
sprightly in the opening exchanges. A pass-back from Martin Baker caused
more than a few heart flutters in the home defence when it took a rogue stot
off the surface and past keeper Michael Gray before creeping the other side of
a post. Kevin MacBain then passed up a decent opportunity when his rushed shot
flew over the bar from 15 yards.
The opener came after Brian Gray sent Jonathon Makhouli racing down the right
side with MacGregor meeting his cross to score from six yards.
MacGregor's next entry in the referee's book was to mark his yellow-carding
after a tousy tussle with Tain's Derek Fraser after 21 minutes.
The game was lit up on the half-hour mark by a superb strike by Steven for his
side's second goal. Willie Inrig had cut the defence open but Steven still had
a lot to do as the high ball steepled towards him on the edge of the box.
Steven cushioned the ball on his thigh before promptly dispatching an angled drive
which whizzed past keeper Ian Young to nestle in the far side corner of the
net.
The rest of the half was largely unforgettable apart from a well-strUck MacBain
effort from 35 yards which just cleared the bar with Michael Gray beaten.
Half-time - Thurso 2 V Tain 0
Thurso stepped up a gear after the break when the visitors were denied a sniff
of the ball for long periods. The side has now fully adapted to the 3-5-2
system, which on Saturday had Macgregor and Makhouli operating to good effect
on the flanks. Graeme Reid came close to extending the lead after 54 minutes
when his effort from a tempting MacDougall cross ended just wide of the target.
Two minutes later, the pressure finally told when MacGregor put MacDougall in
on goal. The erstwhile Brora Ranger looked to have lost his chance when he
seemed to go too wide of Young but he somehow contrived to bend the ball from
near the bye-line into the net.
Thurso were fully in command and Reid again came close after 60 minutes, this
time his headed effort on goal producing a good save
from Young. After 67 minutes, Steven got his second when he rose to meet a
MacDougall cross with a powerful header which bulleted past Young high into the
net.
Young was a busy man and he did extremely well to palm Brian Gray's header over
his bar after a 70th minute corner. Two minutes later, Brian Gray almost did
the trick at the other end when his ill-judged pass-back required his brother
Michael to scurry back to make a full-length dive to tip the ball past a post.
Normal service was resumed five minutes from time when MacDougall loped into
the box and fired in a right-foot shot which beat Young all ends up.
Thurso's sixth win on the bounce delighted manager Alistair Budge as much for
how it was achieved as the margin of victory. He said: "We had a sticky
start but we got better as the game went on. "In
the second half, we kept the ball for long periods and just wore them down --
it was a really good display. "The big difference between the sides was in
the quality of our finishing, which was first class. "
Mr Budge rated Steven's first goal as one of the finest in the four year
history of the club. His main problem just now is who to leave out of the squad
as the side hunts a trophy to reward its strong finish to the campaign. Thurso
tomorrow bid to get to their second final of the season at home to league
leaders Invergordon in the Morris Newton Cup.. Stuart
Campbell is the only absentee for the semi-final, which kicks off at Sir
Georges Park at 2.30.
The other semi sees Golspie Sutherland entertain
Thurso v Tain -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker, Moar, Makhouli, Inrig (Cassidy 65),
Reid, Bremner, MacGregor (Warner 65), Steven (Blumfield 75), MacDougall
Match report by
THURSO 5(FIVE)
TAIN 0 (NIL,ZERO,ZILCH)
Hi its me again folks,well it was a cold day again at the dammies as thurso
took on tain.The day started of with joan turning up latebut better late than
never and i certainly needed a warm cup of tea while watching this match.After
a scrappy start and thurso escaping loosing an early goal after a pass back by
martin baker was missed kicked by keeper gray and narrowly passed the post
(gray blamed it on a bobble on pitch aye that'll be right!).
Thurso shortly after this ran up the field and a cross ball was finished off by
martin macgregor and thurso were one up.
Thurso then enjoyed a lot of the play and after about 25 mins thurso went two
up after some inventive play by willie the head steven
ended with him lofting the keeper.Thurso continued to dominate but went in just
the two goals in front.
Into the second half and thurso continued where they left off dominating the
match with tain putting up token resistance and THURSO went on to score three
more goals one by willie"the head" steven(yes you guessed it he
scored with his head) and two more from old polished head himself lee McDougall
making another welcome return to the thurso team one of which was set up by a
great through pass from young martin macgregor who certainly has great vision
and just needs to learn how to shrug of challenges from the opposition and im
sure he will haveagreat future ahead of him in football!
