Match report from Balintore 4 V Thurso 2 – Saturday 27th of September 2003

Balintore – Shearer, McGruer, S.Skinner (Stainke 73), John Skinner, Calderwood, P.Skinner, James Skinner, McEwan, Dance, Farquhar (MacLennan 83), Ross (S.Warner 83).

Thurso –Ridgers, B.Gray, Farmer, Baker (K.Warner 81), R.Sutherland, Bremner, N.MacKenzie, Coghill (J.MacKenzie 52), Murray, Morris, MacDougall (P.Makhouli 81)

A warm sunny day in Balintore greeted the Thurso squad from the long trip from the North on a dry, bumpy playing surface. Thurso manager Duncan Gray added Kevin Warner, Martin Baker, Phil Makhouli and young Brora Rangers keeper Willie Ridgers to last week's squad as .Michael Gray returned to Brora and Alan Sutherland, Niall Murray and Willie Inrig unavailable. Kevin Morris continued with a role in the defence alongside Baker, Gray and Farmer with Alan Murray the lone striker in an unfamiliar formation.

Thurso were on the back foot from the start as Balintore started the game strongly as expected from a well motivated side playing at home. In the first minute young Thurso keeper Ridgers had to be sharp as he blocked a powerful strike from Tony Farquhar. This fired a warning for what was to come, however in the 3rd minute Nigel MacKenzie played in a dangerous cross which looped over the bar by inches with keeper Shearer back pedalling.

Then five minutes later Balintore took the lead as Lewis Ross forced himself through several challenges on the right hand side of the box and scored with a finish from an acute angle.

After ten minutes Lee MacDougall had a chance to draw level but his header into the ground never troubled Shearer. Then five minutes later Alan Murray failed to connect with a Bremner through ball into the box and the ball squeezed wide of the left hand post. After 23 and 30 minutes Nigel MacKenzie had some good runs on the right and his crosses were both collected by Shearer as the game went into a bit of a lull.

After 31 minutes Thurso conceded a free kick on the edge of the box and Lewis Ross shot just over the cross bar.

After 35 minutes Thurso almost equalised as a Gavin Bremner corner was headed dangerously across the goal. It was collected by Morris on the right who played a ball square to Ian Coghill who fired in a powerful shot from 25 yards which was palmed away by keeper Shearer. The ball luckily fell to a Balintore defender who cleared desperately and the chance was gone.

Five minutes from half time it looked like Thurso had finally equalised as a close range Morris finish was chalked off for offside. Two minutes later Morris was booked for dissent as The Thurso players and staff were loosing patience with the eccentric referee who seemed to be keen to take centre stage instead of letting the game flow.

Half-time – Balintore 1 V Thurso 0

With Manager Duncan Gray's comments ringing in their ears the Thurso players came out determined to pull back the deficit from the first half but were dealt a lethal blow when young keeper Willie Ridgers miss kicked a pass back straight at Balintore striker Lewis Ross who placed the ball into the empty net for his own and his team's second and put Thurso in deeper trouble.

After 52 minutes Duncan Gray decided to change things and Jamie MacKenzie came on for Ian Coghill. Thurso were starting to play better and get a foot hold in the game playing better passing moves and looking more threatening but then after 62 minutes Balintore played a long ball up field which Farmer looked to run out at the corner flag, however the Balintore player stole the ball and played it into the six yard box for Ewan Dance to score with a header with keeper Ridgers having no chance of saving.

Three minutes later Thurso played a brilliant four man move involving Murray, Nigel MacKenzie, Jamie MacKenzie and Gavin Bremner with Murray completing the move with a shot deflected wide for a corner.

The corner was cleared and a ball was played up field which was missed by Farmer leaving Ewan Dance the simplest of tasks straight through on keeper Ridgers to score Balintore's fourth.

With twenty minutes to go Thurso were still fighting hard, trying not for the heads to drop and Jamie MacKenzie set up Ross Sutherland in the box but his shot was blocked for a corner and then a minute later Jamie MacKenzie was to test the keeper himself with a looping header from 10 yards collected under his cross bar by Shearer.

Two minutes later Thurso did finally pull a goal back when Nigel MacKenzie scored with a powerful shot from fifteen yards past Shearer who had no chance.

Straight after the Thurso goal Balintore used the first of their substitutes as Stainke replaced Stuart Skinner who had taken a knock and was struggling to continue.

With nine minutes remaining Thurso used the last of their two subs as Kevin Warner replaced Baker and Phil Makhouli came on for MacDougall.

Thurso were again playing some good passing football and looking like pulling more goals back. Then in the 83rd minute Balintore completed their set of three substitutions as MacLennan and S.Warner came on for two goal Ross and Tony Farquhar.

In the final minute of play Ryan Farmer tried to make up for the mistakes he made with a powerful shot which went wide as did Kevin Morris as Thurso tried to pull goals back.

Then in the 92nd minute Thurso did pull it back to 4-2 as a harmless long ball was headed past his own keeper by John Skinner.

Final score – Balintore 4 V Thurso 2