Thurso will regroup for cup quarter-final against Nairn after midweek derby defeat
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Thurso manager Michael Bremner says his squad will look to regroup for Saturday's North Caledonian Cup quarter-final against Nairn County "A" after losing out in the midweek league derby in Halkirk.
The Vikings went into Tuesday's game at Morrison Park looking to build on their convincing victory over Bonar Bridge in the first round of the cup at the weekend, but their faltering league form continued with a 4-1 loss to their local rivals.
Thurso are doing better in the knockout tournaments this term, having already won the Football Times Cup.
Andy Mackay's early strike set the Anglers on their way, and further goals by Jonah Martens and James Mackintosh left the Vikings with plenty to analyse during the half-time break.
“We just had a chat and we asked, 'How are we so far out of this?' It wasn't so much a blast, it was just to kind of shake everybody up a bit," Bremner said.
“They took their chances well, but they only really had three chances and scored three goals.
"We created nothing in the first half but in the second half we were good, and in fact I thought we had a stonewall penalty. It was frustrating we didn't get that."
Connor MacIntosh did reduce the deficit but Graham MacNab's penalty in the closing stages gave the final scoreline a more emphatic look for Halkirk.
“In the last five minutes we were a bit all over the place because we were attacking and trying to push for a goal, and a lot of spaces opened up at the back," Bremner said. "There are no complaints about them winning – they took their chances well and that's it.”
The Vikings were 5-1 winners over Bonar in Saturday's cup tie at Dornoch. Saleem Bremner scored twice, with the others coming from Aaron Wilson, Chrissy Green and James Murray, before Jordan Shaw got a consolation goal for the Sutherland outfit.
“The boys played really well on Saturday, and it was good to get five goals in a game – we've not scored a lot of goals this season,” the manager said.
Now comes a home clash with Nairn in the last eight.
“We beat them down there in the league in my first game, so we'll go for it," Bremner said. "We'll regroup and see who we've got available for Saturday."
In the other first-round tie, St Duthus won 2-1 against Inverness Athletic at Inverness Royal Academy.
Ben Bruce and Stuart Mackay scored for the Tain side before Liam Symonds pulled one back. St Duthus now take on Orkney at home in the quarter-finals.
Fixtures for Saturday – North Caledonian Cup, first round: Halkirk United v Invergordon (1pm).
North Caledonian Cup, quarter-finals: Golspie Sutherland v Loch Ness; St Duthus v Orkney; Thurso v Nairn County "A" (12.30pm).
North Caledonian League: Bonar Bridge v Inverness Athletic.
