Match report – Port Services Cup Final - Alness United V Thurso F.C – Saturday 1st November 2003

Alness United line-up – Campbell, Murray, Buntain, Docherty, R.MacDougall, Stewart, McLean, C.Jack, R.Jack, Chapman, Doull. Subs – Sinclair, Davidson and Houston.

Thurso line-up – Bokas, A.Sutherland, Warner, Inrig (Coghill 115), R.Sutherland, J.MacKenzie, N.MacKenzie, Cassidy (Baker 72), P.Makhouli (Reid 17), Morris and MacDougall.

Cold and damp conditions welcomed both sides for the first cup final of the season at Dudgeon Park in Brora.

Thurso again were forced to make changes to the squad with Gavin Bremner, Ryan Farmer, Russell Beattie, Martin Macgregor and Mark Nicholl dropping out in place of Luke Cassidy, Gordie Reid and Willie Inrig. Baker and Coghill took a place on the bench along with Gordie Reid.

Alness came out of the blocks the faster of the two sides and Thurso were on the back foot for the opening five minutes with Thurso keeper Bokas looking nervous and shaky, but eventually settled and had a steady match. Alness United were using their physical presence with long high balls troubling the Thurso defence with Morris and Alan Sutherland doing well under pressure on several occasions.

Thurso took their first steps in an attacking sense after 6 minutes when Makhouli ran on to a lofted ball over the Alness defence. The ball was just too high for the striker to stretch to which resulted in the striker falling and twisting his knee. He did recover temporarily and was replaced by Gordie Reid on the 17th minute.

Thurso were starting to get a foothold in the game and after 10 minutes Nigel MacKenzie crossed to brother Jamie who's headed drifted past Jodi Campbell's far post.

Then after 12 minutes Thurso were handed what was to be one of several slices of luck throughout the afternoon when a 20 yard free kick from Chapman beat Thurso keeper Alan Bokas, struck the underside of the cross bar and bounced on the line. Alness claimed the ball was over the line but the referee played on and the play continued.

A minute later Thurso broke clear while Alness were still claiming the goal and Nigel MacKenzie crossed from the right to Phil Makhouli who fired over the bar from 8 yards out. This was to be Makhouli's last action in the game as he limped off to be replaced by Reid.

After 25 minutes Alness threatened the Thurso goal again as a free kick was played into the box from the right, headed out by Morris to Doull, who's powerful shot from 18 yards was blocked by The Thurso defence.

Alness were making most of the opportunities in the game and were awarded a corner kick. Murray headed over when well placed from six yards. Two minutes later Nigel MacKenzie went into the referee's notebook for dissent. The referee seemed to be letting some bad fouls go and was speaking to players for speech play, which was starting to annoy both benches.

After 37 minutes Thurso had a chance to take the lead as Kevin Morris blasted a free kick wide with the aid of a deflection off a Thurso player.

A minute later Buntain headed over from an Alness corner then with a minute to go to half-time Gordie Reid almost scored when he hit a 30 yarder wide of Campbell's right hand post.

Half-time – Alness 0 V Thurso 0

Alness United started the second half the stronger again and were awarded a series of corners with the best opportunity falling to Docherty who headed over the bar from 10 yards.

The game went into a lull and after 55 minutes the stand-side linesman failed to raise his flag with an Alness striker 10 yards clear of The Thurso defence. It looked like a certain goal until Bokas forced the striker wide of the goal who failed to score for a tight angle with the ball scraping past the far post and relief for Thurso.

The game was going end to end with both sides intent on winning the Port Services Cup and after 56 minutes man of the match Jamie MacKenzie was sent clear by Reid in on The Alness goal but Campbell just beat the big striker to the ball and scrambled the ball clear.

Thurso were piling men forward and after 57 minutes Nigel MacKenzie crossed to Luke Cassidy who's close range effort was blocked by the legs of Campbell. Then Alness broke away a minute later and Ross Jack had a net bound effort blocked by Alan Sutherland.

After 63 minute Thurso had another great opportunity to take the lead as another great Nigel MacKenzie cross from the right was met in the middle of the goal by Lee MacDougall who's left footed flick went wide of the target from 6 yards. Then a minute later the same player had a free kick from 25 yards saved.

After 66 minutes Houston came on as a sub for Alness United. Two minutes later a long ball was playing into the Thurso box and Carl Jack's downward header looked net bound but deflected to safety of the base of the far post.

Then after 70 minutes Reid hit a powerful effort wide of the target from 25 yards. Then a minute later Alness broke down the right and a lofted ball was played over Bokas to the far post and was scrambled for a corner when several Alness attackers were poised to open the scoring.

A minute later Martin Baker replaced a tiring Luke Cassidy who had a hard working shift up front in his first game back after returning from a spell with Highland League side Brora Rangers.

With ten minutes to go the ball fell kindly in the box for Nigel MacKenzie and his powerful effort was on target but smacked off the side of an Alness defender's head and wide for a corner. Then two minutes later Thurso were awarded a free kick about 30 yards out. The ball was touched to the side and Lee MacDougall's effort screwed wide of the post.

In the closing moments of the game it got nasty as Morris was given a straight red card for a tackle of Jack. Several players got involved in pushing a shoving and Ross Sutherland received a kick on the inside of his thigh as the officials had difficulty controlling the players as the atmosphere got heated.

There were no other chances as the referee blew the whistle for full time with no goals to show for both teams' efforts and the players faced 30 minutes of extra time.

Full-time – Alness 0 V Thurso 0

The start of the extra time was frantic as the previous 90 minutes with both teams going at it hammer and tongs and Thurso were finally to take the lead as Nigel MacKenzie was sent clear on goal. He was held up by the Alness defence as they managed to get numbers back, however he squared the ball to brother Jamie who calmly slotted the ball past Jodi Campbell for 6 yards.

Five minutes later Alness almost squared the game as Carl Jack headed over the bar from another high ball into the box. Alness did eventually break the Thurso defence in the 112th minute when Carl Jack received a square pass and curled the ball high into the net past Bokas from 10 yards.

Six minutes later Ian Coghill replaced the tiring Willie Inrig who had put in a brave display in the tough midfield battle. One more chance to win the match was from a Lee MacDougall shot from 20 yards saved down low by Campbell. The game had no more chances as the players eventually settled for a penalty shoot-out to decide where the cup was destined for.

Full-time after extra time – Alness United 1 v Thurso 1

In the penalty shoot-out Thurso decided to go first and took the lead 1-0 through Nigel MacKenzie who calmly slotted the penalty past Campbell, Alness tied the shoot-out then Alan Sutherland made it 2-1 to Thurso, which again was matched by Alness. Then Gordie Reid hit the bar from his effort and Alness took a 3-2 lead from their effort. Ross Sutherland then tied the shoot-out at 3-3. Alness substitute Houston then handed a great chance to Thurso when his effort went high over the bar. Martin Baker failed to take advantage as his effort also went high over the bar, leaving Alness the chance to win the cup which they took with glee sending the Alness players, coaching staff and travelling support into raptures. Alness 4-3 on pens a.e.t.