Thurso used all three substitutes (luke cassidy,kevin
warner and stuart blumfield)thurso also gave a starting position to jonathon
makouli and gavin bremner.
Next week sees THURSO take on Invergordon in the cup kick off at 2.30 see you
all there folks!
P.S TO THE MOANING TAIN FAN WHO STOOD IN THEHOME FANS ENCLOSURE DOING NOTHING
BUT MOANING HOW BAD THE GAME ,HOW TAIN WERE SEVEN PLAYERS SHORT ACCORDING TO
HIM AND HOW HE RECKONED INVERGORDON WOULD BEAT THURSO 6-0 (YES SIX NIL)FROM
WHAT HE COULD SEE OF THURSO...... PLEASE WHY DID YOU COME UP HERE STAY AT HOME
AND WATCH REPEATS OF
Saturday 30th of March 2002
Morris Newton Cup Semi-Final
Thurso F.C.................0.................V
Invergordon.............0......... (Invergordon win 6-5 on pens a.e.t)
At Sir George's Park, Thurso - 2.30 kick-off
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso's
bid to reach their second
The visitors started the brighter with Thurso's defensive anchorman Shaun Moar
required on several occasions to step in to defuse potential problems created
by Invergordon's main dangermen Brian Scobie and Norman MacMillan. Thurso's
main early goal threat came from midfielder Graeme Reid. After 15 minutes, he met
a Lee MacDougall cross with a header which gave Stewart his first chance to
demonstrate his sure handling.
Seven minutes later, MacDougall chose the direct route to goal, coming off his
wing and cutting inside before firing a searing shot from the edge of the box.
Stewart somehow managed to get down low to his left to deflect the ball round
the post. Reid had another chance three minutes later but he over-stretched as
he met Willie Steven's crafty back-post cross. Reid was again racing in on goal
after 27 minutes, this time at the end of a diagonal through ball from
MacDougall. The midfielder did not fancy having a crack with his left peg,
instead opting to try to cut across goal. That allowed the defence to regroup
and snuff out the opportunity.
Thurso were in the driving seat and it was not until the half-hour mark that
their goal came under any serious threat. Tommy Campbell did the spadework on
the right with Fraser Munro's resultant header being too straight to seriously
trouble Michael Gray. Before the break, the hard-working Jonathon Makhouli had
an effort on goal pouched by Stewart.
Half-time - Thurso 0 V Invergordon 0
Five minutes after the interval, Thurso almost capitalised from the Invergordon
keeper's one gremlin of the afternoon. Stewart got in a fankle with the ball at
his feet with George Groat nipping in to rob the keeper and square across goal
to the inrushing MacDougall. The keeper atoned for his error and spared his
blushes by scampering back to block MacDougall's shot.
After 52 minutes, MacDougall, a constant menace down the left, swung over a
teasing cross which produced a wayward clearance from the back-tracking
defender Kenny MacAskill. His sclaff could have gone anywhere but, fortuitously
for the visitors, spiralled backwards directly into the grateful arms of
Stewart.
Thurso's purple patch continued two minutes later when Groat was sent clear on
Stewart. Groat appeared to have got the better of the keeper and wheeled away
thinking he had scored only to realise that the keeper had managed to get his
fingertips to divert the ball away from goal. Gavin Bremner immediately
followed up only for his 25 yarder to clear the bar.
The bumpy pitch denied Thurso the lead after 55 minutes when Groat released
Reid who had a clear sight of goal. As with Gary McAllister's notorious Euro
1996 penalty miss versus
Invergordon had to wait until 61 minutes to have their first real chance which
was wasted when Munro shot tamely wide.
The visitors' offside trap was breached after 67 minutes when Martin Baker ran
through himself and squared to Steven who shot past. MacDougall was then just
off-target with a cracking 25 yard strike before Bremner's long-range effort
was copmfortably gathered by Stewart. Jonathon Makhouli was unable to convert
either of two decent opportunities which came his way in the space of three
minutes. After 79 minutes, his header from a MacDougall cross was too close to
Stewart. Then, a long throw from Brian Gray was flicked on by Reid to Jonathon
Makhouli bearing in on the back post with the goal at his mercy. His pate is
not the most polished part of his football anatomy but he should have done better
than hit the inside of a post with what was to be the last clear opening of the
game.
