Match report – Thurso F.C 3 V Invergordon 2 – Saturday 13th September 2003

Thurso line-up – MaGee, Gray, Farmer, A.Sutherland, R.Sutherland (Coghill 81), Bremner, N.MacKenzie, Inrig (Green 86), Murray, J.MacKenzie, MacDougall (Chessor 86).

Invergordon Line-up - Campbell, Sinclair, Wilson, Mackay, Duncanson, Morrison, Ogilvie, MacDonald, Scobbie, Dunwoodie, Ross. Subs Used – Whitelaw and Martin. Unused – Cooper.

On a bright sunny day with a strong breeze blowing down the pitch towards The Orkney Islands, this was always going to be a difficult game for both clubs. Thurso made some changes to the squad from last week's 3-0 away win in Dornoch with striker Alan Murray, young Wick Thistle goalkeeper Kevin MaGee and Gavin Chessor coming in with Brian Mackay having to play in goals for Bettyhill, Mark Makhouli away back to Uni and Martin Rutherford.

In the opening minutes both teams were having problems coping with the wind. Thurso kicking with the wind were over-shooting passes to the front players and Invergordon having difficulty clearing their lines.

After 2 minutes Alan Murray made a run down the left and crossed to Jamie MacKenzie but The Invergordon defender beat him to the ball and it went out for a throw. In the next 5 minutes both teams were toiling with the wind with Thurso forcing 2 corners in succession but bearing no fruit. After 7 minutes Lee MacDougall swung in a brilliant cross to the far post but it was just too high for two Thurso forwards as the wind played a part in proceedings once again.

After 10 minutes Invergordon took their first steps in an attacking sense when Keith Dunwoodie tested young Thurso keeper Kevin MaGee who saved well down to his right, then the resultant corner was cleared under great pressure.

Then after 14 minutes Thurso missed one of the easiest chances you will ever see after Nigel MacKenzie beat several players down the left and crossed for Lee MacDougall at the back post who headed again the upright from a few yards out. The same player then tried to make amends for his miss when he lashed the ball from 35 yards over the cross bar.

Then a three-man move between Nigel and Jamie MacKenzie saw Alan Murray shoot straight at the keeper.

Invergordon responded with a shot from Scobbie over MaGee's cross bar, then a free kick on the edge of the box collected by MaGee, who was playing very well in his Thurso debut. After seven minutes of scrappy football Thurso forced two corners which were collected by keeper Stewart Campbell, then Nigel set up brother Jamie from about 5 yards, who lost control of the ball and the chance was gone.

Thurso were to pay for the series of missed chances in the thirtieth minute when Invergordon broke dangerously in the box on the right and the ball was fired cross the 6 yard box to Keith Dunwoodie who couldn't miss as he swept the ball beyond MaGee to open the scoring.

Three minutes later MacDonald got a yellow card for a crude challenge on Inrig. Inrig then made an attacking run on the right and drove in a dangerous cross at the back post to Murray whose header was saved a point blank range by Campbell. The resultant corner was collected by Campbell and Thurso were scratching their heads wondering if they were ever going to beat The Invergordon keeper.

On the 37th minute Wilson was booked for a bad tackle on the edge of the box on Jamie MacKenzie and the free kick went over the bar from Gavin Bremner. Then with two minutes to half time Lee MacDougall shot wide of the goal from 25 yards. This was the last action on the half as Invergordon went into the break with a one-goal lead.

Half-time – Thurso 0 V Invergordon 1

With Manager Duncan Gray's comments fresh in their minds, Thurso came out in the second half a different team and after 2 minutes were level in the match when a throw-in from the left was headed across the goal by Jamie MacKenzie to Alan Murray who dispatched the ball past Campbell from six yards.

With six minutes gone in the second half Thurso were to take the lead in the match for the first time when Murray was upended in the box by Sinclair, who was booked when a red card should have been more fitting, however Brian Gray stepped up to smash the penalty kick home for Thurso.

In 53 minutes Lee MacDougall drove in a free kick to Jamie MacKenzie, who headed across goal to Inrig, whose shot was saved at close range by Campbell.

Two minutes later a Lee MacDougall cross was missed at the back post by Alan Murray. Then the same player crossed the ball to Jamie MacKenzie two minutes later who headed wide of goal.

In the 62nd minute Inrig shot over the bar from distance then a minute later put a through ball to Murray who shot straight at the keeper from an acute angle.

Five minutes later Inrig had a header saved, as Thurso looked more threatening to try and put the match beyond Invergordon.

Then with 19 minutes remaining Thurso did eventually extend their lead as a Nigel MacKenzie cross ball was palmed on the line with Alan Sutherland in attendance to make sure the ball crossed the line.

A minute later Thurso almost went three goals ahead as Ross Sutherland had an effort deflected over the bar for a corner from 10 yards.

Invergordon almost got back into the game in the 75th minute as David Ogilvie tested MaGee but the young keeper was again up to the task with a good save. With nine minutes to go Ian Coghill replaced Ross Sutherland and four minutes later Morrison tested MaGee who saved the Invergordon midfielder's free kick.

With four minutes remaining Gavin Bremner tested the keeper Stewart Campbell from 30 yards who saved well to his left. Then Thurso made two changes with Green and Chessor replacing Inrig and MacDougall.

Then with two minutes remaining Invergordon pulled a goal back with Brian Scobbie scoring with an angled shot from the left, past MaGee into the far right hand corner of the net.

Thurso held out for the remaining minutes to secure the 3-2 win and maintain their place at the top of the league table.