Vikings are sunk by late fightback from Invergordon
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Thurso manager Stevie Reid admitted there were "a few tired bodies" as his team suffered a late collapse against Invergordon on Saturday.
The Vikings took the lead through a Marc Macgregor penalty on 37 minutes but the Easter Ross side struck twice in the closing stages to win 2-1.
The result sent Invergordon to the top of the North Caledonian League table after the scheduled match between leaders Halkirk United and second-placed Loch Ness was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Fortrose.
The prolonged rain led to Thurso switching the venue for their game to the Naver all-weather pitch.
Reid brought in Ryan Robertson to deputise for injured goalkeeper Asa Sinclair. Robertson pulled off some confident saves and, as the second half wore on, it looked as though Macgregor's spot-kick might be enough to secure three points for the Vikings.
However, with five minutes left, Ben Kelly raced onto a through ball and hammered it past Robertson. Then, in stoppage time, the keeper got down to block a free kick but Jordan Laidlaw was on hand to net the rebound.
Reid said: “I thought it was a scrappy first half. They maybe settled a bit quicker into it and we were struggling in what we were trying to do.
“Marc Macgregor is not 100 per cent fit just now and this surface certainly doesn't help him.
“I thought we grew into the game a wee bit and then got a stonewall penalty. I don't know what the referee's hesitation was for.
“Neither team was really creating an awful lot. Ryan pulled off a couple of saves and came out for corners, punching well.
“I thought in the second half there were a few tired bodies. It comes down to training – they've got to train regularly. Some don't, some do."
Reid felt Thurso had been "caught on our heels" in the lead-up to both goals.
“I thought Invergordon had the better of the play in the second half," he said. "Even after they scored I thought we'll still get a point out of this, or we might get a break.
“It was harsh to lose 2-1 but Invergordon fought the whole way to the end and they deserved it on their second-half performance.”
Reid had a word of praise for his stand-in keeper. “I can't thank Ryan enough," he said. "He stepped in and helped us, and he did nothing wrong.”
Thurso have the Football Times Cup final to look forward to later this month but their league form has been patchy. They have now lost five and won two of their opening seven league fixtures and have slipped to second bottom.
League champions Golspie Sutherland surrendered a two-goal lead as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Alness, while Bonar Bridge moved above Thurso after a 3-2 win away to Nairn County “A”.
Saturday's results: Alness United 2, Golspie Sutherland 2; Loch Ness v Halkirk United postponed (waterlogged pitch); Nairn County "A" 2, Bonar Bridge 3; St Duthus v Orkney postponed (Covid-19); Thurso 1, Invergordon 2.
Fixtures for Saturday, November 6 – North Caledonian League: Alness United v Nairn County “A” (1pm); Bonar Bridge v Loch Ness (1pm); Invergordon v Orkney (12.45pm); Inverness Athletic v Halkirk United (2pm, Inverness Royal Academy); Thurso v St Duthus (1pm).