Full-time - Thurso 0 V Invergordon 0
The first attempt on goal in extra-time came from the
visitors with Munro's feed to Steven MacDonald producing a good stop from
Michael Gray. Martin MacGregor was prominent with some fine jinking runs and he
almost provided the telling pass for MacDougall only for the latter to squander
the opportunity through a rare lapse of control. Phil Makhouli was unlucky with
an eight yard volley after 110 minutes which whistled just over the top with
Moar having the same result after uncorking a 25 yarder three minutes later.
Full-time of extra time - Thurso 0 V Invergordon 0 - Penalty shoot-out
The pace of the game took its toll on players from
both sides and it was two weary sets of players who prepared for the penalty
shoot-out. Invergordon had the advantage after MacGregor hit the bar and
Baker's effort went wide after Brian Gray had converted Thurso's first kick.
Steven, Reid, MacGregor and Jonathon Makhouli all scored but Phil Makhouli had
his spot-kick saved by Stewart.
Thurso manager Alistair Budge was frustrated at losing a game which his side
dominated for long spells. He said: "We were well on top for most of the
game but it just wasn't to be. "Graham Stewart
made two or three wonderful saves and our finishing let us down at other times.
"Our back three were outstanding and we played some excellent possession
football when we denied them the ball for long periods."
Mr Budge said Invergordon's backroom team rated Thurso as the best footballing
side they have played this season. His job now is to get his side focused
tomorrow's PCT Cup final at Golspie versus Alness. He said: "Technically,
they are a very good team and I believe that on their day, they are the best
team in the league. "It will be tough but we have
been playing well and our confidence levels are high. "We'll be looking to
make a good start and hopefully get a goal in front."
Youngsters Luke Cassidy and Des MacLeod could return to the squad with the only
doubt surrounding Kevin Warner. Thurso, league winners two years ago, are
gunning to land their first knock-out trophy.
Thurso v Invergordon -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Baker, Moar, J. Makhouli, Inrig
(MacGregor 77),
Reid, Bremner (P. Makhouli 80), Groat (Warner 77), Steven, MacDougall
Match report by
THURSO NIL
INVERGORDON NIL(INVERGORDON WIN ON SUDDEN DEATH PENALTIES AFTER EXTRA TIME)
Todays match started of much the same way as the last two matches at homewith
nothing too much to write home about from either side in the firsthalf.
Into the second half and as the match went on both sides up the pace and
overall thurso had the better chances to win the match but just couldn't put
the ball in the net,jonathon makouli coming the
closest hitting the ball of the post with a dipping header and the invergordon
keeper (ex academy player graham stewart )pulling of a fine save to his right
hand side from a willie steven follow up shot.
The match ended nil nil and went into extra time and golden goal came into play
but again thurso even though having the majority of play couldnt make it count
and so the dreaded panalty shoot out was next upand still thetwo teams couldnt
be seperatedand so the penalty shoot out went to sudden death with graham
stewart saving from philip makouli to deny thurso a!nothre
place in a cup final.
NEVER MIND NEXT WEEK IS THE CUP FINAL AND I FOR ONE WILL CERTAINLY BE THERE
CHEERING ON THURSO AND I HOPE A FEW MORE WILL MAKE THE BUS TRIP DOWN WITH ME
I'M SURE IT'LL BE A GOOD DAY OUT IF WE WIN OR LOSE!
SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK(DEPENDING ON HOW THE DAY GOES I
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE A MATCH REPORT NEXT WEEK)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PCT North Caledonian Cup Final
Saturday
6th of April 2002
Thurso F.C..................2................V Alness
United................1.........
Goalscorers
Thurso F.C - Lee MacDougall (1) and Phil Makhouli (1)
Alness United - Ross Jack (pen)
At Golspie - kick-off - 3.00 p.m
Match report by Iain Grant
A late Phil Makhouli winner ensured the PCT Cup headed over the Ord after
Saturday's final in Golspie.
Thurso had led through Lee MacDougall before a hotly disputed penalty converted
by Ross Jack 14 minutes from time put Alness back on terms. There were just
three minutes left when a loose ball in the box was pounced upon by Makhouli
whose shot-on-the-turn powered past keeper Andrew Rogers.
