Caithness Football Scores - Saturday 12th March 2005

[Brizer2k2]

SWL Cup Semi-final
#############

Thurso V Balintore at Sir Georges Park, Thurso - 2.30 k.o

Scotads Highland League
################

Buckie Thistle v Wick Academy at Victoria Park, Buckie

Buckie Thistle Info - http://www.highlandfootballleague.com/clubs/showclub.php?id=2

[Brizer2k2]

Looks like both of these games will go ahead. High winds in Thurso last night but settling down slightly.

The Wick games in Buckie looks to be ok too. No news on - www.highlandleague.net of this game being in any doubt.

:D

[Brizer2k2]

Highland League postponement news from www.highlandleague.net

Postponement News: Games at Rothes and Cove off 12-Mar-2005

Rothes v Clachnacuddin has been added to the Speysiders backlog, to the surprise of many at Mackessack Park, with the referee deeming the pitch unplayable leaving the players once again cooling their heels and the coffers empty.

Cove Rangers v Fort William was the first game to be hit by the weather with the snow turning to rain and waterlogging Allan Park for the second time this week.

Having seen the midweek youth league game against Huntly fall by the wayside due to a torrential downpour the luck was not with the Toonsers, nor the league secretary, as this one will have to be fitted into the schedule later in the season.

We will keep you updated throughout the morning however we expect the majority of matches to survive with the snow that had been forecast not arriving, yet!

[Brizer2k2]

Two excellent results for both Caithness sides this afternoon.

Thurso progressed to another cup final winning 3-2 at home to Balintore in The SWL Cup Semi-final thanks to an own goal from Thurso based Scottie Sinclair, plus another from Alan Murray and a second in as many weeks from Allan Sutherland.

Wick Academy caused a shock winning 2-0 away at Buckie Thistle who are managed by former Aberdeen and Scotland stiker Duncan Shearer. Wick's goals were scored by Shearer and Weir. report from www.highlandleague.net below.

Wick suprise Buckie 12-Mar-2005 - report from www.highlandleague.net

Wick Academy came within inches of taking the lead in only the eleventh minute when Martin Gunn played a pin point throughball to Nigel Mackenzie, who took it past Neil Murray before firing a low effort off Kevin Main's right hand post.

There was no mistake in the 29th minute though as the Scorries took the lead. Once again Martin Gunn was the architect when he played the ball through to Craig Shearer and although his shot was half hit it trickled through Kevin Main's legs and crept over the line.

It was 2-0 seven minutes later when Gavin Henderson crossed the ball into Martin MacGregor who nodded it back for Gary Weir who volleyed home from only three yards with the goal at his mercy.

It had been a poor half for Buckie who had failed to test Don MacMillan but the Scorries manager Ally Budge would have been delighted with the form of his side.

Wick's striker Nigel Mackenzie's luck was still out in the second half as he, once again, came within inches of adding a third. He drove down the right wing and cut inside and from 16 yards fired the ball against the post.

It was the high point of a hardfought second half where Wick's endeavour limited the Jags to virtually no clear cut chances and rather than holding on the Scorries thoroughly deserved their first away win of the season.

Full Time: Buckie Thistle 0 Wick Academy 2
Reporter: Ian Mearns

[Brizer2k2]

Thurso 3 Balintore 2 - report by Iain Grant

Thurso's disappointment at being pipped at the post in the race for the MSIS North Caley championship was tempered on Saturday when they qualified for their second cup final of the season.

Without being wholly convincing in their SWL Cup clash with Balintore, they negotiated the semi-final with more comfort than the score-line suggests.

After an unimpressive opening when the visitors looked the more menacing, the Vikings scored twice through an own goal and Alan Murray in the space of four minutes.

A reply within two minutes from man-of-the-match Ewan Dance dispelled any notion of a rout on par with the 6-0 defeat Thurso inflicted on his side in the final of the Port Services Cup at the end of October.

The bulk of the scoring opportunities thereafter went Thurso's way and when Allan Sutherland grabbed a contested third with 21 minutes left, there seemed no way back for the Easter Ross men

Dance set up Stuart Skinner to pull one back with five minutes left but it came during an isolated raid rather than a sustained onslaught.

A run of players working offshore has taxed Balintore's resources in recent weeks and they were on Saturday bolstered by two Thurso-based players, Scott Sinclair and Graham 'Sid' Potter.

