Match report from
Thurso 1 V Balintore 2 – MSIS North Caledonian League – Saturday 27th
March 2004 – By Brian Mackay
Thurso – J.Mackay, A.Sutherland, Forbes, Warner, Gray, Bremner, Green (Baker 65),
Coghill (T.McLeod 60),Murray, P.Makhouli and N.MacKenzie. Sub Not Used – Cassidy.
Balintore – Shearer, Lowe, P.Skinner, J.Skinner, Calderwood, Boyd, Fraser, McGruer,
Dance (McKain 71), Farquhar and Ross. Subs Not Used – Hogg and Wood.
Balintore look as though they have almost a full squad to choose from, however Thurso have several selection problems with Jamie MacKenzie, Willie Inrig, Shaun Moar, Kevin Morris, Lee MacDougall all missing plus Luke Cassidy with a sick bug only able to take a place on the bench and call upon Phil Green, Shaun Forbes, Ian Coghill, Martin Baker and Trevor McLeod.
8 mins – Great move by Thurso involving Makhouli and Nigel MacKenzie to Alan Murray but just cut out by Shearer in Balintore goal.
10 mins – Long free kick taken by John Skinner headed out to the edge of the box by Thurso defence then overhead kick by Tony Farquhar well wide of the right hand post of Jack Mackay.
15 mins – Ewan Dance broke and crossed from the right to Tony Farquhar at the back post who headed wide of the goal.
16 mins – Lewis Ross shot from 20 yards saved comfortably by Thurso keeper Jack Mackay.
20 mins – Nigel MacKenzie shot saved by Shearer.
21 mins – High ball played in by Balintore from the left, however refreee Sinclair blew for a foul on Mackay.
25 mins – Nigel MacKenzie played the ball to Ian Coghill on the right and he drilled a low shot from an angle but was well saved by Balintore stopper Shearer, then a few seconds later Murray hit a drive over the bar from the edge of the box.
28 mins – Nigel MacKenzie run and cross from the left to Phil Makhouli who’s header was blocked.
35 mins – Nigel MacKenzie had a powerful drive blocked by Skinner.
36 mins – Thurso very exposed at the back as Lowe broke free and grazed the outside of the post from 10 yards as Thurso looked more and more vulnerable missing the calming influences of Moar and Morris at the back.
41 mins – Thurso win a free kick on the edge of the box and Nigel MacKenzie takes it and puts the ball well over the bar.
43 mins – Tony Farquhar shoots from 18 yards but it goes wide.
45 mins – Just before half-time Ewan Dance takes a corner from the left and David Calderwood heads wide as Balintore threaten to take the lead.
Half-time – Thurso 0 V Balintore 0
Balintore came out of the blocks quickly and within two minutes of the second half were two goals up.
46 mins – Ewan Dance received the ball of the left of the penalty area and hit a low shot past MacKay from 18 yards, then in 47 mins – The ball was cut back from the right to Tony Farquhar who slotted into the empty net from 2 yards to make it Thurso 0 V Balintore 2
49 mins – Nigel MacKenzie run and cross to Alan Murray who shot wide of goal.
52 mins – MacKenzie run beating three players on the left and just cut out with Makhouli waiting to score, then Makhouli heading over from a Bremner corner kick.
60 mins – Trevor McLeod on for Ian Coghill.
65 mins – Martin Baker on for Phil Green.
68 mins – Tony Farquhar shot saved by Mackay.
71 mins – Goalscorer Ewan Dance off to be replaced by McKain.
75 mins – free kick conceded on the edge of the box by Gray who was losing the place and got threatened to be removed from the pitch by manager Duncan Gray. Resultant free kicks brilliantly tipped over the bar by Mackay from Lewis Ross effort.
76 mins – Murray run then played in Makhouli who’s shot was deflected past.
79 mins – Baker yellow carded.
84 mins – Nigel MacKenzie run on the left beating several players and cutting the ball back across goal and slammed into his own net by John Skinner.
Final score – Thurso 1 V Balintore 2
Fixtures for Saturday 3th of April :-
Morris Newton Cup Semi-Finals – Alness V Thurso and Balintore V Golspie plus Football Times Cup Second Round as Bunillidh Thistle take on Tain St.Duthus at Helmsdale.