Bremner wants a settled squad – and another crack at silverware
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Thurso manager Michael Bremner is optimistic that home advantage in most of their games, allied to the return of some influential players, will help the Vikings climb up the North Caledonian League table after the turn of the year.
He is also eyeing the possibility of another good run in a knockout competition following Thurso's triumph in the Football Times Cup final last month.
Bremner replaced Stevie Reid in early November and since then the Vikings have had a run of away days, culminating in last Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Orkney which left them in second-bottom place.
“Every game has been away apart from the cup final in Wick," Bremner said. “Trying to get everything organised is just a nightmare when you're playing away the whole time."
Most of the Vikings' remaining league fixtures will be at home.
“Hopefully we'll get a settled squad after New Year and we'll manage to kick on," Bremner said. “I'd like to think that with a lot of home games we should pick up a lot of points.
"Obviously we'll have to see how the games turn out. But that's our aim, to get higher up the table, and go for another cup as well.”
Thurso are away to Bonar Bridge in the first round of the North Caledonian Cup on Saturday, January 29.
Bremner said: “If we beat Bonar away we're at home to Nairn. It's not a bad-looking run so hopefully we can push on in that too, if we can get everyone back.”
He is awaiting the return of Cameron Montgomery, who was advised after the cup final to take 10 weeks off because of a groin problem.
“He was told to give it a break and we've missed him," Bremner said. "He has pace going forward and is a good ball-carrier – he gives you a bit of a breather every now and then too.”
The manager is also looking forward to having Innes Mackintosh and Marc Macgregor back to fitness.
Manager Michael Bremner was left frustrated by Thurso's 3-1 defeat in Orkney at the weekend as he felt the Vikings were the better side for most of the match.
The result in Kirkwall means Thurso go into the festive break in second-bottom place in the North Caledonian League – albeit they have played fewer fixtures than any other team, with three wins and seven defeats from their 10 games so far.
Toby Macleod took advantage of a misjudgement by Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair to put the islanders ahead just after the half-hour mark and Liam Delday doubled their lead eight minutes into the second period. Jack McKechnie reduced the deficit on 58 minutes but Aiden Drever sealed all three points for Orkney in stoppage time.
“It was a really good game and I was kind of frustrated that we got beaten," Bremner said.
“I know the result doesn't look great but I thought we were the better team for most of the game, without creating too many chances.
“Their first goal was a goalkeeping mistake. Asa came running out and got his kick wrong and the boy was left with an open goal.
“In the second half we started off really well again. We thought their second goal was offside, but you don't get those decisions over there.
“Their third goal was in injury time when we were trying to push for an equaliser.
“Even the linesman came up to me at the end and said 'you were unlucky, you were the better team'. We're just not creating enough chances.”
Bremner acknowledged the quality of the Orkney squad and picked out Delday in particular. The forward also scored twice in the islanders' 4-0 win at the Dammies in October before Bremner replaced Stevie Reid as Thurso boss.
“They're a good team – they've got a few cracking players,” Bremner said. “I think if Liam Delday lived on the mainland he'd be playing at a higher level.
“He was up against Allan Munro, who has played in the North Caley for ages, and he said that was the hardest player he'd ever had to mark. He couldn't get to grips with him at all.”
Bottom club Inverness Athletic picked up a point in a 1-1 draw with Alness United on Saturday. Both goals came in the final six minutes, with Athletic breaking the deadlock through Craig Morrison before Andy Maclean levelled for the Easter Ross side.
Athletic are now four points behind Thurso, although the Vikings have played three games fewer.
In the Sutherland derby, champions Golspie came from behind to defeat Bonar Bridge 3-1 at Migdale.
Adam Mackay gave Bonar a first-minute lead only for Miller Mackay to equalise on 37 minutes. Top scorer Liam Bremner put Golspie in front from the penalty spot on the hour mark, and Shaun Urquhart completed the scoring nine minutes later.
The North Caledonian League is due to resume on Saturday, January 8.
