Gutsy fightback fails to deliver for Vikings
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MUIR OF ORD ROVERS 2 - 0 THURSO
THE Vikings’ North Caley season continues to be hamstrung by a lack of firepower.
Saturday’s defeat at Muir was the fifth time in eight outings they failed to find the net.
Having succumbed to three defeats in an eight-team league, Thurso will now need something of a major turnaround if they are to feature in the title race.
Muir, on the other hand, are targeting a back-to-back Caithness double – a win at Halkirk tomorrow would put them top of the table.
The home side had a rake of chances to put Saturday’s tie to bed before the interval. Trailing by just one, Thurso staged a gutsy fightback and had their hosts hanging on to their lead for much of the second half. Twice, they were a hair’s-breadth away from equalising before Muir secured victory with a second six minutes from time.
The visiting defence were worked hard as Muir pressed for an early opening. Thurso keeper Asa Sinclair featured with a string of saves and blocks to keep his side on terms.
Ewan Dance and Eddie Fuller both went close several times but the home fans had to wait until 11 minutes from half-time for the breakthrough.
Fuller’s corner was helped on by Dance to allow Ewan Fraser to score from close range.
After reaching the break without further damage, Thurso regrouped and went on to turn the tables with a spirited comeback.
They dominated possession for long spells and came desperately close to pulling level either side of the hour mark.
First, youngster Ryan Begg’s 25 yarder came off the face of the crossbar and then centre-back John Smith’s close-range header produced a reaction stop from keeper Robert Rose.
Andrew Cumming and Greg Shearer were regularly causing danger down the flanks and only last-ditch interventions prevented visiting striker Mark Nichol converting several of their crosses.
The Muir goal remained unbreached before they grabbed their killer second late on. Alan Fraser was the architect with his pass allowing Fuller to run through and forge past two defenders before planting a firm shot from an acute angle past Sinclair.
Ross Sutherland, who was standing in for unavailable Thurso boss Stevie Reid, believed the Vikings were unlucky to emerge with nothing.
He said: “It was fairly even for the first 15 minutes but then we totally drifted out of the game.
“We were lucky it was just 1-0 at half-time but we then changed things around a bit and we got right back into it. We went very close a few times but we just didn’t get the rub of the green and the second goal killed it.”
John O’Groats teenager Marc MacGregor made an encouraging debut for the Vikings when he came off the bench to play up front.
Thurso: Sinclair, Cumming, Smith, Innes, Stewart, G. MacGregor, Shearer (Wann 60), Begg (M. MacGregor 72), Ross (Harrold 85), Nichol, Petrie.
Referee: J. Nicolson.