The opening 15 minutes was played at a break-neck pace as each side went all
out to seize the initiative. The frenzied midfield action was matched by
animated histrionics from the respective dugouts, but there was precious little
in the way of serious goalmouth activity. A weak, back-post header from Jack
and a blocked shot from Thurso's Willie Steven were the sum total of the
offensive threats during this period.
The first real danger came after 16 minutes when indecision by James Winter
almost cost the Easter Ross side dear. Lee MacDougall nipped in to dispossess
him and he was homing in on goal when the defender's desperate lunging tackle
saw him whip the legs away from the Thurso striker just outside the box.
Referee Willie Sinclair, after a brief confab with assistant Gary MacMillan,
decided that the offence merited no more than a booking.
MacDougall's resultant free-kick cannoned off the defensive wall. Four minutes
later, Thurso were a lick of paint away from taking the lead. Gavin Bremner's
corner saw Graeme Reid soar above his marker to bullet a header against the
underside of the crossbar. The deflection fell kindly for keeper Rogers who,
though prone on the six yard line, was able to scramble the ball to safety with
an outstretched arm.
After 25 minutes, Alness's Martyn McAllister carved out his side's first decent
opening when his inswinging cross invited a header from Keith Sutherland which
was too direct to trouble Michael Gray. Just before the half-hour mark, a
promising move at the other end petered out when Steven failed to make good
contact with MacDougall's centre and the ball looped harmlessly over the bar.
The Vikings were by now dominating proceedings with Reid adding security to the
back three and Martin Baker settling well into his new role on the wide right
of the five man midfield. Alness' frustration at the way the game was going was
reflected in a booking for Jack for a reckless lunge on Reid. The former pro
was fortunate to stay on the park after a subsequent foul on Kevin Warner.
Alness did threaten occasionally on the counter and after 34 minutes Keith
Sutherland should have tested Michael Gray after Stephen Maclean had set him up
in front of goal. Two minutes later, a Willie Inrig through ball meant for
Steven ended up falling for MacDougall whose powerful shot was saved by
The keeper had a large part to play in the opening goal when he chose to meet
Bremner's free-kick with a lusty punch. The ball ended at the feet of
MacDougall 20 yards out whose spanking volley sped past the stranded keeper
into the net. The half ended with several flash-points which resulted in
bookings for Steven and Brian Davidson, of Alness.
Half-time - Thurso 1 V Alness 0
The pattern of the game changed dramatically after the
interval. From being in charge, Thurso were soon very much under the cosh and
struggled to recreate the poise and rhythm which characterised their efforts before
the break. They were regularly conceding corners and free-kicks in their own
half, which played into the hands of opponents who possessed a superior
arsenal.
Thurso were indebted to Michael Gray who was often needed to display safe
handling and bravery in a crowded goalmouth. Five minutes after the restart,
the keeper had to race from his station to deny Stephen Graham by spreading
himself and using his legs to block th netbound shot.
MacDougall went close at the other end before Donald Sutherland should have
levelled when he blasted high over the bar after being teed up by a Jack
flick-on from a Davidson corner. Yet another corner after 56 minutes from
Sutherland saw Michael Gray use every centrimetre of his reach to skilfully
gather the spiralling cross at his back post with Ross ready to cash in on any
mistake.
Maclean and Graham then missed half-chances as Alness pressed strongly for the
equaliser. Thurso almost found the comfort zone when MacDougall's shot from a
half-cleared free-kick was deflected just wide by Inrig. Shortly afterwards,
MacDougall was caught in possession on the half-way line. Sutherland raced
upfield with his long cross finding Jack whose lay-off to Sandy Wilson ended
with the substitute firing over the top from close in.
After 69 minutes, good work by George Groat set up MacDougall whose right-foot
effort was well saved by Rogers. There was no let-up in the frantic end-to-end
action as Michael Gray did superbly well to keep out Maclean's free-kick.
The equaliser came when
Thurso always looked the more likely to score a second and it duly arrived in
the aftermath to Baker's late free-kick.
Inrig became the fourth name in referee Sinclair's book as time ran out on
Alness's bid to force the game into extra-time. It was fitting that Makouli
should deliver the coup de grace as he had missed the crucial kick in the
Vikings's previous cup semi-final penalty shoot-out versus Invergordon.