Sinclair, normally found among the staunch band of Viking supporters, slotted in at the heart of the Balintore defence.

The Workshops' centre-back was to prove one of his side's steadiest performers after suffering the indignity of being debited with the opening goal.

Thurso's first decent move of any quality after 22 minutes released Shaun Forbes who delivered a penetrating cross from wide out on the left.

Under pressure from several opponents, Sinclair's attempt to clear ended with the ball squeezing in between keeper Edward Shearer and the near post.

Up until then, there were no scares at either goal though it was the visitors who looked the more likely to break through.

The pacy Dance gave early notice of his threat when he twice got in behind the home rearguard only to be pulled back by marginal offside decisions.

Dance also saw a decent effort just miss the target while Angus MacDonald and Niall McIvor also went close.

After going behind, they almost restored equality within a minute but Thurso's Martin Baker made a crucial intervention to deny MacDonald.

Thurso duly broke upfield and doubled their advantage when Brian Gray's overlapping run ended with a measured cross which was met by a flashing, near-post header from Murray.

Two minutes later, the scoring run continued but this time at the other end.

It followed a free-kick Sutherland needlessly conceded just outside the penalty box.

Dance's delivery did not look particularly special but the low shot eluded the defensive wall and wrongfooted keeper Michael Gray.

Balintore continued to threaten and Dance set up MacDonald who would surely have scored had Brian Gray not nipped in to rob him at the expense of a corner.

Whether it was the troublesome head-wind or feisty opponents, Thurso lacked bite and could count themselves fortunate to be ahead at the interval.

They did fashion the last chances of the half when Phil Makhouli just missed the target with a chip and Sinclair did well to hustle Murray off the ball after good work by Jamie MacKenzie.

Thurso defender Shaun Moar was the improbable recipient of the only yellow card of the day for a mistimed tackle after 43 minutes.

A half-time bollicking worked wonders as the Vikings markedly improved and set about making the tie safe.

Makhouli and Gavin Bremner both should have done better after Mackenzie and Murray twice combined to create inviting openings.

After 57 minutes, Murray sped past two defenders on a piercing run into the box but his shot did not trouble Shearer.

Three minutes later, Balintore deserved to draw level when Dance made space for himself wide out on the right before suddenly producing a snap shot.

Struck with power and precision, it arc-ed over Michael Gray before rebounding off the crossbar and going out for a throw-in on the opposite side of the pitch.

Duly reminded that the tie was by no means settled, Thurso responded with a series of raids.

Gordie Steven had a decent shot turned past by Shearer before they struck again on 69 minutes.

Bremner's corner from the left was met by a powerful downward header by Sutherland which William Skinner sought to hack clear.

After a quick check with assistant Hughie Duncan, ref Willie Sinclair ruled the ball had crossed the goal-line.

The restart coincided with a snow flurry which made life tough for both outfits.

A minute later, Thurso almost added to their tally when Baker rifled a shot from just outside the box.

Shearer got down to block and then did exceptionally well to recover to keep out substitute Martin Bain's follow-up.

The youngster went close again in 73 minutes when he broke clear and looked to have shot past the keeper, only for the latter's trailing leg to deflect the ball away from goal.

Balintore offered little until they got fresh hope five minutes from the end when Dance crossed and Stuart Skinner netted with a looping header.

Thurso assistant manager Richard Hughes said the weather and pitch conditions had a major effect on the game.

He said: "The conditions had a lot to do with it -- the boys said it was really heavy-going.

"It was not our best performance of the season but we achieved what we set out to do and can now look forward to another final."

The final is scheduled for Brora on April 2 assuming the other semi between Golspie and Alness -- cancelled on Saturday -- is played by then.

Tomorrow, a place in the semi-final of the Football Times Cup is at stake when Thurso
play Dornoch.

The match is scheduled for Thurso though the Vikings could give up home advantage if the Dammies is ruled out.

Ross Sutherland and Lee MacDougall miss out again through injury while Mark Nichol has work commitments.

The game kicks off at 2.30 p.m.

Thurso v Balintore -- M. Gray, B. Gray, Moar, Baker, Sutherland, Forbes (Warner 65), Steven (Cook 70), Bremner, MacKenzie, Murray, Makhouli (Bain 65).

Ref -- Mr W. Sinclair.