Match report from Alness United 1 V Thurso 1 – MSIS North Caledonian League - Saturday 14^th of February 2004

Alness United – Robertson, E.Murray, Buntain, Docherty, R.MacDougall, Stewart, Davidson, C.Jack, R.Jack, Chapman, Doull. Subs – Ross, Sinclair and Houston.

Thurso –J.Mackay, A.Sutherland, Morris (P.Makhouli 84), Moar, Gray, Bremner, N.MacKenzie, Warner, A.Murray, R.Sutherland (Inrig 84), L.MacDougall (Cassidy 87).

Perfect conditions for football greeted the Thurso squad from their long trip to Alness. A big difference from the blizzard conditions they faced last weekend in Invergordon. Thurso manager Duncan Gray again made changes to his squad with Jamie MacKenzie still unavailable, however Willie Inrig was back in the squad as was Shaun Moar and Jack Mackay replaced Brian Mackay in the goals. Nicholl and Angus dropped out of the squad. Thurso started with a defensive line of Kevin Morris, Brian Gray, Shaun Moar and Kevin Warner at the back, a midfield of Allan Sutherland, Ross Sutherland, with Lee MacDougall and Nigel MacKenzie in the wings with Alan Murray ploughing a lone furrow up front with plenty of attacking options in Inrig, Makhouli and Cassidy on the bench.

In the early stages it was tough and competitive with both sides having difficult keeping the ball and both sides closing space down. In the second minute the home side showed their intentions from the off as Carl Jack hit a shot wide of Jack MacKay’s left hand post from the edge of the box.

Then Thurso took over as an attacking force and were starting to play some good passing football with some excellent one touch stuff and in the 3^rd minute they won a throw on the right, taken by Gray which was launched deep into the Alness box, the ball broke to Alan Murray who’s shot was saved from 8 yards by Robertson in the Alness United goal, who was to prevent Thurso from scoring on numerous occasions throughout the afternoon.

After seven minutes Alness managed to break free down the left via Chapman who played in a dangerous ball across the six-yard box into the grateful arms of Mackay.

Two minutes later Thurso took the lead after a series of corner kicks and pressure. The corner was played in by Bremner, fumbled by the keeper to Gray standing on the corner of the six-yard box who unleashed a powerful volley into the far corner past a helpless Robertson to give Thurso a deserved lead.

Alness bench were very vocal during the game feeling they were not getting the rub of the green and on several occasions both the assistant referee and the referee had to calm Tommy Reagan and his men down.

A minute after taking the lead Thurso almost doubled their advantage as another corner was played in, onto the head of Allan Sutherland, which just evaded MacDougall at the far post who was poised to poke the ball home.

Thurso were ripping Alness apart now and Nigel MacKenzie again making good progress down the right wing. Alan Murray held the ball up, played it into the path of Nigel MacKenzie who looped a cross over to Lee MacDougall whose header was well saved by Robertson from 8 yards.

After 15 minute Thurso were awarded a free kick, which was blasted in by Morris only to be cleared by the hard-pressed Alness back line.

Alness then had their best spell of the match for 5 minutes putting Thurso under some severe pressure and After 20 minutes pulled level as Doull crossed to the back post to Ross Jack who cleverly peeled away to make himself free to head past Mackay at the back post to level the contest.

Thurso then established their supremacy and were again passing the ball well trying to regain their lead and almost took the lead after 28 minutes when Gray headed a free kick looping towards the top corner of the net only to be denied by a finger tip save from Robertson for a corner.

Two minutes later Thurso were awarded yet another corner, which was cleared as far as Ross Sutherland who advanced to the 18 yard box and hit a low shot which just missed the right hand post and the boot of Lee MacDougall who just failed to connect and divert the ball goal wards.

Two minutes later Carl Jack picked up the ball in the centre of the field, was taken late by Allan Sutherland, the referee played on and eventually the chance was wasted and Sutherland had his name taken.

With eight minutes to half-time Thurso contrived the move of the match with Gray playing the ball to MacKenzie who broke down the wing and squared the ball to Murray who’s shot was well saved again from 18 yards.

Then again two minutes later Thurso had another excellent move playing some of the best football this season with Warner playing the ball to Murray who squared to Bremner who’s shot from 20 yards creeped past the post. Alness were happy to hear the half-time whistle as Thurso were threatening to take the lead.

Half-time – Alness 1 V Thurso 1

Alness kicked off the second half brightly with their manager’s half-time words ringing in their ears and in the first minute Ross Jack almost gave the home side the lead with a header from a free kick which went wide of MacKay’s left hand post.

Then a minute later Alness were awarded a free kick on the edge of The Thurso area but Jack took the free kick, which sailed well over the bar.

Thurso then established the firm grip on the game again and in the 50^th minute Nigel MacKenzie drove down the wing and squared only for Lee MacDougall to be just out of reach at the far post.

Seven minutes later after end-to-end play and no attempts of target, Alness played in a long high ball, which is a tactic they seemed to employ through most of the afternoon was well collected by Jack Mackay under pressure from Ross Jack.

A minute later Nigel MacKenzie again broke down the wing and crossed the ball, which was cleared, to Bremner who shot over from 25 yards.

Thurso were pushing again to take the lead and Ross Sutherland managed to get his head to the ball, which was again well saved by Robertson.

On the hour mark the game was going a bit stale but Thurso were still passing the ball well and causing Alness problems. Alness however won a corner and from the clearance Evan Murray shot wildly wide of the target when well placed.

In the 62^nd minute Gray took his protests too far for some bad challenges coming in from the home side and was booked for his chatting back to the official.

With twenty minutes to go and the game end to end Ross Sutherland had an effort deflected wide from 20 yards.

With 15 minutes to go Alness took on Ross and Houston as some of their players had put in a hard shift chasing and harrying and were visibly tiring.

The game was looking more and more like a stalemate and with only a point not what was required by Thurso, manager Duncan Gray eventually decided to go for broke and threw on Inrig and Makhouli for Morris and Sutherland and this almost paid dividends as the pair combined to set up Nigel MacKenzie who shot across goal from the edge of the box.

Then with three minutes to go Cassidy replaced MacDougall. Cassidy almost made an instant impact as he ran on to a brilliant Phil Makhouli chipped pass over the Alness defence only to be nicked off his toes when ready to pull the trigger and cleared for a corner.

Thurso then piled bodies forward into the box attempting a winning goal but eventually the referee blew his whistle leaving both side with a point which didn’t help any side but Alness surely were the happier team having escaped on numerous occasions with home keeper Robertson taking the plaudits with a string of impressive saves.

Thurso now go onto The PCT Cup Final next weekend at Dudgeon Park in Brora against Balintore with a 2.00 p.m kick off.

Other fixtures on the day saw Golspie Sutherland take a huge step towards the league championship with a 1-0 win away in Balintore. Other fixtures on the day saw Halkirk United gain their first away win of the season with a 4-3 win away in Dornoch and Bunillidh Thistle record a 4-1 away win at Tain.