Manager Alistair Budge was elated at his side's debut cup triumph in a tourney
that dates back to 1888. He said: "We started with all guns blazing and we
were well worth our lead at half-time. "We were
in control of the game but after the interval we let it slip a bit -- we just
couldn't seem to get out of our own half for long periods. "We gave away
loads of free-kicks and corners and had to absorb a lot of pressure but the
penalty gave us a lift and seemed to make us redouble our efforts and we
eventually got our reward."
He credited his defence for a battling performance, singling out Michael Gray
and Reid for their contributions. He also praised Warner and Bremner for their
tireless effort in the middle of the park and MacDougall, for his attacking
flair.
On Saturday afternoon, Thurso entertain Golspie in the quarter-final of the
Football Times Cup. Mr Budge intends giving youth run in the game with Martin
MacGregor, Luke Cassidy and Des Macleod all in line for a starting berth in the
game which kicks off at 2.30 p.m..
Thurso v Alness -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Reid, Moar, Baker,
Bremner,
Warner (Makhouli 75), Inrig (Cassidy 89), Groat, Steven, MacDougall.
Ref -- Mr W. Sinclair.
Match report by
SATURDAY 6TH APRIL WRITE THIS DATE IN FOOTBALL'S HISTORY BOOKS THURSO WIN THE
CUP!!!!!!!
The weather gods decide to let it shine for the trip to golspie for the cup
final THURSO v Alness. Alness started off very brightly and had a couple of
headers on thurso's goal! (alness were certainly up
for this match)!
18 mins into the game and an alness united player gave away a free kick on the
edge of their box( he was lucky only to pick up a yellow card as it could of
easily been a red as he looked to be the last player plus the tackle was from
behind). Thurso took a poor free kick and did not take advantage of the
opportunity!
In the 23rd minute, Thurso keeper michael gray made a
fine save from a ross jack header. jack is reeally
good in the air and seems to float in the airand his hair never seems to move
though this must be all the hair spray he uses although he didnt seem to
appreciate my comments to him about his hair!
As the first half went on the alness tackling got harder and dirtier! In the
33rd min goardie groat made a run down the left hand side(
you will have to improve your pace though if you want to win at the highland
games this year geordie!)
In the 37th min Lee MacDougall had a great strike on goal and was unlucky not
to score but lee made up for this in the 40th minwith a tremendous goal on the
volley from a brian gray cross (in the words of lee's idol martin o'neil i
really do mean this i really ,really do!)
HALF TIME 1-0 for THURSO
INTO THE SECOND HALF AND ALNESS START OF THE SAME WAY THEY STARTED THE FIRST
HALFand in the 48th min gray had to make a great save from what could of quite
easily of been the equaliser! The first 15mins of the second half and THURSO
were struggling to get into the game with some scrappy play!
23 mins into the second half and alness miss another opportunity to equalise
WOULD THEY PAY FOR THIS LATER! iN THE 34 TH MIN OF THE
SECOND HALFSOME LOVELY INTERPLAY INVOLVING GEORDIE GROAT AND LEE SAW THE ALNESS
KEEPER MAKING A FINE SAVE FROM A LEE SHOT!
32mins and alness were awarded a soft penalty (as they would admit themselves
later in the pub!)and they tucked it away and it was
game on 1-1.
ALISTAIR was at his finest SHOUTING on THURSO telling his players that they
were better than thisand to show it on the pitch!!!
The THURSO players responded to this and in the 39th minute from a cross ball
GRAHAM REID rose to flick on with his head in the box and substitute Phillip
makouli cooly lifted the ball over the head of the alness keeper with
theoutside of his boot and THURSO were back in front 2-1 all that was left was
for the referee to blow his whistle andlet the CELEBRATIONS begin.
(a mention must be made at this point about the young
substitutes luke cassidy,martin macgregor,des macleod and philip who swapped
tips on hair gel and other beauty tips throughout the game behind the dugouts).
At the presentation LEE MACDOUGALL was awarded the man of the match ,a good day allround for THURSO who fought well as a
team thriughout the match!
