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It’s hard, admits McKenna as Thurso slump to sixth defeat in a row





Greg MacKay sweeps a shot into the net but it was ruled out due to a foul on the Bonar goalkeeper. Picture: James Gunn
Greg MacKay sweeps a shot into the net but it was ruled out due to a foul on the Bonar goalkeeper. Picture: James Gunn

Manager Tom McKenna is doing his best to keep up morale after watching his Thurso team slump to a sixth successive defeat in all competitions.

“There’s a good core of guys in there,” he said. “But when you’re having to chase players and can’t get a settled team, it’s hard.”

Since starting the season with an away victory over Clachnacuddin “A”, the Vikings have lost five times in the North Caledonian League and once in the Football Times Cup.

During that losing run they’ve scored only two goals and conceded 28.

The latest setback came on Saturday when they were beaten 3-0 at the Dammies by Bonar Bridge, a result that leaves Thurso third from bottom in the 12-team division.

“It’s hard. You’re just getting battered week in, week out,” McKenna said.

“As a coach you try to be as positive as you can be, you try not to let it show, but it’s really disappointing.

“I would never fault anybody’s effort or honesty. They’re giving up their time, they’re out there trying their best, and sometimes it’s just a lack of quality in the relevant areas of the park.”

Thurso defender Andrew Hardwick in an aerial battle with Bonar Bridge striker Jordan Shaw. Picture: James Gunn
Thurso defender Andrew Hardwick in an aerial battle with Bonar Bridge striker Jordan Shaw. Picture: James Gunn

Shaun Marshall opened the scoring after 35 minutes with a brilliant finish that flew in off the underside of the bar.

The Vikings thought they had equalised just before half-time when an attack culminated with Greg Mackay sweeping the ball into the net. However, it was ruled out for a foul on the Bonar keeper.

Bonar doubled their lead on 57 minutes when Thurso keeper Ben Sutherland misjudged a pass-back, leaving an easy task for Jordan Shaw to knock it into the net.

Shaw broke through to add his second of the afternoon with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Thurso hit the post and bar but could find no way through.

McKenna said: “I thought in the first half we dominated possession from the defensive third to the middle third but we just lacked that experience and quality in the final third.

Connor Macleod lets fly with a shot that smacked off a post. Picture: James Gunn
Connor Macleod lets fly with a shot that smacked off a post. Picture: James Gunn

“For all the domination we’ve not got anything to show for it. We came in at half-time 1-0 down – it was a good strike by their lad. We didn’t defend that situation as well as we could have.

“We just didn’t have the quality in the final third. The two great balls we got across, there was no-one really there to get on the end of it and it would have been two tap-ins.

“Our forward-thinking players were too deep, wanting to try and influence the game from a deeper position. By the time it goes up front, the runs they’ve got to make are a lot longer to get into the box.”

Bonar gained confidence after the second goal, McKenna felt.

“The third was just a long kick down the park, we’ve not been able to deal with it, allowed it to bounce and the striker came in and had an open goal.

“In the second half we allowed it to become scrappy, which suited them.

“In the first half we were getting the ball down, there was a fluency about us, we were keeping possession well. In the second half it was just desperation, frustration.

“It’s really difficult. We’ve only scored four goals [this season] and conceded so many.”

Thurso have a difficult-looking task ahead of them on Saturday against champions Invergordon at home.

Thurso's Andrew Brims battles for the ball against Bonar Bridge. Picture: James Gunn
Thurso's Andrew Brims battles for the ball against Bonar Bridge. Picture: James Gunn

Invergordon had a runaway 11-0 victory over Bunillidh Thistle in Saturday’s Football Times Cup quarter-finals. Calum Brown led the way with four goals for the Easter Ross side.

Ex-Thurso striker James Murray scored a second-half double to give Golspie a 2-0 home victory over St Duthus, while Alness United and Inverness Athletic also progressed to the last four.

Results – North Caledonian League: Orkney 0, Halkirk United 3; Thurso 0, Bonar Bridge 3.

Football Times Cup, quarter-finals: Alness United 4, Clachnacuddin “A” 2; Bunillidh Thistle 0, Invergordon 11; Golspie Sutherland 2, St Duthus 0; Inverness Athletic 4, Fort William 3.

Fixtures for Saturday, October 5 – North Caledonian League: Bunillidh Thistle v Clachnacuddin “A”; Fort William v Orkney; Golspie Sutherland v Bonar Bridge; Halkirk United v Alness United (2pm); St Duthus v Inverness Athletic; Thurso v Invergordon (2pm).

Thurso's Kian MacKay is felled by Ryan Hamilton of Bonar Bridge. Picture: James Gunn
Thurso's Kian MacKay is felled by Ryan Hamilton of Bonar Bridge. Picture: James Gunn

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