Bremner bemoans player absences following cup exit
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Thurso manager Michael Bremner believes selection problems due to player availability have been the main cause of a poor start to his side's North Caledonian League season.
On Saturday, the Vikings dropped out of the Football Times Cup in a 3–1 defeat at home to St Duthus, recording a third consecutive loss.
Speaking after the match, Bremner also took aim at his side's lack of a cutting edge in front of goal.
He said: "I thought we started the game well. During the first half, we played some of the best football I have seen from us this season but we were lacking in forward areas and missed that final pass or shot.
"I was disappointed in the goals we conceded with individual mistakes being punished. The second half I felt was pretty even. We pushed on without creating anything while St Duthus had a few opportunities to extend their lead.
"Apart from the Nairn game and the second half against Halkirk, we haven’t played well at all in the last three games and got what we deserved. We started to see good signs in the first half today that hopefully we can carry in to next week's game and push on.
"Selection does remain a big issue at the start of the season. I’ve no doubt if we can get our strongest eleven out, we can match most teams in the league – but each week we’re missing five or six and that’s what’s hurting us."
Thurso broke the deadlock on 12 minutes after some persistent play from midfielder Grant Aitkenhead. The move, which started with an Aitkenhead free kick on the far side ended with the same player playing a pinpoint cross for a leaping James McLean to nod beyond Godding in the Saints nets.
But the Vikings' lead lasted just sixty seconds. From the restart, St Duthus won a free kick on the byline and from the resultant kick, MacRitchie found Will Ross inside the six yard box for the simplest of headed goals.
The home side held their determination though, and chances followed with James Murray heading just over the bar and Aaron Wilson calling Godding into action with a low drive.
Thurso's best chance of the half fell to Aitkenhead on 20 minutes, who forced Godding to tip a net bound shot just over the crossbar.
A stroke of misfortune handed St Duthus the lead fifteen minutes later, when an As-Chainey cross was diverted over the line by Allan Munro, caught unawares inside the six yard box as the ball cannoned off his midriff.
Just eight minutes later, the Tain side extended their lead with a clever finish from Bradi Hulme, who cut inside and found the far corner with a curled effort that just evaded the head of Robert McLean.
Referee Liam Bremner cautioned Murray on 44 minutes for an apparent kick out at Tain's Jamie Skinner, with the visitors appealing for a harsher punishment.
Chances in the second period were limited as the visitors held their advantage and restricted Thurso to opportunities from distance.
A neat one-two between Murray and McLean presented the former with Thurso's best chance on the hour mark, but the striker steered the ball over the bar from 15 yards.
As time ran out on the game, a long ball from Owen Harrold caused the St Duthus defence some problems with James McLean in close proximity but the visiting keeper did well to recover and gather the ball.
Thurso: Bain, Munro, Harrold, R McLean, J McLean, Hardwick, McKechnie (Hale 67), Manson, Murray (Shepherd 67), Wilson (Campbell 80), Aitkenhead (Alexander 80)
In the other Football Times cup quarter final matches this past weekend, Golspie Sutherland succumbed to a second half rout from Clachnacuddin reserves to lose 3–0, while Loch Ness put six past Nairn County's second string. At Invergordon, the home side advanced to the semi-final with a 3-0 win over Bonar Bridge.
In the only league match of the afternoon, Fort William ran out 5–1 winners against Orkney on even ground at Alness for their "home" meeting between the two distanced sides.