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO END BY THANKING MR.BUDGE THE PLAYERS AND BACK ROOM STAFF
FOR A GREAT DAY OUT REALLY MAKING ME FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE LADS AND ID ALSO LIKE
TO MENTION DUNCAN GRAY WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO THURSO THIS SEASON DURING
ALISTAIRS ABSCENCE AND AFTERHIS RETURN WELL DONE MR.GRAY. GOODBYE ALL AND LETS
HOPE WE GO ON TO WIN MANY MORE TROPHIES!!!!!!
Other scores
NCL - Halkirk United 0 V Golspie Sutherland 1
Football Times Cup - Invergordon 0 V Bonar Bridge 1 and Dornoch 1 V Bunillidh
Thistle 5
Football Times Cup 1st Round
Saturday 13th of April 2002
Thurso F.C.................1.................V Golspie
Sutherland..............1...........(a.e.t - 3-4 on pens)
Goalscorers - Graeme Reid - (pen)
At Sir George's Park, Thurso - kick-off - 2.30 p.m
Match report by Iain Grant
Thurso on
Saturday suffered the horrors of succombing to a second penalty shoot-out cup
exit in the space of a fortnight. The crowd at Sir Georges Park were treated to
a tense Football Times second round encounter which ended one apiece after 90
minutes. Extra-time produced a glut of chances with both sides feeling
aggrieved not to have clinched the tie without recourse to the dreaded round of
spot-kicks.
A fine spring day saw two evenly matched sides battle
it out for the right to meet Halkirk in the quarter-final. The first opening
was carved out by Lee MacDougall who set Willie Steven racing free down the
inside left channel. As keeper Billy Neilson came to meet him, a defender
managed to scurry back and get a telling block as Steven sought to pull the
trigger.
John Smith was a pervasive presence in the early exchanges with the Golspie
Number 3 nominally playing on the left side of the defence. He however appeared
to have a licence to wander and he produced his side's first moment of danger
after seven minutes when his cross-cum-shot flashed across goal.
Steven and MacDougall were proving a handful at the other end and twice their
link-up play almost produced the opener. MacDougall shot wide on the first
occasion when he would have been better feeding his unmarked strike partner.
Then a MacDougall centre was headed powerfully just over the bar by Steven. The
Vikings packed more punch in the first quarter with some good spells of
possession and creative play which regularly picked holes in the visitors'
defence. After 20 minutes, a glorious pass from Graeme Reid gave MacDougall a
clear passage to goal. He shot low past the onrushing Neilson but the ball
ended up a yard outside the right-hand post.
Smith was again to the fore after 28 minutes when he drilled a free-kick
narrowly over and then saw his close-in diving header from a Darren Pullen
free-kick hit the top of the bar.
In between these efforts, Thurso were inches away from taking the lead when
Pullen was dispossessed and Gavin Bremner curling effort from the left scraped
past the left-hand upright. Golspie saw more of the play as the half wore on
with Pullen and Gary Reid increasingly pulling the strings in midfield. Michael
Gray had to demonstrate sound handling to keep out a Pullen strike seven
minutes from half-time. The keeper then did very well to tip a Robbie
MacDougall free-kick over the bar and then thwart that man
Smith with a suberb reaction save to turn away the latter's netbound
shot-on-the-turn in the aftermath to a half-cleared corner.
Half-time - Thurso 0 V Golspie 0
A low-key start to the second half was almost
enlivened after 53 minutes when MacDougall set up George Groat for an opening
which ended with him hitting the side-net from as tight angle. Two minutes
later, Steven came close to breaking the deadlock after defenders Colin
Sutherland and Scott Mackay got in a tangle.
Smith then missed a decent chance when he headed a Reid free-kick over the top
before Groat passed up an even better opportunity when he failed to beat
Neilson with a free shot inside the six yard box. The latter miss looked event
costlier when the visitors took a 69th minute lead when Kevin Warner was caught
in possession and Pullen pounced to rifle a shot past Michael Gray.
Reid and Makhouli passed up half-chances before the equaliser 12 minutes from
time which was created by substitute Luke Cassidy. His first action saw him
skip into the box before being clumsily chopped down by Sutherland. Graeme Reid
hammered the resultant spot-kick behind Neilson. The closing minutes saw Thurso
hunt the winner with MacDougall twice going close.
