Thurso Line-up J.Mackay, Boyd, Forbes, K.Warner, Gray, Bremner, N.MacKenzie (Farmer 86),
R.Sutherland (Coghill 68), J.MacKenzie, Cassidy (Beattie 79), MacDougall.
Balintore Line-up Shearer, Lowe, P.Skinner, J.Skinner (S.Warner 79), Calderwood (Wood 54),
S.Skinner, Fraser, McGruer, Dance, Farquhar, Ross (Hogg 78).
Ref W.Sinclair
It was Thursos third cup final at Broras Dudgeon Park and again Balintore were the opponents. Thurso were made to make numerous changes with Allan Sutherland, Alan Murray and Phil Makhouli all unavailable and Shaun Moar having problems with a recurring back injury, Jack Mackay replaced Brian Mackay in the nets. In came Russell Beattie, Hamish Boyd and Ryan Farmer coming in for rare appearances. The match started under very tricky conditions with a strong wind and rain blowing across the pitch.
2 mins Lee MacDougall shot saved, then Bremner hit a long-range drive just wide of Shearers left hand post.
5 mins Shearer punched clear a Bremner free kick under pressure.
12 mins Nigel MacKenzie free kick fell through to the back post to Gray who volleys a shot across the goal and was blocked by Skinner.
15 mins Powerful run down the left by Hamish Boyd, cut the ball back to Cassidy and blocked by Shearer as Thurso were turning the screw.
16 mins Lowe broke down the right and his dangerous low cross was cut out by Warner.
21 mins Fraser shot from the edge of the box, deflected on its way to goal by Dance, saved well by Jamie Mackay.
22 mins Cassidy dangerous run, cut out for a corner to Thurso.
23 mins Bremner corner from the left finds Jamie MacKenzie 10 yards out at the back post on the angle who unleashed a tremendous volley into the far corner of the net giving Shearer no chance to give Thurso the lead.
28 mins Thurso were taking advantage of the strong wind across the pitch pinning Balintore back with the Seaboard side only breaking forward on rare occasions. Ross Sutherland flighted in a free kick from the left and was headed just over by Boyd.
33 mins Balintore almost came up with an equaliser as a dangerous ball was played into the Thurso box, Calderwood headed across the goal only for Lowe to put his shot wide when it looked easier to score.
35 mins Balintore again looked threatening and were playing their best spell of the first half as Dance crossed from the right but the ball was cut out by Mackay with Lewis Ross waiting to pounce at the back post.
40 mins Balintore were to rue their missed opportunities as Thurso took a strong grip of the game and went two up as Cassidy was fouled on the edge of the box, Lee MacDougall blasted the free kick, only to be parried by Shearer and Ross Sutherland was at hand to poke the ball into the net.
45 mins Thurso then hit Balintore with a hammer blow just before half-time as Jamie MacKenzie picked the ball up on the left, cut inside, beat several Balintore players and unleashed a powerful low drive into Shearers bottom right hand corner to make it three-nil for Thurso.
Half-time Thurso 3 V Balintore 0
50 mins Lowe shot over the bar as Balintore started the second half brightly and looking to take advantage of the strong wind blowing across the pitch as Thurso did in the first half.
54 mins Wood replaced Calderwood for Balintore.
55 mins Ewan Dance headed just wide of the right hand post from a cross from the right.
57 mins Lee MacDougall shot blocked, Cassidy picked up the rebound and was brought down on the edge of the box for a free kick.
60 mins Balintore threw themselves a lifeline as Ewan Dance crossed from the left, Mackay looked to have control of the ball, however it squirmed free under a challenge and broke to Lowe who made no mistake hitting the ball in off the underside of the cross bar.
61 mins Balintore had their tails up now and Farquhar crossed from the left to Dance who missed the target from 10 yards at the back post.
63 mins Thurso came back into the game after the torrid start to the second half and Ross Sutherland got some space in midfield and strode forward and hit a shot over the bar from 20 yards.
64 mins Balintore clawed further back at Thursos lead as John Skinner played in a free kick 40 yards out on to the head of Tony Farquhar who looped a header past Mackay from 12 yards.
65 mins Ross Sutherland had another effort on goal from 18 yards but this time was saved by Shearer.
68 mins Thurso extended their lead bringing a collective sigh of relief from the Thurso dugout and travelling fans as Lee MacDougall broke free of a challenge on the left and made his way to bye line free and cut the ball back to Nigel MacKenzie who cracked the ball home from 6 yards and effectively quell the Balintore come back and retain the Morris Newton Cup for Thurso.
69 mins - Ian Coghill replaced Ross Sutherland for Thurso.
76 mins Ewan Dance free kick played in, took a slight deflection and well saved by Jack Mackay.
78 mins Hogg replaced Lewis Ross who limped off the field.
79 mins Russel Beattie replaced Luke Cassidy who had put in a good shift up front for Thurso and taken some heavy challenges from The Balintore defence.
80 mins S.Warner replaced John Skinner for Balintore.
82 mins Nigel MacKenzie sent through on the right, he made his way into the box and unselfishly squared to Beattie but the ball was scrambled clear.
84 mins Coghill picked up the ball on the edge of the box and his curling effort just creeped past the left hand post of Shearer.
86 mins Ryan Farmer replaced Nigel MacKenzie.
Full-time Thurso 4 V Balintore 2
Thurso win their second trophy of the season in their third cup final and it is now down to Thurso completing their three remaining fixtures at home to Alness United, then followed by two away trips to Golspie and Helmsdale, hopefully unbeaten in those remaining matches.
Other scores on the day saw Caithness neighbours Halkirk United progress into the Final of The Football Times Cup with a 3-1 win at home to Tain St.Duthus and Golspie Sutherland take another step to securing the league title with a 3-0 win away in Alness.