Damage done in first half as Vikings are thumped by Golspie
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MANAGER Stevie Reid admitted last weekend's thumping at Golspie Sutherland was like watching "two different Thursos".
While the second half of their North Caledonian League clash showed Reid's Vikings to be their usual competitive selves, it was all too late to salvage anything from the damage done before half-time.
Thurso took the lead in five minutes thanks to a Grant Budge own goal before the floor caved in underneath them.
By the half-hour mark, goals from Golspie's Adam Sutherland, Conor Cormack and Ally Macleod had put the home side 3-1 up.
Despite Thurso grabbing one back via another own goal – this time from Owen Harrold – two further strikes before the interval from Macleod and Sandy Sutherland (penalty) gave Golspie a 5-2 lead, which was the final outcome.
Of the Jekyll and Hyde performance, Reid said: "That first half was very strange, and not very pleasing at all.
"It was like I was watching a different team to the one that had won every single game they've played in this season before this one.
There was no way I could give anyone pass marks for that.
"They were off the pace. Every single goal that Golspie scored was easily preventable and the boys were very lackadaisical.
"We were not happy with them come half-time, I can tell you. There was no way I could give anyone pass marks for that.
"Then in the second half we were back to our old selves. We were much improved and that was as good a half as I've seen us play.
"You could say that Golspie's 5-2 cushion was enough for them to sit back on, but they're not that kind of team.
"Golspie were wanting to put us to the sword after half-time and they were arguing among themselves when it became clear we were not going to let them do that."
Thurso will get an instant chance of revenge when Golspie travel up the A9 to face the Vikings in the Football Times Cup.
There is the slight possibility of Thurso returning to their pitch-damaged Dammies home.
Reid added: "It's a slim chance – around one per cent, if I'm honest – that this game could see us return to the Dammies.
"However, we'll have a look at it the day before the game. We've already booked the all-weather pitch at Naver so I'm 99 per cent sure that will be our 'home ground' for this one."
Elsewhere in the North Caledonian League, St Duthus preserved their grip at the top with a 12-0 hammering of bottom side Bonar Bridge.
Five goals from Finn As-Chainey led the way with other strikes coming via Cammy Mackintosh (2), Stefan McRitchie, Liam Rostock, Jon Campbell, Adam Allan and Finlay Macleod.
Inverness Athletic came away from Bunillidh Thistle with a 6-0 win thanks to Dean Allison (2), Phil MacDonald (2), Dominck Edwards and a Gary Mackenzie own goal.
Fixtures
Saturday, November 23
The Football Times Cup
(All kick-offs 1pm unless stated otherwise)
Bonar Bridge v Halkirk United
Invergordon v St Duthus
Inverness Athletic v Lewis and Harris
Thurso v Golspie Sutherland
North Caledonian League
Orkney v Bunillidh Thistle (12.45pm)