Full-time - Thurso 1 V Golspie 1
Extra-time often produces 30 further minutes of stalemate but this was
certainly not the case in this match. A pulsating contest developed with both
sides committed to attack at the expense of leaving the back door open on
occaisons. After 97 minutes, Scott MacMain looked several yards offside when he
scampered through on a clear run on goal. As he homed in from the right flank,
Michael Gray raced from outside his box to make a superb saving block with
Martin Baker on hand to complete the clearance.
The focus then changed to the other goal with a Steven header being touched
against the inside of a post by Neilson on 100 minutes. A minute later, the
keeper did well to fling himself to his left to get to a stinging effort from
Cassidy at the end of an attack launched by Brian Gray. On the stroke of
half-time, Thurso looked set to forge ahead when MacDougall's cross was headed
on by Steven to Gavin Bremner. Unchallenged 10 yards out, the long-range
specialist failed to make good contact, with his shot not seriously testing
Neilson.
Extra-time Half-time - Thurso 1 V Golspie 1
Golspie had the better of the second period of extra-time with Michael Gray
doing well to pouch a MacMain's effort from the edge of the box. Reid was
booked in the dying throes of the game for a foul on Pullen.
Full time - Extra Time - Thurso 1 V Golspie 1
The first six penalties were absolute belters with the
conversions of Thurso's Brian Gray, Baker and Steven being matched by
MacDougall, MacMain and Sutherland. Martin MacGregor then had his effort well
saved by Neilson only for Pullen to pull his shot wide. Graeme Reid then saw
his effort blocked with Mackay keeping his nerve to slot home the decider.
Penalty Shoot-out - Thurso F.C 3 V Golspie Sutherland 4
Thurso manager Alaistair Budge had no complaints with the way his side went
about their business. He said: "I felt both sides really went for it and
it could easily have ended up 7-6 to either side. "We
had the more clear-cut chances buit we just couldn't put them away but Michael
Gray also had two or three really excellent saves. "I think we gave a good
account of ourselves and with the rub of the green could have come out on
top."
Thurso, with no game tomorrow, finish their campaign with league matches away
to Halkirk and at home to Golspie. The latter could yet be a title decider were
Golspie to win their next two games. That would leave them requiring to beat Thurso to overhaul long-time leaders Invergordon.
Thurso v Golspie -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner (Cassidy 78), Reid, Moar, Baker,
Bremner,
Groat, Makhouli (MacGregor 78), Steven, MacDougall. Sub
(unused) -- Blumfield.
Ref -- Mr G. Bain, Wick.
North Caledonian League Championship
and Millenium Cup Match
Friday 26th of April 2002
Halkirk United.............0.............V Thurso
F.C..................1.............
Goalscorer - Luke Cassidy (1)
At Recreation Park, Halkirk - kick-off - 6.45 p.m
Thurso F.C win the annual Millenium Cup
for the second year in a row !!!
Match report by Iain Grant
Halkirk's barren run against their neighbours continued as they wound up their
MSIS North Caledonian League campaign on a low note. Friday night's weather
conditions were such that it made it questionable whether this match should
have gone ahead. A high-velocity, swirling wind regularly played tricks with
the ball and badly disrupted the measured, passing game which both side favour.
The players and officials were also subjected to perishing cold conditions
which anti-climaxed shortly after the interval when a particularly intense hail
storm led to referee Willie Sinclair righly taking the sides off for some
much-needed shelter. It was an evening when gloves and leggings would have been
less de rigeur than boiler-suits and balaclavas. Both teams deserve credit for
serving up as entertaining a contest as could be expected. The wind direction,
as much as could be discerned from its fickle nature, was diagonal towards the
school.
The dilemma in trying to build up play from the back was to run the risk of a
simple pass being blown off course by a rogue gust. The alternative was to play
long and either see the ball vanish over the horizon
or come steepling back to whence it came.
Thurso were the first to threaten and grabbed what proved the only goal of the
game in seven minutes through Luke Cassidy. Cassidy had earlier been just
off-target with a looping header from a George Groat centre. The breakthrough
came after Halkirk were caught in possession and Reid took advanatge to send an
early through ball to Cassidy. The teenage striker held his nerve as he ran
through and side-footed the ball between keeper Marc Swanson and his left-hand
post.
After 12 minutes, United defender Graham Gunn needed
treatment after he bravely stood up to Willie Inrig's meaty free-kick which
struck him full on the face. Groat was a lively presence for the visitors who
forced the early pace though, like United, they were fighting a losing battle
against the elements.
