Macgregor and Murray set to boost Thurso attacking options in basement battle
Thurso's attacking options are set to be boosted with Marc Macgregor and James Murray likely to return to the squad for Saturday's North Caledonian League basement battle against Bonar Bridge.
The Sutherland outfit are four points ahead of the Vikings going into the match at the Dammies, with Thurso having three games in hand.
Thurso's points tally was cut to nine when they were punished for fielding an ineligible player in their recent 3-0 home win against Nairn County "A". The Vikings were unable to make up ground last Saturday as they conceded two late goals in a 3-1 defeat to St Duthus.
Thurso were 5-1 winners over Bonar when the teams met in a North Caledonian Cup tie at Dornoch in early February.
“I've seen them once but they may have a lot of boys to come in, so this could be a different outfit coming up here on Saturday," Thurso manager Michael Bremner said.
“But we feel confident. Marc Macgregor is going to give it a go this week, so that is going to make a big difference for us.
"James Murray is back – he has been away in Aberdeen on a course for two weeks. He played well against Invergordon [on March 5] and we haven't had him since, so it gives us more options up front. We hope that will help us.”
Asked whether he viewed it as a winnable game, Bremner replied: “I hate to say it but they're maybe thinking the same about us because we're sitting bottom of the league."
Thurso were level with St Duthus going into the last eight minutes at Grant Park after James McLean scored in the 65th minute to cancel out an opener by Will Ross midway through the first half. However, Jake Lockett's late double secured the three points for the Tain side.
“We did well to get back into it," Bremner said.
“It was an even kind of game. We didn't create that many chances but neither did they.
“They scored in the first half from a corner. In the second half we were dominating for long enough and we managed to get the equaliser.
“I thought it looked like us that would go on and get a winner. But in the last 10 minutes we lost a silly goal, and their third goal came in the last minute when we were pushing up and we only had two at the back.”
Disruption to team selection has been a source of frustration for Bremner since he took over earlier in the season but he and co-manager Scott Davidson are getting closer to a settled line-up.
Bremner pointed out: “Probably the last time we managed to have most of our squad together was the Football Times Cup final in November.
“Hopefully next year will be a better season. We've still got five games to go this season so we'll push on and hopefully end it on a winning run.”
North Caledonian League results – Saturday: Golspie 1, Orkney 0; Halkirk United 3, Inverness Athletic 1; Nairn County “A” 0, Invergordon 1; St Duthus 3, Thurso 1. Wednesday: Golspie 2, Halkirk United 0.
Fixtures – Saturday, March 26: Alness United v Orkney (12.45pm); Invergordon v Halkirk United (2pm); St Duthus v Loch Ness (2pm); Thurso v Bonar Bridge (2pm).
Wednesday, March 30: Thurso v Golspie (8pm).