Hard-fought draw gives Vikings a boost ahead of basement battle
Thurso manager Tom McKenna is urging his players to go out and enjoy their last two games of the North Caledonian League campaign after ending their long losing streak last weekend.
The Vikings had suffered 11 defeats in a row going into their encounter with Alness United at the Dammies. They emerged with a 1-1 draw and will be hoping to build on that when they meet bottom club Bunillidh Thistle this Saturday, also at home.
“It was a hard-fought draw,” McKenna said. “It was just a matter of players going out there, rolling up their sleeves and giving 100 per cent.
“They worked hard. Again we were missing a lot of players – we had to bring three players in on Friday night just to supplement the squad.
“We had to shuffle the pack and at times it was like square pegs in round holes. But it was an honest team effort from everyone.”
Andrew Brims put Thurso ahead seven minutes into the second half. He received a short corner, moved inside and knocked it into the far corner of the net via a slight deflection.
However, Alness grabbed an instant equaliser through Callum Coli.
McKenna said: “The only disappointing factor is when you go 1-0 ahead, for the next 15 or 20 minutes you just want to tighten up and try and frustrate them because you know you’re going to get a reaction from the opposition. We scored the goal and then conceded within 20 seconds.”
But he added: “The guys were playing in unfamiliar positions and you couldn’t ask any more from them.
“I said to the boys that before the game we’d have taken a point, so there’s a wee bit of satisfaction there. Hopefully it gives us a wee boost for this week’s game against Bunillidh, a bottom-of-the-table battle.
“It would be nice to get good numbers there and a solid team to go out there and perform for the club. It’s our last home game of the season, so it would be nice to finish off on a high at home.
“I said to the players, come on lads, we’ve got two games left – let’s just go and enjoy it.”
Thurso will be keen to avenge their 2-0 defeat to Bunillidh in Helmsdale in November.
McKenna says he and the committee will need to take stock of the club’s position once the season is over.
“For me it has probably been the most frustrating time of my coaching career,” he admitted. “I’ve found it very time-consuming trying to get players in, week in, week out, so it has been a challenge.
“I knew it was going to be difficult as soon as I accepted the role but I didn’t think it was going to be as challenging as it has been.
“As a club, I think the best thing they can do is sit down and I can express my thoughts, my opinions and my experiences this year, and hopefully the club can go forward in a positive manner.
“I don’t think the club can function in the manner in which they have done this year. It has been a difficult time.”
McKenna will again be managing Castletown in Division One of the Caithness AFA summer league as well as being head coach of Caithness Ladies in the SWF Highlands and Islands League. He will also be in charge of the Caithness AFA select for inter-county matches.
North Caledonian League results: Clachnacuddin “A” 3, Bunillidh Thistle 2; Inverness Athletic 2, Halkirk United 0; Orkney 1, Invergordon 6; St Duthus 2, Golspie Sutherland 1; Thurso 1, Alness United 1.
Fixtures: Saturday, March 15 – North Caledonian League: Bonar Bridge v Orkney; Invergordon v Clachnacuddin “A”; Thurso v Bunillidh Thistle (2pm).
North Caledonian Cup, quarter-finals: Halkirk United v Alness United (2pm); Inverness Athletic v Fort William.