Halkirk's first opening was cut out by Colin Banks after 25 minutes when he set
up Gavin Henderson for a low, raking shot which Thurso keeper Michael Gray was
happy to see deflected past for a corner.
Before the interval, Graeme Reid and Inrig were prominent with decent efforts
which flew just over the top.
Half-time - Halkirk 0 V Thurso 1
To compound the biting-cold temperatures, the amount
of light fell noticeably to presage a spell of heavy sleet and hail showers in
the quarter-of-an-hour after the resumption. This coincided with strong Halkirk
pressure which produced a string of corners and free-kicks. With players
covering their faces with their hands to shield them against hail, which was
driving against them like ack ack fire, Referee Willie Sinclair wisely decided
to call a temporary halt. The conditions abated to allow the teams to take the
field after a two minute respite. Mercifully, the weather settled somwhat
thereafter with neither trainer reporting any case sof
hypothermia.
Thurso almost grabbed another goal after 69 minutes from a free-kick awarded
when John Martin fouled Martin MacGregor wide out on the left. MacGregor got on
the end of a setpiece, hurling himself to meet the inswinging cross on the six
yard line. He made a good connection with his shot beating Swanson but
rebounding off the centre of the cross-bar.
This was in the middle of a purple patch for Thurso with excellent inter-play
between Cassidy and MacGregor after 60 minutes setting up Martin Baker for a fierce
shot which he sent whizzing just over the bar.
Halkirk then came close to equalising when Derek Shearer's teasing corner
ending with Banks firing narrowly wide. Michael Gray had to have his wits about
him after 72 minutes when he had to deal with a snap 30 yard shot from Shearer.
The ball took a bobble just before it reached the keeper who spilled the drive
but did extremely well to regather as Banks closed in fast.
Play immediately switched to the other goalmouth where Groat sent in Inrig who
had his netbound shot well blocked by Swanson. The last 10 minutes saw United press hard with their play having an urgency which
was earlier lacking. With six minutes to go, Banks created space for
Halkirk player/manager Richard Hughes said the horrendous conditions had marred
the clash, which was for the Millennium Cup. "It really was a shame for
both teams as the weather made the game a lottery."
Vikings manager Alistair Budge said afterwards: "The weather was the
winner on the night and I think both teams deserve credit for the way they
stuck to their tasks." He singled out Reid, Groat and Cassidy as his key
men.
Halkirk -- Swanson, Gunn, Henderson, Blair, Martin, C. Munro,
M. Munro, Sutherland, Banks, Shearer, D. Munro (Hughes 70).
Thurso -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Warner, Moar, Baker, Inrig,
Bremner, Reid,
MacGregor (Farmer 75), Cassidy, Groat. Sub (unused) --
Macleod.
Referee -- Mr W. Sinclair.
Golspie picked up the Morris Newton Cup on Saturday after a surprisingly easy
4-1 win over Invergordon. A Robbie MacDougall hat-trick and a late counter from
Andrew Laing sparked them to victory against Invergordon, who replied through
Gordon Sinclair.
North Caledonian League
Thurso F.C 1 V Golspie Sutherland 1
It was agreed by The North Caledonian league committee and both clubs to
declare the above match a 1-1 draw (which was the score between the 2 sides in
the cup on 13/4/02) because the league championship was already won by
Invergordon after their 2-0 win at Golspie the previous week.
North Caledonian League table -
Season 2001/02
|
|
Played |
Won
|
Draw |
Lost
|
Goals
For |
Against |
Points |
|
Invergordon
|
18 |
14 |
3 |
1 |
58 |
13 |
45 |
|
Alness
United |
18 |
12 |
3 |
3 |
53 |
21 |
39 |
|
Golspie
Sutherland |
18 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
48 |
23 |
38 |
|
THURSO
F.C |
18 |
10 |
4 |
4 |
33 |
22 |
34 |
|
Halkirk
United |
18 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
39 |
32 |
25 |
|
Tain |
18 |
7 |
1 |
10 |
39 |
36 |
22 |
|
Bunillidh
Thistle |
18 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
26 |
47 |
19 |
|
Balintore
|
18 |
4 |
3 |
11 |
33 |
52 |
15 |
|
|
18 |
4 |
1 |
13 |
34 |
49 |
13 |
|
Dornoch |
18 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
21 |
89 |
7 |