Match report from Invergordon 2 V Thurso 3 – Saturday 22nd of November 2003 - PCT Cup Second Round

Invergordon –Campbell, Cooper, Smith, McCaskill, Innes, MacDonald,
Dinwoodie, Sinclair, Scobbie, Whitelaw (Mills 73), Hutchison. Sub Not Used - Oman

Thurso –Bokas, A.Sutherland, Baker (Coghill 76), Farmer, Bremner, R.Sutherland,
Cassidy (MacDougall 71), J.MacKenzie (Angus 86), Murray, Morris, N.MacKenzie.

A frosty day in Invergordon greeted the Thurso squad from the long trip from the North on a semi-frozen, bumpy playing surface. Thurso manager Duncan Gray added Alan Sutherland and Kevin Morris to the starting line up with Kevin Warner and Willie Inrig unavailable, starting with a back four of A.Sutherland, Morris and Farmer with Baker and Nigel MacKenzie providing the width, Murray and Cassidy started up front with R.Sutherland, Bremner and Jamie MacKenzie in the midfield. MacDougall, Coghill and Angus took their places on the bench.

Thurso opened brightly on the treacherous surface and were close the taking the lead after 2 minutes when Murray was put through on goal and mis controlled the ball into the grateful arms on Invergordon keeper Campbell, then after six minutes Thurso contrived a great move started by Cassidy who passed to Nigel MacKenzie on the left hand channel who made for the bye line and squared for Baker at the back post who shaved the outside of the post from 3 yards out. Then after 11 minutes Invergordon made their first steps into The Thurso last third with a drive by Hutchison from 18 yards which went well wide of Bokas' right hand post.

Five minutes later Morris found Murray with a through ball and the striker's effort was blocked from 12 yards. Then a minute later Jamie MacKenzie made an excellent tackle in the centre of the field, played a brilliant ball down the left to brother Nigel who made his way down the wing, cut inside and scored with the aid of a deflected off an Invergordon defender to give Thurso a deserved lead.

The next nine minutes was all Thurso possession with Invergordon having problems establishing a foothold in the match and it was Thurso who were to cause the home defence problems in the 26th minute as Nigel MacKenzie found Alan Murray on the edge of the box and his effort was blocked by the advancing Invergordon rearguard.

After 32 minutes Gavin Bremner found himself free in the box but sent an effort wide from 10 yards. Then three minutes later Thurso shot themselves in the foot as has happened on a few occasions so far this season. Alan Sutherland won the ball 20 yards out and played the ball back to keeper Alan Bokas, who managed to scuff the ball along the ground straight to striker Brian Scobbie who gleefully chipped the stranded Helmsdale based keeper from 12 yards to level the score.

With two minutes to half time Luke Cassidy tried to get the lead back for Thurso as he turned neatly and shot powerfully which was saved brilliantly by Campbell.

Half-time – Invergordon 1 V Thurso 1

It was up to manager Duncan Gray to motivate the side again after disappointing at the end of the first half after taking the lead and letting it slip with a sloppy goal and it was a different Thurso side who came out of the blocks and attacked the Invergordon defence with wave upon wave of attack in an attempt to regain the lead.

Two minutes into the second half it was Nigel MacKenzie causing havoc down the wing as he was again released on the left but this time pulled his shot wide when a cut back looked to be the best option with Thurso players waiting in the middle.

Then the Thurso attack switched to the right after 50 minutes when Alan Sutherland raced down the wing and released Baker who squared to Ross Sutherland who's close range effort was blocked by the keeper's legs when it looked easier to score.

Then a minute later Cassidy's shot from a Nigel MacKenzie pass was deflected wide for a corner. Four minutes later Cassidy almost got the goal he deserved as he sent a looping header from a Bremner cross over the cross bar.

After 56 minutes Nigel MacKenzie had a shot deflected over as Thurso were pushing the home side to the limit. Then on the hour mark Thurso got the goal their play merited as Alan Murray ran on to a through ball and scored simply from 18 yards with keeper Campbell advancing.

Murray almost doubled his tally for the afternoon a minute later as he had a shot wide from a Nigel MacKenzie pass from six yards. After 63 minutes Cassidy was yellow carded for a scuffle after the Thurso striker had been fouled by an Invergordon midfielder and shortly after, Invergordon made their first switch of the afternoon as Ross replaced McCaskill. After 67 mins Cassidy made a neat turn and cross to Murray who just failed to make contact with the ball from two yards out with the goal at his mercy.

After 71 minutes a tiring Cassidy was replaced by Lee MacDougall who went into his usual place on the wing. Two minutes later Youngster Ashley Mills replaced Whitelaw for the home side and then MacDonald shot wide of goal from 15 yards.

The chances were now coming thick and fast and three minutes later Martin Baker shot wide of goal from 18 yards as Thurso threatened to extend their lead and put the cup tie out of sight. Then a minute later Ian Coghill replaced Baker who had put in a good shift down the right hand wing supplying several dangerous crosses for the Thurso strike force.

In the 78th minute Whitelaw had a shot blocked and then Bokas had to punch the ball clear from a dangerous cross and flick on.

Invergordon were starting to look dangerous again and Sinclair hit a powerful drive from 25 yards, which was gathered well by Bokas. Then a minute later Thurso put the result beyond doubt when an Alan Murray run down the left was squared across the box to Gavin Bremner in the centre of the goal who shot high into the net past Campbell from 6 yards.

With six minutes to go Bokas had to come off his line for a dangerous cross ball and punched clear under severe pressure. Then with four minutes to go Graeme Angus got a run out replacing Jamie MacKenzie, playing up front with Alan Murray.

Then with almost the last kick of the game Nigel MacKenzie lost the race for the ball and young Ashley Mills stole in ahead of Bokas to score high into the top corner of the net to pull a goal back for the home side. Thurso held on for the remaining few seconds to book a home semi-final against either Bunillidh Thistle or Golspie Sutherland.