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Thurso manager Reid happy to snap up Macgregor on loan from Wick





Marc Macgregor beats Orkney's Kern Duncan to score the equaliser for Thurso. Picture: James Gunn
Marc Macgregor beats Orkney's Kern Duncan to score the equaliser for Thurso. Picture: James Gunn

Thurso manager Steve Reid has revealed how he leapt at the chance to take Marc Macgregor on loan from Wick Academy.

The 25-year-old striker, who has had a long spell out through injury, joined Reid's squad ahead of their North Caledonian League match at home to Orkney last weekend and scored the Vikings' first goal as they came from behind to win 3-1.

“Marc played for Thurso originally when he was a young lad and went on to do really well with Academy," Reid said. "We had a general chit-chat and it just progressed.

"He doesn't have the time just now to commit to Highland League so the option was there for him, if he wanted it, to come to Thurso as obviously there's way less travel.

“It all came together and I got a phone call from Gary Manson [Academy manager] asking if we would be interested – and I don't think he even finished the sentence because I know how good a player Marc is, and he is such a nice lad.

“You can see what he brings to us from the difference he made on Saturday alone. He is a very good player.”

Thurso's Bobby Gunn stretches for the ball against Connan Rendall of Orkney. Picture: James Gunn
Thurso's Bobby Gunn stretches for the ball against Connan Rendall of Orkney. Picture: James Gunn

The islanders opened the scoring through Owen Young in Saturday's Division One clash at Naver but Macgregor equalised just before the break and Thurso secured all three points with further goals from Grant Aitkenhead and Bobby Gunn in the closing quarter of an hour.

“We were aware of the bounce-back Orkney could have after their previous visit over [a 1-0 defeat at Halkirk] and they had a few boys back, so that made it even more pleasing for us," Reid said.

"Marc was unlucky not to score earlier. He smashed one from more than 20 yards off the crossbar – I thought it was in all the way. Then, after a good bit of football, he chipped it over the keeper to make it one each.

"We were a bit slow in starting but again the second-half performance was excellent."

Reid is pleased to have added more firepower to his squad in recent weeks.

"We're lucky now compared to the start of the season," the manager said. "With the long-term injury to James Murray we never really had a natural centre forward as such, so now we're blessed with three – we've got Marc and Bobby and Martin Banks in there as well."

The Vikings travel to face league leaders Invergordon this Saturday.

"Gary Campbell has got a good team," Reid said. "They've had a fairly settled team for the past two or three years. I haven't seen them at all this year so far but I know they're a good side full of good players that can hurt you if you switch off."

Thurso's Benn Murray wins a header against Robbie Scott. Picture: James Gunn
Thurso's Benn Murray wins a header against Robbie Scott. Picture: James Gunn

With the division proving to be so tight, Reid says he can't help dwelling on Thurso's recent draw with St Duthus in Tain after the Vikings were 2-0 up going into the final 20 minutes.

"The Tain result was a bad one for us, the more I think about it – it could come back to haunt us near the end of the season," he said. "We should have closed that game out and you can't help but think in the back of your mind will those dropped points come back into play?

"We would have been sitting in joint second place now."

But he added: “Every week is getting better just now. Scott Davidson and Tom McKenna are helping out as well. Scott has taken a lot of the workload off me. He is young and really enthusiastic about it. Tom will see things that maybe we're not – a couple of things he suggested on Saturday worked out perfectly.

“It's all looking good for the club and hopefully that continues. I can't fault any of the players."

North Caledonian League fixtures: Friday – Division Two: Loch Ness v Alness United.

Saturday – Division One: Golspie Sutherland v Halkirk United; Invergordon v Thurso; Orkney v St Duthus. Division Two: Nairn County v Inverness Athletic; Scourie v Bonar Bridge.


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