Four-goal hero Conor gives Reid food for thought
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Thurso boss Stevie Reid admits he now has a selection headache following Conor Macintosh's four-goal salvo at the weekend.
The Vikings were in rampant form against a hapless Bonar Bridge side who had no answer to their hosts' firepower as Thurso won their Football Times Cup group match 6-1.
Macintosh netted four times with Thurso's other strikes coming from Lee Mackay and Cameron Montgomery. Bonar's consolation arrived via Ryan Newlands.
The plaudits rightly went to youngster Macintosh, who was called into the side as part of Reid's plan to blood the club's youth talent in the cup competitions.
However, such was Macintosh's performance, Reid knows he has a difficult decision to make ahead of this weekend's North Caledonian League fixture in Orkney.
Reid said: "Conor deserved his chance last week and he took it with a superb performance. He has been coming in to training regularly and works hard in the sessions we have.
"As a result, his fitness has improved and we felt he was ready to start against Bonar Bridge. He played very well and now I've a big call to make for the Orkney game – do I start him up front again or bring back in one of the regular strikers?
"Also playing well for us was Luke Manson who set up a couple of goals for Conor from full-back. Luke is one of those players you can play on either side of the park and he's a great player to have in the squad.
"We're playing at the all-weather pitch at Naver and once again I might have some injury worries for the weekend due to that surface.
"Conor was holding the base of his back at full-time but he should be okay. Conor Steven's knee puts him as doubtful. While I have Alan Munro fit again, as Orkney play on a plastic pitch themselves I might hold him back as to avoid an injury issues recurring."
As for when the Vikings can go back to their Dammies home that suffered some surface damage after a pitch repair job went awry a few weeks back, Reid is not sure.
He added: "The Dammies does look good on first glance but there is still some work needing to be done.
"We're hoping to do a bit of drainage that will help the surface recover but that's been a bit difficult with all the wet weather we've had of late.
"So with all that, I honestly couldn't tell you when we will be able to go back. We hope it will be soon."
Elsewhere in last weekend's round of Football Times Cup matches, Inverness Athletic had a surprise 3-1 win at Invergordon.
Aaron Christie had given the fancied hosts a half-time lead only for Athletic to hit back with goals from Phil MacDonald (2) and Taylor Sutherland.
St Duthus recovered from going a goal down to defeat Lewis and Harris 4-2.
Luke Mackay had given the islanders the lead before Ben Bruce and Liam Rostock put the North Caledonian League leaders ahead.
Archie MacDonald levelled for Lewis and Harris before two injury-time strikes from Dean Allison and Cammy Mackintosh sealed the win for St Duthus.
Fixtures
Saturday, December 14
North Caledonian League
Orkney v Thurso (kick-off 12.45pm)
Football Times Cup (all kick-offs 1pm)
Bonar Bridge v Bunillidh Thistle
Halkirk United v Golspie Sutherland
Inverness Athletic v St Duthus
Lewis and Harris v Invergordon
