Match report – Thurso F.C 6 V Dornoch 0 – MSIS North
Caledonian League - Saturday 6th December 2003 – 1.30 k.o
Dornoch Line-up – Morrison, Beaton, R.MacLean, Kennedy, Anderson, Redmond, S.MacLean, Walls, MacBean, A.Geegan, Burry. Subs Used – MacKinnon and Corrigan (both 72nd minute)
It was a bright chilly day at The Dammies for this re-arranged North Caledonian League fixture. Thurso manager Duncan Gray rung the changes again after last week’s disappointing defeat against Golspie with keeper Alan Bokas, Jamie MacKenzie, Martin Baker and Lee MacDougall unavailable with Keiss keeper James Richards, Alan Sutherland returning to the back four, Phil Makhouli and Brian Gray returning also from injury problems. Thurso started with a back four of Warner, Moar, Morris and A.Sutherland a midfield of Nigel MacKenzie, Bremner, Inrig and R.Sutherland, with Cassidy and Murray up front.
It was Thurso who started brightly and Nigel MacKenzie make some good runs down the left wing causing the Dornoch defence some problems. The first real chance of the game came for the visitors as Geegan shot from 20 yards over the bar. A minute later this spurred Thurso into action as Alan Sutherland had a header from a Bremner corner well saved by Morrison and the rebound from Murray blocked for a corner.
After 12 minutes a Nigel MacKenzie cross to Inrig was well cut out by Morrison, then 5 minutes later Inrig had a shot saved by the keeper.
By the 22nd minute, the game had now lulled into a series of disjointed play for both sides struggling to put two or three passes together, however Thurso’s offside trap was working well catching Dornoch offside on several occasions.
A minute later Nigel MacKenzie tried to bring Thurso out of this bad spell as he had a dangerous run and cross cleared from under the cross bar by a Dornoch defender, but the resultant corner was cleared. Then in the 26th minute Burry found space in the Thurso box and was thwarted by an excellent blocking save by Richards in the nets for Thurso.
Then in the 27th minute Ross Sutherland almost brought Thurso the lead as he was put through on Morrison and prodded at the ball, which was blocked by the advancing keeper. The game was now going end to end and in the 28th minute Burry shot from the edge of the box but his effort went wide of the target. In the 32nd minute Alan Murray had his first real sight of goal as he advanced into the right hand side of the Dornoch area but Morrison saved his angled effort.
The game then went into a lull for another 10 minutes with both teams struggling to get any decent spell of pressure, then in the 42nd minute Thurso took the lead when Nigel MacKenzie made a mazy run down the left and played the ball in field to Gavin Bremner who’s powerful low drive found the bottom corner.
Then right on half-time Thurso took a flattering two-goal cushion into the interval when Alan Sutherland headed home from an inswinging Nigel MacKenzie corner.
Half-time – Thurso 2 v Dornoch 0
Thurso started strongly in the second half determined to put behind them their disjointed first half and almost extended their lead when Cassidy turned on the edge of the box, shot from an angel which was parried by Morrison, the rebound picked up by Murray who found Morris, now playing up front who turned and hit a powerful drive, which Morrison finger tipped over the bar for a corner.
Thurso were making regular inroads into the Dornoch box and it took until the 56th minute before they extended their lead when Alan Murray picked the ball up on the left channel, cut inside and hit a powerful drive past Morrison into the corner of the net.
Then in the 62nd minute Nigel MacKenzie got the goal he deserved when instead of providing for a Thurso goal he scored the goal of the game. He was brought down 20 yards out and got up to curl a beauty, in off the right hand post past a stranded Morrison. Then Philip Makhouli took a place up front as he replaced Kevin Morris.
A minute later Nigel MacKenzie almost doubled his tally when he was set clear through on goal, then slotted the ball past Morrison but hit the left hand post then into the grateful arms of the hard pushed Morrison.
Thurso were now attacking at will with The Dornoch rearguard having major problems coping with the pace of Cassidy, Murray and MacKenzie and after a flick on Murray was through on goal and then shot straight at Morrison from 8 yards. A minute later Cassidy flicked on to Murray who went too wide and failed to cut back to Cassidy in the middle waiting to tap the ball in unmarked.
With 19 minutes to go Thurso went five up when Phil Makhouli latched onto a through ball to slot the ball past Morrison from 12 yards. A minute later Dornoch tried to get a consolation as Geegan had an effort saved by Richards. Then MacKinnon and Corrigan came on for Dornoch. A minute later Makhouli almost scored again but he was again thwarted by Morrison who had saved Dornoch on the day from losing by double figures.
With 15 minutes to go Nigel MacKenzie was sent through in an identical position as he was some ten minutes earlier but this time he made no mistake as he placed the ball past Morrison from 6 yards.
A minute later young Caithness United product Graham Angus replaced Alan Murray and Brian Gray making his comeback replaced Kevin Warner.
The game petered out as the sun set behind Safeway’s and the temperature dropped markedly and the only real effort of note was from Geegan who shot well over from 18 yards.
Final score – Thurso 6 V Dornoch 0