Reid reflects on three draws that could prove costly for Thurso
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Thurso manager Stevie Reid will look back on three costly draws if, as seems likely, the Vikings miss out on the North Caledonian League title.
Reid has been pleased with his team's performances in the three games since the league resumed last month. But back-to-back draws in their latest two outings have left Thurso well adrift of Division One leaders Golspie.
Had the Vikings taken maximum points from those fixtures against Orkney (2-2) and St Duthus (1-1) they would have been level with the Sutherland side at the top of the table going into Saturday's match against Invergordon at the Dammies.
There is also a lingering sense of frustration over the away draw with St Duthus in November when Thurso surrendered a two-goal lead in the closing 20 minutes.
The Vikings are fourth in the table, four points behind Golspie with both sides having two games left. Thurso have still to play second-placed Invergordon twice, while Golspie have a double header of their own against bottom side Orkney.
“The last two games have been disappointing, drawing them, knowing that we'd be equal with Golspie going into this game on Saturday if we had got maximum points," Reid said. "But these are fine lines.
“In the first game at Tain [in November] we were two up and I always thought that draw would come back to haunt us at some point, and there you go. Those three draws themselves are just massive."
Reid and his coaching staff will therefore feel that a win is overdue on Saturday.
Invergordon are three points better off than Thurso, having played the same number of games, but Golspie have a crucial advantage and will be champions if they collect maximum points in their two fixtures against an Orkney side who haven't won a game all season.
Third-placed St Duthus completed their fixtures with their trip to Thurso last weekend.
Reid said: “It may not be happening for us in the final third at the moment but that will come.
“The pleasing thing is the way they are playing football just now. We got a lot of plaudits for the way we played on Saturday so that's encouraging, that's good to see.
“We want them to believe in themselves and play with a bit of freedom, not be rigid in what they're doing, and just go and enjoy it.
“The goals will come, I'm sure they will. We'll see what happens on Saturday. Games against Invergordon are always really hard and I'm definitely not expecting anything different.”
Full results and tables can be seen here.
Related stories:
- We should have picked up six points instead of two, says Reid as Thurso are held again
- Halkirk United manager delighted with his young squad after victory in Orkney
